Partnerships Matter. Tasks, both large and small are easier when we work together. Often challenges don't seem nearly as difficult when we look at challenges as one step at a time. The modern consumer has access to information at their fingertips. Quickly an individual can dive into your personal and professional social media to learn what you are liking, sharing and posting. Looking for local investments, we suggest you consider local programs & organizations where we volunteer, mentor, sponsor and donate. Learn more here. Looking for a way to make a difference on a larger scale? Simple ways to help include purchasing products for your marketing campaigns that are tied to national and global efforts. As always follow our social media & newsletters for ways to invest in our Cares Program!

Triple bottom line - this breaks down a company’s performance goals into three areas: people, planet and profit. The idea is to improve performance over the long term by following more-sustainable business practices that take all three areas into account. Upcycling - the process of transforming products into something new, perceived to be of greater value than the original. In the promotional industry, a number of brands are making upcycled merchandise; one example is screen-printing designs onto pre-worn tees. Vegan A diet and lifestyle that avoids animal-derived products. Wish-cycling When you recycle items without knowing whether they can actually be recycled, but expecting them to be properly dealt with anyway. Zero waste A movement focused on waste prevention by encouraging reuse of products so that no trash is sent to landfills, incinerators or the ocean. Recycling, repurposing and composting are several ways items are diverted from landfills to get closer to zero-waste goals.

Ask anyone what they learned in a book versus what they learned when they became part of the workforce and you'll likely get some great stories in return. The fact is, no amount of prep or reading prepares you for working in the "real world"- with real people, on real projects, with real deadlines, for real money. Earlier this summer, Promotional Partners' team member, Angela Schulze, lead a team of student interns from two local WCPSS career academies to share a fresh perspective on the value of these career academies. There are 20 career academies throughout Wake County and Promotional Partner's own full circle story, inspired this story below. What Can The Academy Do For You? The “Peak of Good Living” slogan encompasses more than purely living; it is a promise of flourishing growth and continuous education. It’s only fitting that The Peak has two career academies that focus on preparing students for the workforce through an enhanced curriculum by developing and sharpening student skillsets. Apex Friendship High School’s Academy of Engineering (AoE) prepares its students by teaching the engineering design process to solve problems, a skill that can be taken with them as they enter the workforce and are presented with real-world obstacles. Apex High School’s Academy of Information Technology (AoIT) program leans toward teaching technical skills to students to set them apart in the workplace and propel them forward with the mindset of regularly improving their skills. While both programs have similar missions, each career academy is unique with specialized values to better prepare its cohorts for the working world. This summer, two current academy interns and one former academy intern worked together to blend their respective experiences to show how the versatile courses and values of a career academy are beneficial to a variety of students. Meet the students: Connor Schuh, a current AoIT intern at Promotional Partners Inc., Etalia Plesh, a current AoE intern at Positively Apex, and former AoIT intern & team member at Promotional Partners Inc., Angela Schulze. They collaborated about their educational journeys and how this summer’s experience will be beneficial in their professional journey. Schulze points out, “Systemic desensitization works, because the networking workshops and mock interviews helped me get through my nervousness of talking to adults in a higher position than me, so I could become more confident and be the charismatic person I am today.” Schuh, who plans to pursue an engineering career, favors working on projects that are hands-on and straightforward. His coursework and internship experiences have been pushing him to be succinct in his writing and to shine a spotlight on himself within seven seconds. It seems that any suggestion of a teambuilding activity is met with a grimace but being in AoIT showed Schulze that once you get past feeling cliché, teambuilding can be fun and carefree. Some of her favorite memories from being in the Academy are from the field trips, when the cohort wasn’t paying attention to friend groups or teenage angst; it was all smiles and laughter. Conversely, Plesh hasn’t been able to participate in many of the teambuilding field trips due to the coronavirus pandemic, so she hasn’t been able to experience the memories created from these excursions. However, Plesh did say that she appreciates that the AoE has taught her how to use the decision matrix to come up with solutions to problems. An essential aspect of these academies is to apply a student’s skills in an internship with a local company to gain insight into the professional world with a student’s own eyes. Local businesses benefit from these symbiotic relationships – the employer gets to mentor an aspiring professional and learn the perspective of a younger demographic, and the student gets to be mentored by a seasoned professional. Such experiences are valuable to students because it forces interns to apply what they’ve learned in the academy to real-world circumstances. Without partnerships with local businesses, career academies would struggle to prove that their missions are successful. Internships provide businesses the chance to be recognized within the community for giving back, and for investing energy and resources into future professionals. Academy Director Diane Cadavid of Apex Friendship High School said, “The local business community plays an active role in helping to develop the college and career readiness skills of our students enrolled in the Academy. Our advisory board members serve as mentors, meeting with students on a monthly basis in preparation for their internship experience. In addition, they help judge student presentations, assist with work-based learning experiences, and guide us on curriculum decisions.” Director of AoIT Teia Robinson agrees, succinctly saying, “The support of the local business community is vital to the success of AoIT and more importantly the individual students. Through job shadows and internships our students enter the Apex career pipeline, gaining transferable and technical skills.” In addition to mentoring, students receive the opportunity to grow their network as they graduate and move cities. This strong, unifying factor of collaboration between academies, students, and participating businesses helps all parties gain valuable perspectives while encouraging professional growth to uphold the title of “The Peak of Good Living.” Article Authors for local Greet Friendship Magazine: Angela Schulze - Promotional Partners Connor Schuh - Apex High student; AoIT Academy - Promotional Partner's Intern Etalia Plesh - Apex Friendship High student, AoE Academy - Greet Friendship Magazine Intern As a business with 2 former AoIT interns as valued teammates - we tend to agree that Academies Make Careers!

Feed the head, the heart and the mind. The more you know about the terminology around environmental efforts the easier it is to discuss how our partners are offering choices for your marketing campaigns. Like what? Today is the DO list- D through 0! Deforestation - the action of clearing a wide swath of trees. It decreases habitat and threatens biodiversity, while contributing to other problems such as climate change, soil erosion, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and more, according to environmental scientists. Ecolabel - a visual communication tool showing that a particular product, service or company meets specific environmental standards. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) - investors and others will look at metrics from these three areas to evaluate how advanced a company or other entity is with sustainability goals. Fair Trade - an arrangement to help producers in developing countries achieve equitable trade relationships. The idea is to provide sustainable living wages and safe working conditions for farmers and workers around the world. Greenhouse Effect - a process that involves the trapping of the sun’s warmth in the lower atmosphere, resulting in a warmer planet. Greenhouse Gas - carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases that let sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but prevent heat from leaving the atmosphere. Greenwashing - when a company makes sustainability claims for marketing purposes without making any real efforts to follow through. Examples include oil and gas companies advertising "low-carbon energy products" when the vast majority of their offerings are still traditional fossil fuels, or brands announcing plans to end virgin plastic use without outlining clear benchmarks or timelines for doing so. On a smaller scale, it could be a brand logo that incorporates nature-themed graphics to piggyback on the positive public sentiment toward “green” products, without making changes to the products being sold. The term "greenwashing" was coined in 1986 by environmentalist Jay Westerveld. Microplastic Pollution - tiny plastic particles that result from the development and breakdown of larger plastics that cause harm to the environment. There are 24.4 trillion pieces of microplastics – equivalent to about 30 million plastic water bottles – in the world’s upper oceans, according to a recent estimate. Organic - a type of agriculture that minimizes the use of chemical pesticides, hormones, synthetic fertilizers and other toxic materials throughout the cultivation of crops. Genetically modified (GMO) seeds are also prohibited. Organic is also a food-labeling term, showing that something was produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act. Stay tuned for the next section of eco-vocab!

Reborn. In nature worms to caterpillars, which is one of nature's dramatic changes. In the human world change usually happens because individuals form organizations that focus on actions that will bring about change. Today's alphabet letters include F-L. Fair Labor Association (FLA) This organization has been around since 1999 and operates under the conviction that “all goods should be produced fairly and ethically,” bringing together three groups – universities, civil society organizations and socially responsible companies – to create sustainable solutions to solve systemic labor issues. The FLA offers tools and resources to businesses, delivers training to factory workers and management, conducts due diligence through independent assessments and advocates for greater accountability and transparency in supply chains. Fair Trade Certified The nonprofit Fair Trade USA is the leading certifier of fair trade products in North America. The Fair Trade Certified seal on a product shows that it was made according to standards that promote sustainable livelihoods and safe working conditions, protection of the environment, and strong, transparent supply chains. According to the nonprofit, the seal is given to thousands of products, sending $740 million to farmers and workers since 1998. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) This organization has been around for about 25 years and is devoted to promoting sustainable forest management. The FSC provides two main types of certification: FSC Forest Management and FSC Chain of Custody. An independent organization audits the forest or supply chain to ensure businesses meet FSC standards, which cover issues ranging from environmental impact and community relations to workers’ rights and monitoring and assessment. The FSC also has three product labels: FSC 100%, which means all the materials are sourced from certified forests; FSC Recycled, which means products are made from 100% recycled content, whether pre- or post-consumer; and FSC Mix, which means products are made from a combination of certified forests, recycled materials or FSC-controlled wood. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) This organization guarantees organic fibers, from the field to fashion, using a quality assurance system based on on-site inspection and certification of the entire textile supply chain. According to GOTS, it’s a “stringent voluntary global standard for the entire post-harvest processing of apparel and home textiles made with certified organic fiber and includes both environmental and social criteria.” Green America This organization certifies companies that are committed to using businesses as a platform of social change. Companies that receive the Green Business Certification must meet and exceed a set of standards to operate a values-based enterprise that follows the principles of social justice and environmental sustainability. They must be environmentally responsible in how they source, manufacture and market materials. Gold Certified Green Businesses are a tier above the first designation, and firms can earn this distinction after completing additional work beyond the general certification. LEED This certification, an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is given out by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). A building project earns points by meeting standards for areas like carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental quality. Projects go through a verification and review process and can be awarded with various levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. According to USGBC, there are more than 100,000 buildings participating in the program today. Note- Once again, our A-Z look at sustainability was pulled from ASI, Advertising Specialty Institute articles.

Wind- what can it do? Cool us, add to a fall day experience, damage and offset costs. How? 99% lower emissions than fossil fuels Emissions only need to happen once for each wind turbine, which will be in service for at least 25 years. In this time, they will be producing electricity without emitting any more carbon dioxide, except for those from the vessels used for service and maintenance. Today we focus on letters C and E. Carbonfree CarbonFund.org offers this product certification as a way to promote environmentally responsible, carbon-neutral products. To qualify, businesses must perform a life-cycle assessment to determine the carbon footprint of a product, register products as Carbonfree, offset the product’s carbon footprint quarterly and promote the product’s environmental benefits to customers. Climate Neutral Climate Neutral is working to eliminate global carbon emissions by encouraging brands to measure, offset and reduce the carbon they emit. Companies certified through the nonprofit measure their carbon footprint and must offset and reduce their carbon emissions, achieving zero net carbon emissions for all the carbon created while making and delivering their products and services for a year. Companies must report on their reduction progress annually. Cradle to Cradle The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute aims to power innovation in the circular economy, by setting the global standard for products that are safe, circular and made responsibly. The institute administers a third-party certification program that looks at five categories of sustainability performance: material health, ensuring that materials are safe for humans and the environment; product circularity, enabling a circular economy through regenerative products and process design; clean air and climate production, protecting clean air, promoting renewable energy and reducing harmful emissions; water and soil stewardship, safeguarding clean water and healthy soil; and social fairness, respecting human rights and contributing to a fair and equitable society. ENERGY STAR For a building to be certified as ENERGY STAR, it must meet strict energy-performance standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), earning a score of 75 or higher on the EPA’s 1-100 scale. That shows it performs better than at least 75% of similar buildings nationwide. Certification is given annually, and the application must be verified by a third-party licensed professional.

Learning the alphabet is critical to learning to read. Similarly, learning the alphabet behind sustainability starts with A to C! Ever wonder what “carbon neutral” really means? Or what makes a shirt organic? And what the difference is between compostable and recyclable? The more you delve into the realm of sustainability, the more terms there are to learn. Use this glossary to get quick definitions of some of the more common concepts and materials in the industry. Biodegradable - items like paper or food waste that will eventually break down into their basic components and return to the earth. “In terms of environmental benefits, the best biodegradable material will break down quickly rather than taking years. It leaves nothing harmful behind and saves landfill space,” according to The Balance Small Business. Be aware that not everything marketed as biodegradable meets these standards. Carbon Footprint - the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions (such as carbon dioxide and methane) from the production, use and disposal of a particular product or service. According to the Nature Conservancy – which features a carbon footprint calculator on its website – the average American has a carbon footprint of 16 tons, one of the highest in the world. Carbon neutral - you’ve probably seen big brands announce their “carbon neutral” goals. Netflix, for example, plans to achieve “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2022. Google says it achieved this goal in 2007. Facebook and Apple have set a date of 2030, Amazon is aiming for 2040 and Coca-Cola for 2050. When a person or company becomes carbon neutral, that means their output of greenhouse gases has a net neutral effect on the environment, often because they’ve offset it through various means. Carbon Offset - businesses, governments and individuals can pay someone else to cut greenhouse gases from the atmosphere by investing in solar or wind energy, planting trees, restoring rainforests or other alternatives. The buyers then get “credit” for that reduction, helping to zero out their own emissions. The practice is not without controversy, but has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. Vox has a good explainer with details on how carbon offsets work. Chain of Custody - how a product is traced through a supply chain to determine if it meets criteria of an environmental certification or ecolabel. Circular Economy - the traditional economic model is to take, make and waste – a linear progression. Those in sustainability spheres aspire to a more circular model, based on three principles and driven by design: - eliminate waste and pollution - circulate products and materials - regenerate nature “A circular economy decouples economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. It is a resilient system that is good for business, people and the environment,” says the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Climate Change - long-term shifts in temperatures and weather. Though it can occur naturally, human activity has been a main factor in climate change in modern times, particularly through the burning of fossil fuels, which produce heat-trapping gases. This simple guide from the BBC explains it in more detail. Closed-Loop System - the idea is to use the same materials over and over again in production, both to conserve natural resources and to keep items from ending up in a landfill. Patagonia is, for example, an apparel company that encourages consumers to mail in old shirts, which are then broken down into recycled fibers and turned into a new shirt. Patagonia also has a program called "Worn Wear" where people send in pre-worn garments for repair and resale. Compostable - a product that can decompose into nontoxic natural elements, at a rate similar to other organic materials. Compostable products should not be recycled or thrown in the trash, since these products require special conditions to biodegrade that aren’t necessarily found in a landfill. You can take them to facilities that specialize in composting or sometimes add them to home compost piles. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) - the policies and practices a business adopts to support various social and environmental improvements. Cradle-to-cradle design - also called circularity, this is when brands design products with their end-of-life in mind, figuring out ways from the very beginning of the product lifecycle to keep them from a landfill, whether it’s through reuse, composting or recycling. Keep following this week for the complete list of terms A-Z! Data provided by ASI- Advertising Specialty Institute's PromoForThePlanet initiative.

While not all crime is preventable, common sense goes a long way. Locking up valuables and keeping them out of sight, as well as not leaving keys in the ignition of an unattended car or being aware of your surroundings are frequent education tips from first responders. Since 1984, the month of October has been designated National Crime Prevention Month. Ever since, the National Crime Prevention Council has been on a mission to educate communities on ways to prevent crime and stay safe. From local law enforcement agencies to neighborhood watch groups, many organizations can spread safety messages with promotional products. Harry Hall said, “Crime prevention is everybody’s business.” Which means businesses can give away items to remind others of safety tips or add an extra layer of protection to early morning or evening walks & runs with glow in the dark bands, whistles and bike locks are perfect for keeping your bike secure when you take a break. Do you lock your car doors when the car is in the driveway or you run errands?

Connecting your brand message to consumers can be challenging if you always try the same strategy. It's a little like enjoying chocolate ice cream, but never trying another flavor. Puzzles and stickers offer edge-to-edge graphics, with low-cost materials, USA Made and endless marketing strategies. What can you do with puzzles or stickers that's new? Distribute by hand or mail, peel & stick custom shapes that represent your product or brand. Mail one piece of a puzzle to an attendee, then have them complete the puzzle at each station at your conference. Inspire teambuilding by giving a different puzzle piece to employees that are on-boarding, then ask them to solve the puzzle together. Introduce a service that solves your consumers needs Make fidgeting fun! Custom imaging on a key tag game that keeps your recipient busy in airports, waiting at the DMV or just sitting on a park bench. That's 5 great reasons to try something new!

If you’re looking for innovative ways to elevate your brand image, spice up your message and build your professional relationships, we have the secret recipe for you! Let's explore some options: A unique teambuilding product that suggests a partnership will make each party stronger. "Like salt and pepper, we’re better together!" Giving out - Himalayan Sea Salt / Black Peppercorns Don’t Let your Summer Go Up in Flames! Safety First for the BBQ Create a BBQ contest Use a call to action, "Looking for hot ideas?" Lots of unique ways to use BBQ rub Individual tube mailers to gift set boxes - let's get creative! Choose from over 500 spices, teas and coffees to add extraordinary flavor to your gift box. Perfect as a finishing touch or as your box’s focal point to create a special experience. Customized packaging is a cost-effective way to personalize and bring your theme or brand message to life. Why settle for ordinary when you can be extraordinary? Create a call to action that fits your message & marketing expectations. Over 500 innovative choices provides so many ways to be creative, which fits our marketing & design team perfectly. Besides, these types of products also fit our Quirky Enough to Work side too!

Cooler weather will come and when it does, cozy fabrics that deliver on softness, style and practicality will become essential. While we were kitting long before 2020, the popularity of box kits featuring the "unboxing" experience of a curated collection in a nicely packaged set became the go-to way to connect your message to individuals. From gifting to onboarding employees, the boxed set became the norm. Boxed sets are still trending because of the ease of distribution. What's simpler than designing & selecting a set now and ordering it to ship later? Yep - it's that simple. From gourmet food gifts to custom kitted collections, even products for fur-babies! Why Kit? Branding - Create more opportunities for your brand and message to be exposed and shared! Experience - Everyone loves receiving gifts, especially one that unveils a delicious experience! Your Way - Create a kitted gift that represents your message and core brand principles! Fulfillment - We have the team and facility to coordinate, package, and ship your unique gift! Planning for an Amazing Launch - we have experience! Preparation is key - know the message you want to convey, the recipient's preferences and your budget - including the shipping & drop shipping costs. Let's Do This! We make kitting a snap, with our expert team from design to fulfillment.

A bow! Did you know today was National Bow Day? Whether you are a fan of suits with bowties, a cheerleader, pageant contestant, equestrian, the spelling bee winner, or wrapping a gift with ribbon, a bow is an essential part of the project. Besides, a bow does not require sizes; it fits everyone! Often, these products are USA Made and supporting even more than one local partner. Let's explore some ways to tie in your brand message: Gifts - a gift always looks spiffy with custom ribbon Spirit - cheer, school mascots - a simple way to all be part of a team Utility - Scrunchies are very trendy right now and are a fun way to hold your hair up and out of your face while being active Unity - neckwear like scarves, bowties and neckties are a perfect unifying factor; a way to showcase individuals all part of one organization. This NC partner has numerous ways to "weave" in your message. Here's a case study about how a necktie is an ideal location for inserting iconic triangles that convey a dash more. Recognition - ribbons are also very similar to bows and are very often used to recognize winners of all sorts of competitions Knot all marketing campaigns should use the same products. This Quirky Enough to Work idea might tie up the loose thread you've been looking for to stand out in the crowd.