More than 150 PPAI members, staff and speakers gathered in Newport Beach, California, this week to learn about developments in product safety, worldwide regulations and sustainability measures at PPAI’s annual Responsibility Summit.
PPAI President and CEO Drew Holmgreen kicked off the first full day of sessions with a look at The State of Responsibility figures from the most recent PPAI 100. “We’re putting a lot of effort, a lot of chips on the table, into supporting sustainability” as an industry and fighting the “brandfill” assumption that our industry is wasteful, said Holmgreen. He noted that last year, sustainable products generated $3.7 billion in sales – 13.8% of total industry revenue – reflecting a trend that continues to grow.
PHOTOS: PPAI Responsibility Summit Underway In California
Rethinking Responsibility And Recycling
Opening keynote speaker Dr. Jon Foley, executive director at Project Drawdown, spoke about the “explosion of humanity,” over the past 50 years, during which the population doubled and resource use increased exponentially. “Even the way we’re changing is changing right now, and with that, our impacts on the planet are changing,” he said.
Foley recounted myriad ecological changes and challenges and highlighted the risks that a changing planet poses to business. But even with all the changes and turmoil going on around us, he said, it’s important to look for opportunities to do better.
ICYMI: Sustainability Is A Business Opportunity, Not A Box To Check
“This is an opportunity for us to rethink things, starting with rethinking our businesses,” he added, and encouraged the audience to look for new ways to do things that not only boost sustainability but yield a competitive advantage, from cost savings to a more favorable reputation with customers.
“We need to dream of a better future and go out and build it,” he said. “… Keep in mind the world we can reach or and achieve. … Reimagine everything and see it as an opportunity.”
Dr. Jon Foley
Executive Director, Project Drawdown
“I thought that was a perfect kickoff,” said Kate Alavez, president of Los Angeles-based PromoShop, PPAI 100’s No. 20 distributor, and a PPAI Board member. “Dr. Foley was the perfect emblem for what our industry can do for a circular economy.”
The second keynote speaker, Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, focused on circularity and the potential to find value in waste. “Everything to do with recycling is about money,” he said.
“All recycling in the world … is operated by for-profit companies, and there is no law anywhere in the world that says that recycling provider must recycle what it collects,” Szaky added, “so the driver in the end is economics. … How do you drive more value than cost?”
ROI for sustainability efforts lies in what best serves your organization, he told attendees. “Brands love making their promotional products out of their own waste,” he said before showing the audience multiple examples of branded items made from old billboards and other upcycled waste and scrap materials. “Materials can have a narrative that you can really play with,” Szaky added.
Tom Szaky
Founder/CEO, TerraCycle
Laura Smith, director of product and sustainability at Minnesota-based Storm Creek, PPAI 100’s No. 33 supplier, asked Szaky about garment-to-garment recycling and the textile circularity laws emerging around the world. ”If we can start now, we’re future-proofing for what’s coming,” she said.
Ashar Niaz, business development manager for Reverse Logistics Group, spoke about extended producer responsibility and steps companies need to take to achieve compliance. He predicted that 19 states could have active EPR laws by the end of the decade. “EPR is growing, and it’s not going away,” he said.
Niaz also cautioned that the EPR landscape in the U.S. is evolving and very fluid and urged attendees to look to primary resources – Circular Action Alliance and state agency websites – for the most up-to-date information.
ICYMI: EPR Laws Are Coming For Your Company’s Packaging Data
Diving Into Due Diligence, Voluntary Standards
After lunch, a trio of expert speakers discussed best practices for sourcing and testing of high-risk products like high-energy electronics:
- “Knowing where your ignorance lies,” when it comes to products and product safety is critical, said Nathan Cotter, chief supply chain officer for Hit Promotional Products, PPAI 100’s No. 3 supplier. “Where do I know a lot, and how do I find an expert that does? … Find an expert to help you understand.”
- “We ask for a set of documents that has to do with the design of the products that anybody that works with the product should have,” said David Tai, founder & CEO of quality assurance firm TQAChecked. “You’d be surprised with how many factories struggle to come up with those documents, and that’s a telltale sign” of subpar safety practices.
- “The takeaway is extraordinary due diligence,” said Rick Brenner, MAS+, president of Product Safety Advisors, emphasizing the importance of documentation and asking questions at every stage. “Find an engineer … if you’re dealing with products that you don’t understand.” He also urged attendees to ask, “What could go wrong?” for every product.
A second trio discussed when and why to plan a social audit and how to find and fix root causes of problems, as well as remediation tactics.
- “The real work is what comes after an audit,” said Tyler Brooks, director of supply chain – social responsibility at 4imprint, PPAI 100’s No. 1 distributor. “When it comes to remediation, what’s the first step that you take for meaningful action. … A lot of things depend on the severity of the finding.”
- Alex Katz, director of labor and human rights at Fanatics, said he and his team assign risk ratings to factories and establish a corrective action timeline. He cautioned attendees that some factories coach workers on how to answer audit questions, so it’s important to communicate expectations and establish trust. “What we can’t tolerate is nontransparency,” he added.
- “When there are things that need to be corrected, your approach has to be very firm” but still in the spirit of partnership, said Cheron Coleman, vice president global sourcing & sustainability at S&S Activewear, PPAI 100’s No. 2 supplier. “We have a lot of conversations with the factories because we want them to know that we’re in this with them. … At the end of the day, it’s all about communication and being transparent. Treat them like partners.”
Molly Lynyak, manager in the Technical Committee Operations Division of ASTM International, spoke about the importance of voluntary standards for consumer products. These standards, developed and regularly updated with industry input, can provide a constant benchmark in an ever-evolving global regulatory landscape, Lynyak said. “Regardless of the regulatory landscape, voluntary standards are consistent, responsive, multi-perspective and they serve as an important tool in your product safety toolkit,” she added.
Denise Taschereau
PPAI Board Chair, CEO of Fairware
Denise Taschereau, PPAI Board Chair and co-founder and CEO of Vancouver-based distributor Fairware, led the closing session of the first day, a roundtable discussing human rights due diligence tools and why that information is important. “All of this is about future-proofing your business,” she said. “The suppliers that are going to win aren’t necessarily the ones with the most beautiful product. … It’s the ones with the data. The data will win. It’s sometimes the stuff behind the product that will win you that business.”
- Emily Dodson, social compliance manager for the Fair Labor Association, noted several human rights laws in the U.S. and worldwide, as well as the consequences of noncompliance, from last time and money to reputational damage and potential fines. “Ultimately, these consequences can be avoided with the risk mitigation that human rights due diligence offers,” she said. “It’s going to strengthen your business and also become mandatory through legislation.”
- UCLA was one of the first universities to license its brand for fan gear, starting in the 1970s. Liz Kennedy, director of ethical labor and sustainability with UCLA trademarks and licensing, said what they look for in brand partners has evolved significantly over the past 50 years. “We had a front row seat to the anti-sweatshop movement in the 1990s,” she said. “Around 2009-2010, we ramped up the questions we ask when working with an organization for a license. Our interest is not just financial, nor is it just product quality – we’re really trying to dig deeper … and develop a scorecard to see what level of risk companies are bringing to us.”
- Laura Smith, director of product and sustainability at Storm Creek, said, “Both B Corp and EcoVadis really helped us build our internal frameworks … and put the action onto paper and document and formalize those processes.” Those and other tools like bluesign help trace products and materials all the way through the supply chain, which adds transparency to labor conditions as well, she added. “They help us show that we’re not just talking the talk, we’re walking the walk.”
RELATED: Imports From Xinjiang Region Of China Still Linked To Crimes Against Humanity
PPAI’s Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Ralston kicked off the second day’s sessions with a look at more State of Responsibility numbers, and Elizabeth Wimbush, CAS, the Association’s director of sustainability & responsibility, explained the process behind making PPAI events carbon neutral, She also encouraged attendees to check out sustainability resources on PPAI’s new education platform and Solutions Center.
Wimbush then moderated a discussion on how to effectively communicate your company’s compliance, product safety and sustainability data. “Regardless of where you are in your organization, you’re selling something,” she said.
Ben Pawsey, vice president of marketing for HPG, PPAI 100’s No. 4 supplier, advised the audience to find allies in their companies to build momentum. “Talk to them about their problems and opportunities and try to find a solution,” he said. “It’s really about listening. … You have to be persistent.”
Nat Bullock, MAS
Compliance Manager, Geiger
Approach colleagues with curiosity and together look for opportunities to tell a good story by using sustainable materials, he added.
“Every interaction that we have is a point to sell something, and one of the biggest things that we sell, internally or externally, is trust,” said Nat Bullock, MAS, compliance manager for Geiger, PPAI 100’s No. 5 distributor. “We’re always selling the value of a compliance program internally to executives, [and] people are trusting us with their brand … we want our customers to feel safe that we can use their name for the products they need, we know what we’re doing and we’re being proactive.”
Meet your audience where they are – keep it simple and speak in plain language, not jargon, he added.
What’s Happening In The Regulatory Realm
Almost half (47%) of PPAI 100 suppliers report rising regulatory and ESG costs, and two sessions focused squarely on regulatory requirements to help attendees stay ahead of the curve.
Karolyn Helda, global services and technical services director at QIMA, and Michelle Singh, senior sales executive at Hohenstein, provided attendees with a thorough look at current regulations and what’s coming down the pipeline in the U.S., Canada and the European Union.
Helda talked about new rules from the CPSC on water beads and neck floats, as well as a proposed rule for lithium-ion batteries. “The draft [battery] rule has come and gone a couple times, [but] the expectation is that this is going to move forward,” she said.
Helda also noted that CPSC’s proposed rule on toys containing button or coin cell batteries has not moved forward as expected. “We’re sort of in a wait-and-see mode,” she said. She also spoke about the new EU toy and battery regulations.
RELATED: CPSC’s New Labeling Guidelines For Products With Button Cell, Coin Batteries To Go Into Effect
Singh noted that “there is a lot going on with food ingredients and labeling” with the FDA, including scrutiny of red dye and brominated vegetable oil, as well as consideration of natural food dyes as replacements. Food labeling rules have been updated for several states, including Texas and Louisiana, she added. The required updates for labeling “can be vague,” she cautioned, adding that design changes will be needed for compliance.
She also emphasized that only Canada-based companies must report to the Canada’s Federal Plastics Registry, starting September 29, 2025.
- State PFAS laws: New regulations include New Mexico, Vermont and Illinois, with phased applicability and scope. PFAS legislation took effect at the beginning of this year in California, Colorado, Minnesota (Amara’s Law), New York and Washington. “Some of the state definitions are pretty vague,” said Helda.
- TSCA reporting: This requires data on intentionally added PFAS in products back to 2011. “There’s talk that the deadline for October 2026 may move. Nothing guaranteed, but it is in discussion,” said Singh. “But as it stands right now, most entities are going to have to report … by October 2026, and there is no de minimis.”
- California Proposition 65: The new format for short form warning labels took effect this year, with a three-year period to switch over. “The main change is that you have to name a chemical” and include whether the concern is a carcinogen or reproductive harm, said Helda. Bisphenol S and vinyl acetate have been added to the list of chemicals that require Prop 65 labeling starting in January 2026. “The main concern here is occupational exposure” via inhalation, she added.
ICYMI: California Updates Prop 65 Short-form Warning Requirements
In a discussion of CPSC actions and product safety requirements, Rick Brenner noted “unprecedented turmoil” at the agency and asked William L. Troutman, partner in the Los Angeles office of Norton Rose Fulbright, to shed some light the current regulatory environment.
Historically, Troutman said, the CPSC is thought to be less aggressive under a Republican administration, but the agency is currently very active. He cautioned attendees to “not view the chaos as an opportunity to become lax” when it comes to product safety.
He reminded attendees that Acting Commissioner Peter Feldman has publicly stated that he thinks unsafe products from China post a significant risk to American consumers. “Most of the actions that we’ve seen so far relate to increasing import surveillance,” he added.
- Recalls: “Don’t fail to act,” as there is a duty to report under the law, Troutman said. “It is important to be clear about who’s doing what and when.”
- Lithium-ion batteries: “Regardless of what happens with these rules, we now have a clear implication that CPSC relies upon particular industry standards for lithium-ion batteries,” he said, “… looking at these industry standards and incorporating them into your purchasing decisions is important.”
- State regulations: “The states have historically stepped in to fill the void, sometimes with increased legislation, sometimes with increased enforcement. We are seeing many more states get involved” beyond California, Troutman said. “Now more than ever, we should look at what the states are doing and take it seriously,” especially with PFAS and heavy metals regulations.
- EPR laws: “Who can the state actually get to and go after?” when determining the obligated producer, said Troutman. “Consider your level of risk tolerance with regard to this. … There’s no guarantee there will be enforcement.” That said, he cautioned that EPR is not a new concept and that these laws are not likely to go away and may in fact spread to all 50 states within a decade.
Managing Impact Through Emissions Reporting And Life Cycle Analyses
Mike Smith, CEO of Aclymate, and Nick McCulloch, director of sustainability with PCNA, PPAI 100’s No. 5 supplier, discussed climate reporting requirements, why they matter and strategies for successful compliance.
“Scope 3 is everything in your business activity,” and includes information in 15 categories, said Smith. “Your Scope 1 & 2 is your customers’ upstream Scope 3,” and all those relationships will be critical for reporting, he added.
Regulation is “the most immediately consequential” reason to care about emissions reporting, especially in Europe, said McCulloch. “You will be required to report directly or indirectly. [but] at this moment, only large suppliers and distributors are subject to these laws. … For now, most of you will be impacted more indirectly.”
McCulloch emphasized the risk assessment aspect of emissions reporting. “You really need to be identifying hotspots and suppliers that might be problematic so you don’t get caught off guard,” he said. “… The main challenges are supplier engagement and your trust in what your suppliers are telling you.”
Identifying risk is a key reason many companies have embraced climate reporting, added Smith. He pointed to major global financial institutions that are building climate-related risks into their investments. “Even aside from those regulations, you’re still going to feel those pressures percolated down through the system because that’s what ‘big money’ wants,” he said.
“It’s not just reporting,” Smith added. “You’re going to be doing more with this stuff, and it’s an opportunity to find efficiencies in your business. It’s important to look at it as an opportunity, not an obligation.”
James Pollack, partner at Marten Law, explored how life cycle assessments have emerged as a key tool to provide a useful framework for validating claims of safety and sustainability.
“What do you want to brag about your product in the marketplace? This is how to substantiate those claims,” he said. “… Using LCA or other methodologies gives you a standardized practice to investigate.”
Pollack also noted that LCA is part of the reporting requirements for Oregon’s packaging EPR program and can be a useful tool to support other reporting requirements. He emphasized the importance of collecting accurate data for any LCA. “The success of the LCA hinges on the availability and quality of your data,” he said. “… You have to build data streams into your interactions.”
RELATED: LCAs: One Ring To Rule Them All
Sustainability Benchmarking In Promo
Emma McMahon, senior sustainability manager at WAP Sustainability, presented the final session, a deep dive into key findings from the member needs assessment WAP performed for PPAI.
“Through our analysis, it became clear that while sustainability is a shared priority among all members, it’s not evenly implemented,” she said.
- Two-thirds (65%) of surveyed members said they are engaging with PPAI on sustainability.
- Environmental responsibility is the top ranked pillar.
- Suppliers tend to be more advanced on sustainability than distributors.
- Customer expectation is a top driver of sustainability efforts.
- Cost/resource constraints is the top obstacle.
Many members are feeling overwhelmed by frequent audits. McMahon suggested that PPAI can act as a unifier, educate and translate sustainability concepts and model best practices to help members move the industry forward. “There seems to be a real need to agree collectively what is important and how to assess that,” said McMahon.
Ellen Tucker, CAE, MAS, PPAI’s chief revenue and experience officer, closed the conference by encouraging attendees to share what they have learned and remember that small changes add up. “Progress over perfection,” she said. Tucker also announced that next year’s Responsibility Summit will take place in Denver, September 14-16, 2026.
Attendees gathered for one last networking reception in the California sun before departing and continued to share ideas and discuss what they learned during the event.
“PPAI is a good platform to get caught up on all these things,” said Nick Grieco, quality, compliance and sustainability manager for Gemline, PPAI 100’s No. 13 supplier. “They’re on the horizon and all of a sudden, they’re here.”
Grieco especially appreciates the friendly and cooperative spirit of the Summit. “You wouldn’t be this collaborative in any other industry … or having these mutually beneficial conversations,” he said.
Many thanks to our generous event sponsors:
- Diamond – SAGE
- Platinum – American Ad Bag and Bella+Canvas
- Gold – FedEx, Hit Promotional Products and Terry Town
- Silver – Hohenstein, HPG and TÜV SÜD
- Carbon Offsets – 4imprint
- Badges – IDLine
