Top 40 supplier Polyconcept North America (PCNA, asi/78897) announces that, through purchases of eco-friendly products from the company’s product line, distributors kept nearly 1 million plastic bottles and 150,000 pounds of cotton from entering landfills in 2020.

PCNA currently offers 150 eco products in 40 categories.

PCNA’s partnership with 1% for the Planet has also helped the company to plant more than 75,000 trees and provide clean water to more than 7,000 people.

“We wouldn’t be a leader in this industry if it wasn’t for the support of our amazing customers,” said PCNA’s Chief Merchandising Officer Liz Haesler, in a statement. “It’s important that we show how their support is making a difference in this world.”

This stackable bento box (1033-85) has a lid made of sustainable bamboo fiber. Through the company’s 1% for the Planet program, a portion of sales goes to nonprofits protecting the planet.

PCNA said it will also be announcing additional retail partnerships with tentree, a sustainably sourced apparel brand, and Ekobo, a line of sustainable home goods, this spring.

“Because of the impact this industry has been able to make through the overwhelming support of our eco-friendly items, other sustainable brands are anxious to get into the promo market,” said Haesler. “We can bring brands like tentree and Ekobo to the promotional products market because of our amazing distributor partners who have created this demand by showing how important sustainability and the ability to give back is to them and their customers.”

The Pennsylvania-based firm already offers five retail brands, including Welly, CamelBak and Skullcandy, that have giveback programs.

PCNA offers a roll-top backpack from CamelBak (1627-55) that contains 50% recycled material, the equivalent of 11 plastic bottles.

The supplier has made deep inventory investments in sustainable brands and continues to source a variety of eco-friendly materials while looking to partner with additional retail companies. Currently, PCNA offers 150 eco styles across 40 categories and the company said it has plans to grow that number this year.

PCNA has also turned to more sustainable business practices with eco initiatives and upgrades at its facilities, including efforts to lower energy consumption, decrease production floor waste and expand recycling efforts.

“Two years ago, our eco line started as a robust product platform, and while we continue to grow our eco collection, we’ve also evolved our thinking as an organization,” said PCNA’s CEO Neil Ringel. “Outside of products, sustainability has become a key component of every business decision we make.”

It’s part of a growing industry trend toward better sustainability practices. Top 40 distributor Geiger (asi/202900) recently won a gold award after a sustainability assessment of its facility in Lewiston, ME, and VisionUSA (asi/80060) in Dallas has partnered with the United Parcel Service (UPS) to decrease its monthly shipping emissions.

Based on 2019 North American promotional product revenue of $818.2 million, PCNA ranked fourth on Counselor’s most recent list of the industry’s largest suppliers. The new list will be released this summer.

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