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HUB Promotional Group Implements Carbon-Offsetting Program

Top 40 supplier HUB Promotional Group (HPG, asi/61966) has announced that all nine companies in the supplier’s portfolio will 100% carbon-offset all outbound UPS shipments at no cost to the customer. The program will go into effect on Jan. 1.

Through UPS’s environmentally friendly shipment program, the shipping company will keep track of the origin, destination and transportation method (air or ground) of each package leaving one of HPG’s eight distribution centers across North America and calculate the shipment’s individual carbon footprint. That impact will then be transferred into environmental efforts, such as reforestation, rainforest conservation, renewable energy and water filtration.

“Through our decision to offset all HUB Promotional Group UPS shipments in 2020, HPG will effectively make more than a quarter-million package deliveries carbon-neutral,” said Jing Rong, vice president of sourcing and supply chain, in a statement.

Rong added in an interview with Counselor that offsetting won’t impact delivery timing or cost. “Shipments also don’t have to be bundled in a certain way,” she said. “UPS tracks the carbon footprint of each individual package.”

CEO Chris Anderson added that the initiative further demonstrates the company’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices, while offering distributors shipping costs that are often lower compared to those from other freight providers. “This efficiency is accomplished by leveraging HPG’s North America-wide footprint, and the economies of scale it provides,” said Anderson, in a statement. “That’s good news for the environment and good news for HPG customers.”

Ben Pawsey, brand marketing director for HPG, told Counselor it’s another example of the company’s commitment to responsible business practices. This year, the company replaced 75% of its incandescent bulbs with eco-friendly LEDs at all its locations, and donated 90% of unused product to nonprofits.

“This carbon-offsetting program is great for any customer that wants to be more environmentally friendly,” Rong said. “Companies want to help, but they don’t always have the resources to do so. This initiative will help them move towards that goal without cutting into their profits.”

With 2018 revenue of $197.8 million, HUB Promotional Group is ranked ninth on Counselor’s most recent list of the 40 largest suppliers in the industry.