SanMar (asi/84863) is taking science-backed steps to help lead the promo products industry’s fight to combat climate change.

The Top 40 supplier announced that it plans to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% per pound of product by the year 2030, with 2019 being the base year. Similarly, the Issaquah, WA-headquartered apparel company aims to cut Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services by 50% during the same timeframe.

SanMar, promo’s biggest supplier, isn’t just pledging make positive eco changes; it’s ensuring objective accountability on the emissions cuts. Its reduction plan is being implemented in partnership with – and has been approved by – the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which works to drive ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling organizations to set science-based emissions reduction targets.

SanMar’s company-wide GHG reduction targets aspire to meet the SBTi’s most ambitious temperature pathway to limit warming to 1.5 degrees C and prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

“Establishing science-based targets is a landmark moment for SanMar and our industry,” said Emily Gigot, senior manager of sustainability at SanMar. “Collectively, we must all do our part to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and this framework provides us with a roadmap to reduce our emissions in line with climate science.”

Scope 1 emissions are GHG emissions that occur from sources that are controlled or owned by an organization, such as emissions associated with fuel combustion in boilers, furnaces and vehicles. Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heating or cooling. 

Scope 3 includes all indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of a reporting company. To make a clear distinction between Scope 2 and Scope 3 categories, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes the Scope 3 emissions as “the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the reporting organization, but that the organization indirectly impacts in its value chain.”

For SanMar and most of the apparel and textile industry, the largest share of emissions results from the manufacturing of products. As a result, many of the company’s initiatives to reach its emissions targets will focus on reducing the environmental impact of its products and engaging with suppliers to decrease the impact of their operations, with an emphasis on efficient machinery, processes and renewable energy.

SBTi is a greenhouse gas emissions reduction program that supports companies through a five-step process to create tangible goals and establish pathways to reduce emissions by an amount and timetable right-sized for the organization. Targets are consistent with the level of decarbonization that, according to climate science, is required to keep global temperate increase within 1.5 degrees C to 2 degrees C compared to pre-industrial temperature levels. The SBTi is a partnership between the CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

In April 2021, SanMar formally committed to SBTi and began the process of developing its GHG reduction plan and submitting it to SBTi for validation.

Based estimated 2021 North American promo product revenue of $2.88 million, SanMar ranked first on Counselor’s most recent list of the industry’s largest suppliers.

SanMar has been working to operate more sustainably, reduce impact on the environment, and help build strong communities for employees domestically and abroad. It’s all part of the company’s Canvas for Good initiative. ASI Media has been documenting growing industry-wide efforts on sustainability and corporate social responsibility through Promo for the Planet.

Promo for the Planet is your destination for the latest news, biggest trends and best ideas to help build a more sustainable and socially-responsible industry.