34-37_Sustainability.qxp_Grid 30/09/2025 20:25 Page 1
FOCUS ON…SUSTAINABILITY
EMBRACiNG NATURE
Inset: These trees shots from the Ecofriendly Card Co show nature in all its glory. Below: The Ocean producers are opening POC’s conference.
Nature surrounds us and we want to keep it that way so sustainability and eco-friendly production practices are the only way to go. Greeting card publishers, suppliers and retailers are in the forefront of the movement embracing looking after the planet in the way they operate.
POC receives UN recognition Sustainability membership organisation, Products Of Change has been listed by the United Nations as a platform to aid sustainable development to the delight of founder and CEO Helena Mansell-Stopher. The news comes as the membership organisation, which counts greetings folk such as Danilo, Carousel Worldwide, and The Eco-friendly Card Company among its members, is preparing for its annual conference on 5 November at the Royal Geographical Society in London. The accolade has come as the UN marks 10 years of the Sustainable Development
Goals, as well as 25 years of its Global Compact, and there are also five years to go
Celebrating sustainably UK Greetings has declared its mission is to make every celebration more sustainable while building a brighter future for people and the planet by investing in innovation, conservation, and low-impact production practices. All of its products use 100% FSCcertified and responsibly sourced and, since 2021, UKG has partnered with the World Land Trust to offset the carbon footprint of cards and help conserve threatened ecosystems. Operations director Richard Wilkinson said one of the most inspiring examples of this work is in Vietnam’s Khe Nuoc Trong rainforest, and the critically-endangered redshanked douc langur is among the species the project helps through reduced hunting and deforestation pressures.
34 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
Among its many sustainable improvements, the company recently completed a major upgrade, replacing an asbestos roof with high-efficiency insulated panels cutting natural gas consumption by over 20%, combined with new rooflights giving a brighter, more natural environment. And there’s another important step in removing single-use plastics with the new packaging machinery that will replace plastic film for the unitisation of cards with recyclable paper bands, plus an investment in on-site electric vehicle chargers. Richard added: “We’re excited to share that UKG will soon be unveiling our new carbon emissions reduction strategy, building on the ambitious targets set by our parent company, American Greetings Inc.” Right: Cards are helping the red-shanked douc langur.
to the EU’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030 target, so POC will be reflecting on the progress achieved so far, and what still needs to happen. “Huge thanks to our amazing industry for its continued efforts to partner and build the infrastructure through the work we are doing at POC, here's looking forward to connecting again at the Conference,” said Helena. This year’s speakers include the production company behind Sir David Attenborough’s powerful new documentary Ocean as well as presentations from IKEA, LEGO, Tesco, among others.