Counselor Top 40 supplier Gemline (asi/56070) released its fifth annual betterway corporate social responsibility report, sharing achievements that include becoming a certified B Corp and donating more than half a million dollars of cash and in-kind contributions to charitable organizations in 2024.

Gemline (asi/56070) has released its fifth annual corporate social responsibility report.

“We don’t just talk about corporate responsibility – our mindset is all about raising the bar for our customers, industry and company,” said Frank Carpenito, president and CEO of Gemline and a member of the Counselor Power 50 list of the most influential people in promo. “From becoming a certified B Corp to introducing carbon footprint information at the item level, to our commitment to eliminating PVC and PFAS from our product line, we are proving that bold moves and big impact can go hand in hand.”

As part of its betterway report, Gemline released accountability standards, outlining its standards, certifications and progress in areas that include responsible sourcing, chemical elimination, recycled material use and environmental stewardship.

“Betterway isn’t just our framework; it’s our competitive edge,” Carpenito said. “Our new betterway accountability standards will be game-changing for our company and distributors.”

The 2024 betterway report includes an emphasis on community impact. Gemline donated more than $525,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to charity last year, bringing its three-year total giving to over $2.2 million. On a national level, Gemline continued its partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Locally, the supplier invested in its home community of Lawrence, MA, supporting programs in health and wellness, housing and human welfare, and leadership development. Beneficiaries included the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Elevate New England, Lawrence Partnership, Lawrence CommunityWorks, OneFamily, Junior Achievement and Groundwork Lawrence.

In addition, Gemline’s scholarship program has awarded $45,000 to 17 students since its inception in 2023.

On the environmental side, Gemline partnered with Climate Impact Partners to purchase certified carbon offsets covering its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions. The offsets supported projects across the United States, India and Bangladesh – all countries where Gemline produces some of its core products.

In the U.S., the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians project helps preserve tribal forest land. By selling carbon credits instead of harvesting timber, the tribe aims to fund the construction of a new high school.

In India, the Orb Rooftop Solar PV initiative installs solar panel systems that convert sunlight into clean electricity, reducing reliance on the country’s conventional energy grid.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, a city challenged by widespread methane leakage due to an aging infrastructure, a Clean Development Mechanism project provides technology and training to detect and repair gas leaks – lowering emissions and improving air quality.

On the product side, Gemline noted progress in its commitment to create cleaner, safer and more responsible goods. For instance, 97% of all Gemline-branded, house brand and brand partner products are PVC-free and 100% are PFAS-free. Plus, Gemline is tracking the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint – measuring kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) – of more than 375 products. The data, which tracks emissions from raw material sourcing to product decoration and distribution, marks Gemline’s first step toward managing Scope 3 emissions, the indirect emissions associated up and down a product’s supply chain that typically make up the bulk of a company’s carbon footprint.

Founded in 1958, Gemline ranked 12th on Counselor’s most recent list of top suppliers, with 2023 North American promotional products revenue of $134.5 million. In addition to being B Corp certified, the supplier is a registered Public Benefit Corporation in Massachusetts.

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