Globally, about 450 million metric tons of plastic are produced every year and 9.5 million tons of plastic are thrown into the ocean annually, most of it single-use. Both these numbers are on the rise. A report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation says by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than there are fish (by weight).

“Today, our production team uses recycled polyester made from used PET bottles to create new polyester fibers for our products. And our extensive field testing shows it performs just as well, if not better, as products made from virgin polyester.

By recycling fabrics, we are reducing our dependence on petroleum as a raw material and prolonging landfill life, as well as reducing toxic emissions from incineration. By the end of this year, 60 percent of all used materials by BrandCharger will be derived from recycled materials. Switching to recycled from virgin materials also means we’ve reduced our carbon footprint significantly. Our goal is to use only sustainable recycled materials in our products by 2025.

To solve our plastic pollution problem at its root we are partnering with Textile Exchange, to offer products made from recycled PET bottles carrying the Recycled Claim Standard. Our supply chain stories tell the reality of what goes into making products—our effort to educate customers to make informed buying decisions. Our goal is to encourage the corporate gift industry to minimize its impact by talking openly about our experiences and failures.