Staples Promotional Products (asi/120601), the third-largest distributor in the industry, is making it easier for end-users to track the sustainability of its products – using EcoVadis to vet its supply chain.

Staples believes this is an industry first. “At a time when third-party suppliers account for 90% of total environmental impact, [Staples Promotional Products] is proud to be the first in the industry to establish an unbiased sustainable procurement platform,” said Daron Hines, president of Staples Promotional Products and a member of Counselor’s Power 50.

Daron Hines, president of Staples Promotional Products

EcoVadis helps businesses of all sizes monitor and rate their sustainability performance across their supply chain. Staples uses EcoVadis to assess, score and report supply chain sustainability performance. For example, a listing on Staples’ site for a sherpa half-zip from Top 40 supplier Cutter & Buck (asi/47965) has a blue leaf icon in the corner of the product photo. When you hover over the icon, a popup reads: “This product has been certified by a third-party environmental certification; has 30%+ post-consumer recycled content; or has 30%+ agricultural residue, rapidly renewable or bio-based content.”

David McClintock, marketing director at EcoVadis, said Staples is setting a “strong example” to its suppliers by rating itself through EcoVadis.

“By launching this sustainable supply chain initiative, Staples Promotional Products is directing their ambition to the point of greatest leverage to bolster their long-term growth and accelerate towards improved sustainability impact,” McClintock added.

In addition to rating Staples and its supply chain, EcoVadis awarded the distributor a silver medal for sustainability after assessing its decoration and distribution operations on four measures: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. On its website, EcoVadis says its methodology “covers seven management indicators, across 21 sustainability criteria” in the four aforementioned measures. The assessments are based on leading standards and supervised by an international scientific committee. “We rate performance by assessing a company’s policies, actions and results, as well as inputs from third-party professionals and external stakeholders,” EcoVadis notes on its site.

A silver recognition indicates that a company ranks in the top 25% of companies with an overall score between 56 and 66 out of a possible 100. The recognition medal criteria are reviewed and updated regularly.

Staples Promotional Products and its suppliers will be assessed and scored annually by EcoVadis.

Hines said Staples’ new sustainability initiative, though significant, is only a first step for the company. “By 2025, our goal is to reach platinum recognition level in our operations and have EcoVadis metrics that objectively demonstrate the most sustainable supply chain in the industry,” he added.

Based on estimated 2021 North American promo product revenue of $740.1 million, Staples Promotional Products ranked third on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest distributors in the industry.

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