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Sustainability Index
Understand the real impact of your promotional gifts
We've developed our own Sustainability Index to assess the environmental and social impact of both our products and their value chains.
Objective data
Verified information and trusted sources to help reduce the risk of greenwashing.
Our own methodology
A clearly defined framework for assessing every product thoroughly, consistently and honestly.
Transparent purchasing
Helping you align your corporate purchasing decisions with your company's values and sustainability goals.
Put sustainability at the heart of your strategy
At Gift Campaign, we refuse to turn a blind eye when it comes to sustainability. That's why we're proud to act as an ethical filter between manufacturers and your business. Our aim is to help you make more responsible purchasing decisions, based on reliable data and aligned with your organisation's environmental commitments.
We examine the traceability of materials and verify the certifications held by both products and suppliers. In doing so, we transform complex technical information into a transparent, auditable sustainability rating.
What this index is and what it isn't
The Sustainability Index allows you to compare products within the Gift Campaign range. However, it does not provide a complete assessment of a product's overall environmental impact, nor is it a substitute for a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Scores are based on the information that is available and verifiable at the time of assessment.
Independent evidence and recognised certifications
The highest scores are awarded to products or suppliers that provide documented evidence, such as material certifications, social audits, traceability systems or independent ESG assessments.
The standards considered include GOTS, Fairtrade, FSC, PEFC, GRS, RCS, OCS, OEKO-TEX, RDS, Cocoa Horizons, EcoVadis, B Corp, SA8000, SMETA and amfori BSCI, depending on the type of product and the information available.
How the 100 points are allocated
We assess six key areas to evaluate each product's sustainability credentials and level of transparency.
- Material40 points
- Certifications20 points
- Supplier ESG performance15 points
- Packaging10 points
- Country of manufacture10 points
- Additional data5 points
Sources used to calculate the score
The quality of the Sustainability Index depends on the quality of the data available. That's why we distinguish between independent evidence, technical product information and additional traceability data.
Certifications and audits
Product standards, chain of custody certifications, social audits and independent supplier assessments, where available.
Technical information
Product data sheets, material composition, packaging, country of manufacture and documentation provided by suppliers.
Additional information
Carbon footprint data, traceability systems, branding methods that use fewer consumables, and independently verified social initiatives.
How each category is scored
Each score is assigned according to predefined criteria to ensure a consistent and objective assessment, avoiding subjective case-by-case judgements.
1. Material
40 pointsWe assess the type of material used and its contribution to the circular economy or to the more efficient use of natural resources.
What we assess
- Whether the material is reclaimed, recycled, renewable or highly recyclable.
- Whether it represents the main material in the product or only a minor component.
- Reclaimed materials: recovered textiles, production offcuts40
- Recycled materials: recycled PET (rPET), recycled aluminium, recycled cotton36
- Renewable materials: bamboo, cork, wood, natural cotton32
- Highly recyclable materials: aluminium, stainless steel, glass24
- Sustainable material used as a minor component16
- Other materials with no identified circular attribute0
2. Certifications
20 pointsWe recognise certifications that provide independent verification, traceability, and environmental and/or social assurance.
What we assess
- Independent verification through audits or external controls.
- Material traceability or chain of custody.
- The scope of the standard: environmental, social, or both.
- GOTS / Fairtrade18
- FSC16
- PEFC / GRS15
- RDS12
- UTZ10
- RCS / OCS / OEKO-TEX8
- Cocoa Horizons / PETA7 / 5
- Bonus for two certifications+1
- Bonus for three or more certifications+2
- Maximum total score20
3. Supplier ESG Performance
15 pointsWe assess independent ratings and certifications that reflect the supplier's ESG performance and the management of risks within the supply chain.
What we assess
- Supplier ESG ratings, such as EcoVadis or B Corp.
- Social audits and labour standards at manufacturing facilities.
- Where multiple assessments are available, only the highest-scoring one is taken into account.
- EcoVadis Platinum15
- EcoVadis Gold13
- B Corp10
- EcoVadis Silver / SA80009
- BSCI / SMETA8
- EcoVadis Bronze6
- EcoVadis Rated (no medal) / ISO 140014
- ISO 45001 / Gift Campaign ESG Declaration3
- No verifiable information available0
4. Packaging
10 pointsWe assess the packaging provided with each product and its potential to reduce waste, improve recyclability and minimise unnecessary plastic.
What we assess
- Whether the product is supplied without individual packaging.
- The packaging material and how easily it can be recycled.
- Whether grouped packaging is used to reduce packaging per unit.
- No individual packaging10
- Compostable or biodegradable packaging9
- Paper, cardboard or recyclable grouped packaging8
- Individual recyclable plastic packaging4
- Other cases with no identified improvement0
5. Country of Manufacture
10 pointsThe country of manufacture is assessed by considering both proximity to the target market and the country's general regulatory and ESG context.
What we assess
- Geographic proximity and the potential impact on transport.
- Country groupings with comparable regulatory standards.
- Whether manufacturing origin information is available.
- Europe with high ESG standards10
- Nearby regions7
- Rest of the world with high ESG standards5
- Rest of the world2
- Country of manufacture unknown0
6. Additional Data
5 pointsWe award additional points where specific, verifiable evidence is available relating to transparency, traceability or impact reduction.
What we assess
- Supplementary information provided by the supplier or through recognised traceability systems.
- One point, or more where indicated, is awarded for each verified piece of evidence, up to a maximum of five points.
- Carbon footprint data available+2
- Recognised social audit+2
- Traceability system, such as Aware™ or Waste2Wear+1
- Maximum score for this category5
Quick Guide to Certifications
We simplify the technical terminology so you can understand what each certification really guarantees.
GRS / RCS
The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) verify recycled content and its traceability throughout the production chain.
FSC
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifies that wood and paper originate from responsibly managed sources.
GOTS
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certifies organic textiles and requires compliance with environmental and social criteria throughout processing.
BSCI / SMETA
Social audit programmes that assess working conditions, health and safety, workers' rights and other social risks within manufacturing facilities.
EcoVadis
Assesses a company's sustainability performance across areas including environmental management, human rights, ethics and responsible procurement.
B Corp
A business certification based on standards covering social and environmental impact, transparency and corporate accountability.
Worked Example: Sports T-Shirt
To illustrate how the Sustainability Index works, we've broken down the score awarded to one of the products in our catalogue with the strongest circular economy credentials.
Reference: 40997
Sustainability Index calculation
Overall rating: Good sustainable choice
How to align your promotional gifts with your CSR goals
Our Sustainability Index helps you focus on the areas that matter most, depending on your organisation's environmental and social priorities.
Circular economy
If your goal is to reduce waste and minimise the use of virgin resources, prioritise products with a high score in the Material category.
Look for: recycled, reclaimed or renewable materials.
Lower transport impact
If you're aiming to reduce transport distances and associated emissions, pay close attention to the Country of Manufacture score.
Look for: products manufactured locally, in neighbouring countries or elsewhere in Europe.
Independent assurance and ethical standards
If your procurement policy requires strong ethical and social standards throughout the supply chain, focus on the Certifications and Supplier ESG Performance categories.
Look for: certifications and ratings such as GRS, FSC, GOTS, BSCI and EcoVadis.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sustainability Index
Here you'll find answers to the most common questions, helping you understand the scoring system clearly and avoid overinterpreting the results.
What does the Sustainability Index measure?
The index assesses the sustainability attributes and transparency of each product across six key areas: material, certifications, supplier, packaging, country of manufacture, and additional data.
Does the score represent the product's overall environmental impact?
No. The score is designed to compare products within the Gift Campaign catalogue. It is not a substitute for a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and does not represent the product's absolute environmental impact.
Can a product made from recycled materials still receive a relatively modest score?
Yes. Material is only one of the six assessment categories. The overall score also reflects certifications, supplier ESG performance, packaging, country of manufacture and the availability of additional verified information.
What happens if supplier information is unavailable?
Where verifiable information is unavailable, the product will receive a lower score. This does not necessarily mean the product lacks positive sustainability attributes; it only means that there is insufficient documented evidence for those attributes to be included in the index.
How often are the scores updated?
Scores may be updated whenever we receive new technical data, certifications, packaging information, country of manufacture details, carbon footprint data or updated supplier assessments.
Can I request products that meet a minimum Sustainability Index score?
Yes. The Sustainability Index can be used as a selection criterion to compare products and prioritise those that best support your organisation's responsible procurement policies.