Top 40 distributor Geiger (asi/202900) is making strides in sustainability. Geiger U.K., the United Kingdom-based division of the Maine-based company, has been named a finalist in the Lloyds Bank British Excellence Awards for Sustainable Business of the Year 2023. Winners of the U.K.’s largest awards program celebrating British business will be chosen in November.

The distributor says the honor reflects its values and highlights the role it’s playing within the promotional products industry to put sustainability and social and environmental impact at the heart of its activities. The award is judged on four categories: leadership and innovation, organizational ethics and policies, employee and community engagement, and financial growth and performance.

“Being shortlisted for Sustainable Business of the Year is amazing recognition for the effort of our team to double down on our Sustainability Pledge and embed sustainability in everything we do,” said Steve Wickham, procurement director. “It is also a marker for the promotional merchandise industry and how we are demonstrating that desirable merchandise can be produced responsibly and with the smallest environmental footprint.”

Geiger says it has built trusted relationships with employees, partners, customers and vendors to maximize positive impact on shared goals that benefit the planet. The distributor also notes that it has advanced sustainability reporting and management systems, showing that its values are embedded in all operational activities and aligned with commercial objectives.

In July, Geiger U.K. announced that it had achieved an EcoVadis Platinum rating for the second year in a row. That puts Geiger U.K. among the top 1% of over 100,000 businesses rated worldwide by EcoVadis, a company that assesses sustainability on four pillars: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. To receive a platinum rating – the highest that EcoVadis awards – companies must score above 75% across all pillars. Geiger said it achieved an 82% score in its overall assessment, including a 90% in the environmental pillar.

A fifth-generation family owned company, Geiger has long had a commitment to the environment, debuting its LEED Gold Certified headquarters in Lewiston, ME, in 2018. The building is fully powered by a 700-panel solar array. Geiger has offices in the U.S. and Europe and is affiliated with more than 450 independent sales representatives. The company ranked ninth on Counselor’s most recent list of the Top 40 distributors in the industry, with 2022 North American promotional products sales of $327 million.

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