Carbon Footprint Data, Built Into Product Browsing

We’ve put product CO2e data where it belongs: right on the product page.

No more guessing.

For years, we’ve supported brands and agencies who needed carbon numbers for campaigns, events, and internal reporting, but there was always a frustrating gap: you only saw the data after you’d already shortlisted products, requested quotes, and burned time going back and forth.

So we fixed it.

We’ve launched product carbon footprint data (CO2e) across our website, starting with 705 items in the first release. You can now filter ranges by CO2e, see the footprint while browsing categories, and check the value directly on product pages, which means you can rule items in or out before you even click. Fast decisions. Better choices.

Let’s be clear: this is CO2e, not a vague “green” badge.

Clarity matters.

A carbon footprint is only useful if the boundary is transparent and the claim is precise, especially in the UK and EU where regulators and watchdogs are increasingly allergic to woolly sustainability language. The UK’s Green Claims Code is explicit: claims must be accurate, clear, and backed by credible evidence, and they must not hide important information.

That’s why we show a number, explain what it covers, and avoid the lazy shortcut of slapping “eco-friendly” on everything.

What our CO2e figure includes (and what it does not).

Here’s the boundary.

Our CO2e value is calculated on a cradle-to-gate style basis, covering emissions from raw material extraction and processing through manufacturing, plus the upstream inputs that make the product possible. In practical terms, this boundary is designed to reflect the footprint up to the point the product is ready for branding, which is typically aligned with how business buyers compare items early in procurement. “Cradle-to-gate” is a recognised LCA boundary, and the key is stating it plainly.

What’s not included? Usually, the big variables that change order to order: print method and ink coverage, packing configuration, last-mile delivery, and end-of-life. Those elements can be hugely important, but they depend on how you order, where it ships, and what you choose.

In other words: this number helps you compare products sensibly, apples with apples, at the shortlisting stage. It is not a magic prophecy.

Why launch this now? Because sustainability expectations are becoming less optional.

The landscape has shifted.

Even with the EU moving to simplify corporate sustainability reporting thresholds, the direction of travel is unmistakable: better data, fewer unsubstantiated claims, and more pressure on supply chains to provide usable evidence. The EU has agreed changes that narrow CSRD reporting to larger organisations (for example, focusing on companies above 1,000 employees and €450m turnover), while also signalling a broader policy intent around sustainability governance.

And this is not just about reporting. The EU’s consumer rules are also tightening. Under the “Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition” directive, vague environmental claims and unreliable sustainability logos are being pushed out, with the rules applying from 27 September 2026.

The message is simple: if you want to talk about impact, you need to show your working.

ESPR and Digital Product Passports are another reason product data is becoming normal.

Transparency is the new baseline.

The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) entered into force on 18 July 2024, setting a framework for tougher sustainability requirements across many physical products and supporting the rollout of more standardised product information over time.

In April 2025, the Commission adopted the ESPR and Energy Labelling Working Plan 2025–2030, prioritising categories such as textiles (apparel), furniture, tyres, mattresses, and key materials like steel and aluminium.

Promo products sit right in the middle of that reality, because many of the things we brand and distribute (textiles, drinkware, electronics accessories, bags) are exactly the types of goods where buyers increasingly expect traceable, defensible product information.

Who will find this useful (spoiler: more people than you think).

It saves time.

This feature is built for anyone who wants to reduce the footprint of branded merchandise without turning procurement into a research project. That includes:

• Sustainability and ESG teams who need product-level numbers to support internal decision-making and supplier questionnaires.
  
• Marketing teams and agencies planning events and activations who want to balance creative impact with environmental impact.
  
• Procurement teams setting practical thresholds, like “keep giveaways under X kg CO2e per item”.
  
• Brands selling merch who want better product stories that do not drift into greenwashing.
  

Even if you are not in formal reporting scope, your clients might be, and they will still ask you for data. That knock-on effect is real, and it is growing.

How to use the CO2e filters in a smart, real-world way.

Keep it practical.

Start with a simple rule: pick a category, set a CO2e range, and shortlist products that fit your campaign’s intent. Low-impact everyday items for mass distribution? You’ll want a tight CO2e ceiling. Premium gifting where longevity matters? You might accept a higher footprint per unit if the product will be used for years.

Then layer on the common sense stuff that carbon alone will never capture: durability, recycled content, repairability, and whether the item replaces something disposable.

You can also bring us your target and let us do the legwork. Honestly, that’s often the quickest route.

A quick note on claims, because we take this seriously.

No fluff.

In the UK, both the CMA’s Green Claims Code and the ASA guidance push brands to avoid misleading “green” language, particularly if you are only talking about part of a product’s lifecycle. We do not want you accidentally over-claiming because a product looks virtuous on paper.

In the EU, there is also ongoing focus on cracking down on vague claims and offset-led slogans like “climate neutral” that can mislead consumers.

So our approach is: show the number, state the boundary, and help you communicate it accurately.

What’s next for this data on our site.

This is step one.

We’ve started with 705 products, and we’ll keep expanding coverage across the range so more categories become filterable by footprint. We also want to make it easier to build a campaign-level view, because in real life you do not buy “one item”, you buy quantities, variations, and bundles.

If you need order-specific calculations (for example, print method, packaging choice, freight mode, and delivery location), we can support that too. The details matter, and we’d rather do it properly than pretend there’s a one-size-fits-all number.

Final thoughts

Better data makes better merch.

We built this because sustainable and responsible promotional products should not require detective work, and because clients in the UK and EU increasingly need evidence that stands up to scrutiny, not just nice intentions.

If you’ve got an internal CO2e target, a reporting requirement, or you simply want help choosing products that feel aligned with your brand values, send us your brief. We’ll help you build a range that looks good, performs well, and makes environmental sense.

That’s the standard now. And frankly, it’s about time.