PSI – The International Network of the Promotional Products Industry
PSI 2016 – The Leading European Trade Show of the Promotional Products Industry
13 to 15 January 2016, Exhibition Centre Düsseldorf
14 September 2015
Victorious with sustainability:
The winners of the PSI Sustainability Awards 2015
The mood was festive Friday night at the Classic Remise in Düsseldorf. On 11 September, the listed
historic roundhouse from the 1930s – home today to a permanent classic car exhibit – served as the
sophisticated backdrop for the presentation of prizes in eight categories at the inaugural PSI
Sustainability Awards 2015. The award, which delivers reliable proof of sustainability in the industry,
was created by the PSI. The name sponsor and key contributor is “James & Nicholson”, a Daiber
brand.
Participating companies qualified by submitting a number of certificates as transparent evidence of
their economic, environmental and social commitment. They could also apply for the awards by
entering initiatives, campaigns or sustainable products. As a result, submissions ran the gamut of
sustainability: winning initiatives covered everything from bolstering security of supply in rural areas
and promoting the increased use of bicycles to condoms produced in a carbon-neutral way from
100% certified fair-trade natural rubber to a campaign using a multitude of high-profile initiatives to
spread a set of global objectives.
The winners of the PSI Sustainability Awards 2015
Category 1: Economic Excellence 2015
Walter Medien GmbH
Walter Medien received the award in the “Economic Excellence” category. The company has
earned ISO 9001 and ISO 12647 certification, among others. In addition, Walter Medien has won
the Innovation Award of the German Printing Industry. The company scored points at the PSI
Sustainability Awards by submitting a wide range of certificates.
Category 2: Environmental Excellence 2015
Kahla Thüringen Porzellan GmbH
Kahla is certified according to ISO 14001 and ÖKOPROFIT. Furthermore, Kahla has proven a
strong commitment to sustainability by creating a comprehensive and transparent in-house label,
the “KAHLA pro Eco” strategy. Without exception, the company’s porcelain products are “Made in
Germany” in a fair and socially responsible way from natural resources. Thanks to investments in
innovative technologies, Kahla has also been able to reduce CO2 emissions. What’s more, the
PSI Promotional Product
Service Institute
Reed Exhibitions Deutschland
GmbH
Völklinger Str. 4
40219 Düsseldorf
Press Office:
Dr. Mike Seidensticker (Director)
Olesja Kehler
Tel: +49(0)2 11 90 191-348
[email protected]
www.psi-network.de
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company’s own photovoltaics system generates eco-friendly power from solar energy. It’s this
commitment to the environment that propelled Kahla to a win in the “Environmental Excellence”
category.
Category 3: Social Excellence 2015
Brand Addition
Brand Addition, which holds multiple certificates and seals, is the winner of the PSI Sustainability
Award in the “Social Excellence” category. For example, the company is verified under SA8000, an
internationally recognised standard that certifies a corporation’s social responsibility vis-à-vis its
employees and the environment. The Sedex seal and EPPA Code of Conduct Gold certification are
further signs of Brand Addition’s social commitment, which was now recognised yet again with the
bestowing of the award.
Category 4: Environment Initiative 2015
Halfar System GmbH – HALFAR® manufactures commuter bikes and promotes grassed rooftops
Halfar decided to reduce its impact on the environment by promoting the increased use of bicycles
by company employees, offering them a bike to commute to work. By covering 50% of the lease
payment, Halfar has already succeeded in moving about ten employees from the car to the
company bike. The goal is for employees to drive approximately 15,000 km less by car each year.
Moreover, Halfar launched a green roof initiative. The employees themselves are installing rooftop
plants, with the aim of doubling the life of the roof’s waterproofing system, among other benefits.
Rainwater retention relieves pressure on the sewer system and can save wastewater fees.
Furthermore, the green roof improves the climate in the immediate area by humidifying the air,
reduces noise, filters dust, produces oxygen and creates new wildlife habitats. Both initiatives were
considered in choosing Halfar as the winner of the PSI Sustainability Award in the “Environment
Initiative 2015” category.
Category 5: Social Initiative 2015
uma Schreibgeräte Ullmann GmbH – uma assumes responsibility
Writing utensil manufacturer Schreibgeräte Ullmann was recognised in the “Social Initiative 2015”
category for a series of initiatives dubbed “uma assumes responsibility”. They include the operation
of a rural supermarket carrying everyday consumption items. In addition, the company works with
the Fritz Ullmann Foundation to support social facilities such as the “Age-appropriate Living” project
in Fischerbach and a diverse range of other social organisations. This commitment won over the
jury.
Category 6: Sustainable Product 2015
Fair Squared GmbH – Fair Squared condoms
They’re the only condoms on the market that can be called climate-neutral. That’s because the
Cologne-based company Fair Squared has created a sustainable promotional product by producing
condoms made from 100% certified fair-trade natural rubber and by optimising processes to
significantly reduce CO2 emissions. And thanks to a reforestation project along the former inner
PSI Promotional Product
Service Institute
Reed Exhibitions Deutschland
GmbH
Völklinger Str. 4
40219 Düsseldorf
Press Office:
Dr. Mike Seidensticker (Director)
Olesja Kehler
Tel: +49 (0)2 11 90 191-348
[email protected]
www.psi-network.de
3
German border, CO2 emissions are now offset completely. The product has been certified by the
Fair Rubber seal and FSC. For making this truly sustainable product, Fair Squared received the
award in the “Sustainable Product 2015” category.
Category 7: Sustainable Campaign 2015
Michael Schiffer Promotion GmbH & Co. KG – Stick This Book
“The Global Goals”, a NGO (Non-Government Organisation) committed to sustainability, aims at
raising awareness for a set of global and worldwide goals in the field of social and ecological
sustainability by organising a multitude of high-profile campaigns. A comprehensive campaign
entitled “Stick this Book” and organised with the British publishing house and Global Goals partner
Penguin has been underway since 3 September to advocate for women’s rights, the elimination of
hunger in the world and the promotion of renewable energy. To that end, Penguin Random House
and Michael Schiffer Promotion came up with the “Stick this Book” concept, a Post-it®-format book
containing special messages and calls to action. Young people, in particular, are summoned to use
these books in creative ways and get these messages heard. Other initiatives are lending their
support to the campaign as well, including “The World’s largest lesson”, “Radio Everyone” and
“Prayer for Everyone”. Now the efforts of Michael Schiffer Promotion were rewarded with a win in
the “Sustainable Campaign 2015” category.
Category 8: Sustainable Company of the Year 2015
Walter Medien GmbH
The company that scores points in as many of the preceding categories as possible by
autonomously finding the best balance of economy, environment and social impact – and
documenting it in transparent and convincing ways – receives the further distinction of being named
the “Sustainable Company of the Year 2015”. The winner in this category is Walter Medien. The
company’s application included the Alba CO2 Saver certificate and standards such as ISO 9001,
ISO 14001 and ISO 12647. Plus the calendar initiative “Herzenssache” (“A matter of the heart”); the
prevention prize issued by the energy, textile and electrical industry employers’ liability insurance
association BG ETEM; the environmental award issued by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for the
Environment and Traffic; and the Walter Statement on the Environment. For all those efforts, the
company was now rewarded with the PSI Sustainability Award.
Scoring system and jury
Participation was open to all companies from the promotional products sector from Germany and
abroad, i.e. both PSI members and non-members. Submissions were evaluated using a predefined
scoring system as well as by a jury of experts whose members included: Nico Briskorn (Director of
Corporate Social Responsibility, VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH), Gaby Dietzen (journalist and
TV/radio host), Michael Freter (PSI Managing Director), Lutz Gathmann (designer), Miriam Kehl
(Associate Director, Green Alley Investment GmbH), Hugo W. Pettendrup (Founder and Managing
Director, HP-FundConsult – The bridge between profit and non-profit) and Dr. Mike Seidensticker
(Press Spokesman, Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH).
PSI Promotional Product
Service Institute
Reed Exhibitions Deutschland
GmbH
Völklinger Str. 4
40219 Düsseldorf
Press Office:
Dr. Mike Seidensticker (Director)
Olesja Kehler
Tel: +49 (0)2 11 90 191-348
[email protected]
www.psi-network.de
4
About the PSI Sustainability Awards
With the new PSI Sustainability Awards, the Promotional Product Service Institute (PSI) offers
reliable proof of sustainability in the industry. The sponsor and key contributor is “James &
Nicholson”, a Daiber brand producing fashionable products at attractive prices and with utmost
social responsibility. The awards are presented in eight categories: Economic Excellence,
Ecological Excellence, Social Excellence, Ecological Initiative of the Year, Social Initiative of the
Year, Product, Campaign and PSI Sustainable Company of the Year 2015. Participation is open to
all companies from the promotional products sector from Germany and abroad, i.e. both PSI
members and non-members. They can enter a product, a campaign or their company as a whole.
The awards evaluate companies, in-house initiatives, products and campaigns according to the
three pillars of CSR and sustainability: economy, environment and social impact. Competing in eight
categories, participants are assigned a score based on an objective scoring system and the
opinions of a jury of experts.
About the PSI
The PSI (Promotional Product Service Institute) has been serving the European promotional
products industry and its market participants as a service provider and networking platform for over
50 years. Its services support the daily work of 6,000 market participants such as manufacturers,
importers, finishers, distributors and agencies. Key services include personalised consultation and
product research as well as marketing, professional training, industry contacts and online product
search solutions. These services enable our member companies to generate new business and
grow their profits long-term.
www.psi-messe.com
www.psi-network.de
PSI Promotional Product
Service Institute
Reed Exhibitions Deutschland
GmbH
Völklinger Str. 4
40219 Düsseldorf
Press Office:
Dr. Mike Seidensticker (Director)
Olesja Kehler
Tel: +49 (0)2 11 90 191-348
[email protected]
www.psi-network.de