5 ways we help brands go greener

Consumers increasingly care about the environment, so sustainability has become an important consideration in modern marketing. Here’s how brands can integrate environmental gains into their work…

The Attenborough effect

BBC’s Blue Planet ll documentary brought the world’s attention to the impact plastic pollution has on our oceans. From albatross parents feeding plastic to their chicks, to seals being strangled by plastic netting, these heart-breaking images exposed the scale of a very real plastic crisis.

Faced with the consequences of plastic pollution, consumers and businesses are finally starting to move away from single-use plastics and are increasing the take-up of renewable products.

Leading brands such as Unilever and Coca-Cola are determined to reduce their waste footprint. Unilever has been working to ensure that all plastic packaging is fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. Drinks giant, Coca-Cola is also committed to increasing the amount of recycled content in plastic bottles to 50 per cent by 2030.

For marketers, there are decisions to be made on the key materials from which marketing activations are built. Getting to grips with a myriad of sustainable terms – FSC, PEFC, Chain of Custody, Carbon Offsetting, and Carbon Footprinting – is essential.

Sustainability matters to us

At KMMS, we take our sustainable commitments very seriously, and we focus on all aspects of the supply chain.

As part of our drive to improve Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability we’ve achieved some key accreditations, including ISO14001, FSC, PEFC, CarbonNeutral, and the highest EcoVadis (Gold Standard). The latter places us in the top 1% of print suppliers worldwide.

By having the highest global CSR accreditations, we match our commitments to the ones of our key clients – Unilever, Heineken and Coca Cola European Partners – which are also EcoVadis accredited.

Our approach to sustainability

At KMMS, we drive improvement, we innovate, we iterate and we actively encourage our supply chain to follow our lead.

With our deep understanding of materials, design and manufacturing we develop innovative sustainable solutions and award-winning creative for all of our clients.

Want to up your sustainability game? Read on the five ways to make it happen…

1. We provide clients with a consistent sustainability plan worldwide

With our global reach, we seek to engage with clients regularly to deepen our knowledge into their sustainability plan, needs and expectations. Packed with these insights we are able to develop sustainable solutions that serve them better.

Through our use of Facebook’s internal networking tool Workplace, our global teams work together to develop innovative ideas and new sustainable initiatives. Our latest thinking is then delivered straight to the client teams through sustainability and innovation workshops, local meetings and seminars, and webinars.

2. We identify new ways to innovate and improve

We’re committed to bringing a continuous flow of new, innovative and improved sustainable materials to brands.

With a huge focus on removing single-use plastics from our supply chains, we work with our clients and suppliers to replace oil-based plastics with materials like fibre, recycled or bioplastic alternatives that can be both cost-effective and good looking.

The next step for us is to truly understand the impact that the production process has on the environment, and certify that our suppliers are using the very best materials, inks, and printing processes to reduce energy, water and manufacturing waste.

3. We act as a partner, mentor, consultant and guide

For KMMS it’s all about getting it right from the very beginning. Understanding the brief and delivering on our clients’ sustainable commitments is fundamental to us.

Our size ensures we have the leverage and resources in place to support global organisations. In many cases our KMMS teams sit within clients’ offices when taking briefs for marketing activations – ready to advise, respond quickly to requests and get the very best results.

4. We get involved with new sustainable trends

We immerse ourselves in the newest sustainable trends in retail, packaging, printing and technology.

We get involved with sustainable thought leaders, research companies, forums, material libraries, global material manufacturers, distributors and our clients of course, as they are a huge source of ideas.

5. We help clients to deliver their sustainability objectives and goals

By setting clear sustainable targets with our clients, we continuously review and report on our performance.

For over 10 years, we’ve worked closely with Unilever, ensuring we use the best and most sustainable materials when producing commercial print, temporary, semi and permanent displays.

We can do the same for you…

If you want to find out more about all things sustainability, we’d be happy to help you. Get in touch with our innovation experts today…