Sustainability isn’t a chore – it’s an opportunity.
Instead of considering corporate social responsibility as eating your vegetables, you need to realize it’s dessert, according to world-renowned environmental scientist Dr. Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown.
“This is the good stuff,” Foley says. “This is an opportunity to be creative, rethink our brand, rethink our mission, rethink how we engage our business.
“Sometimes, it feels like sustainability falls to the bottom of the priorities. But ask yourself the alternative: Do you want a company that’s unsustainable? That makes things that hurt people, the environment and the economy? We need to recapture this mission with enthusiasm and gusto. It’s not about doing the environmental good thing at the end of the list. It’s about reimagining the business to be better.”
Foley will explain how during his keynote speech at PPAI Responsibility Summit on Tuesday, Sept. 16. Register now.
‘Differentiate Yourself’
A sustainability expert, author and public speaker, Foley’s work focuses on understanding our changing planet and finding new solutions to sustain the climate, ecosystems and natural resources we all depend on.
His groundbreaking research and insights have led him to become a trusted advisor to governments, foundations, non-governmental organizations and business leaders around the world.
- He has published over 130 peer-reviewed scientific articles.
- In 2014, Thomson Reuters named him a “Highly Cited Researcher” in ecology and environmental science, placing him among the top 1% most cited global scientists.
- He has won numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, awarded by President Bill Clinton.
Foley granted PPAI Media a sneak peek of his presentation ahead of PPAI Responsibility Summit next week in Newport Beach, California.
PPAI Media: How can the promotional products industry continue to combat its “brandfill” reputation?
Dr. Jonathan Foley: It’s obviously a really challenging issue for the industry. The right approach is to be more thoughtful about offering products that people will actually use. Secondly, the industry needs to make things better in terms of materials, longevity and sustainability of the products themselves. Lastly, you want to think about ways you can link these promotional products to experiences to create brand affinity.
It doesn’t mean this industry needs to suffer. Instead, it’s another place for innovation to differentiate yourself. It’s a plus, not a minus. That’s one of the interesting things about sustainability: it’s not just about avoiding harm – it’s about doing more good. Brands that do that will actually benefit from this.
PPAI Media: How can climate solutions drive operational resilience?
Foley: There’s an elephant in the room in 2025. We’ve seen a big shift in the policy landscape and business sentiment on the issue of climate change. People may feel we’re encountering more headwinds when it comes to that issue.
But I’d like to dispel that myth and say progress is continuing as before albeit a little quieter. Businesses are still moving ahead quite well, according to BloombergNEF. Forecasts for deployment of renewable energy, more sustainable materials and climate solutions are generally going ahead faster than before.
Dr. Jonathan Foley
Executive Director, Project Drawdown
I want people to know that there’s still good work happening and that they can be part of it.
Secondly, climate solutions and sustainability aren’t a downer for business. Again, it’s an opportunity to do things that will make your business stronger. Are there opportunities to lower your operational costs through energy efficiency, using better materials, etc.? That’s low hanging fruit that anybody would want to pick up.
We’re also finding again and again that most climate solutions can in the long run be cheaper. Once you transition from one way of doing things to another, the operational savings are so big they often pay for themselves quite handsomely within a few years or within a decade, often beating market rates of return. Another advantage is brand valuation, brand reputation and workforce retention. Young people want to work at places with a mission that aligns with their values. So, this helps with recruitment and retention.
PPAI Media: What’s one action that small business leaders can do today to be more sustainable in their operations?
Foley: Efficiency gains in terms of energy use, material use, cutting waste, etc. are always the first place to start. There’s still tremendous efficiency gains to be had by redesigning, reprocessing, changing the way we manufacture and a creative reuse of materials.
I love conferences like the PPAI Responsibility Summit where we can encourage interesting collaborations. For example, how can a number of different companies team up to source materials better? Especially with tariffs, there are so many forces hitting the industry right now. Creative reimagining of how you do things will be what differentiates the successful businesses from the ones that aren’t.
Register Now
PPAI Responsibility Summit takes place Sept. 15-17 at the Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel in Newport Beach, California.
A must-attend event for any promo professional or company trying to navigate compliance regulations in the industry, PPAI Responsibility Summit is centered on critical sustainability and safety concerns.
Explore the associated business implications, challenges and opportunities across unique areas of interest, connect with fellow compliance and sustainability pros, and chart a course for your company’s continued progress.
Register here.
