Top 40 supplier Koozie Group (asi/40480) and its sister company IMAGEN Brands (asi/93990) say they’ve achieved carbon neutrality.

The suppliers received CarbonNeutral certification in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol, a leading global framework for carbon neutrality. Back in February, Koozie Group declared its intent by the end of 2024 to become carbon-neutral on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency.

“We are excited to have reached this milestone so quickly,” said Pierre Montaubin, CEO of Koozie Group. “The groundwork we have been laying for the last several years really paid off.”

To achieve its CarbonNeutral certification, Koozie Group has been working with Climate Impact Partners, a specialist in carbon market solutions for climate action. Koozie Group conducted an independent assessment of all Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions it produced during 2022, as well as some Scope 3 emissions.

In addition to taking actions to reduce its footprint through internal initiatives, Koozie Group has offset unavoidable emissions through projects that include supporting a forest conservation project that protects 460,000 acres of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. The company said it selected this project specifically because of its large paper-products portfolio.

The EPA defines Scope 1 emissions as direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from sources controlled or owned by the organization, including those associated with fuel combustion in boilers or furnaces. Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions associated with a company’s purchase of electricity, steam, heat or cooling. Scope 3 emissions are those that an organization indirectly affects up and down its value chain, according to the EPA.

Pierre Montaubin, CEO of Koozie Group

Montaubin said Koozie Group chose to work with Climate Impact Partners because of the organization’s 25 years of experience running large and innovative carbon-offsetting programs. “Working with them means all the projects we are supporting are independently verified and have a real and positive impact on the climate,” he added.

Climate Impact Partners said it has worked on more than 600 carbon removal and reduction projects in 56 countries.

“We work with leading organizations to deliver action on climate change and create a more sustainable world,” said Emily Mileski, senior account executive at Climate Impact Partners. “Our joined-up approach helps organizations address their environmental impacts through high-quality carbon market solutions that also deliver positive impact for nature and local communities.”

Koozie Group said the next step in its journey toward carbon neutrality is to complete measuring its full Scope 3 emissions – which is a more involved task, given their breadth. The supplier is already pursuing internal measures, such as moving toward using recycled materials in place of virgin materials where possible.

Based on reported 2022 North American promotional product revenue of $317 million, Koozie Group ranked seventh on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry.

The supplier has put a strong focus on sustainability, noting in its most recent corporate social responsibility report that it offers more than 100 products made with recycled or renewable resources. Koozie Group also said that three-quarters of the new products it introduces each year “have a sustainability stance.” Over 70% of its products carry its KG Factor designation, which identifies promo solutions that lessen environmental impact through longevity.

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