Social partner tie-up to help companies strengthen social and sustainability standards
Products Of Change has named Ethical Supply Chain Program as a social partner to help companies strengthen their social and sustainability standards.
With sustainability a major factor in the greeting card and connected industries, the membership organisation that boasts Danilo, The Eco-friendly Card Company, Carousel Worldwide, and UK Greetings among its members, is now working with ESCP help companies access a broader range of tools that will help them to create products in more ethical and environmentally friendly ways.
The two not-for-profit organisations offer complementary resources that cover the different aspects of social and sustainability compliance, such as ESCP’s Social Impact assessments, Worker Well-Being initiatives and Factory Certification programme – all of which aim to raise labour standards – and POC offers a Maturity Index Tool that assesses sustainable practices within product development and operations.
ESCP CEO and president Carmel Giblin said: “We have a shared mission – working together brings a wealth of different expertise to our members. We’re both striving to positively impact global supply chains by helping businesses operate more ethically and sustainably. Working together enables us to support more organisations in achieving these objectives.”
And POC founder and CEO Helena Mansell-Stopher, who will be speaking at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair next week, added: “Increasing consumer demand for more sustainable products goes hand in hand with the desire for them to be made responsibly. As our members respond to these demands, being able to draw on the expertise of ESCP, as well as our own team, will be invaluable.”
The two organisations also support businesses with data collection and reporting to help members meet social and environmental regulations – at a national and international level.
Products Of Change is a purpose-driven organisation structured around its not-for-profit membership, educational resources and media arm, and advisory team to support its members and the brand licensing industry on its sustainable journey.
The annual conference on 5 November at London’s historic Royal Geographical Society offers another unmissable display of sustainable innovation and collaboration, following the record-breaking attendance in 2024, along with a dynamic and diverse line-up of expert industry speakers.
As 2025 marks a pivotal year for many sustainability targets, and a halfway point to the EU Sustainable Development Goals 2030, this year’s conference will focus on tools for sustainable business, partnerships and collaborations, material innovations, circular design, legislative updates and a showcase of the very best practice and accomplishments towards sustainable change.
“This is the year of opportunity. The systems and data are available, and the knowledge on why we need to change is embedded within industry,” commented Helena. “We now need to collaborate and share with one another to build the infrastructure of what a sustainable industry can and will look like.
“The POC conference this year will focus heavily on showcasing the business case and wins already being achieved across the market, with material, systems and retail innovations, as we move to meet all our 2030 climate goals.”
The POC Sustainability Awards will be a held for its third year, celebrating the outstanding achievements being made to craft impactful and long-lasting sustainable change in the brand and licensing industry.
Supporters such as BBC Studios, Dreamtex, and Difuze/Drew Pearson International help ensure the conference can take place. For more information about supporting the Products Of Change Conference 2025, contact Nicola Webster at nicola@productsofchange.com. To book to attend the event either virtually or in person click here.
