Data-Backed Sustainable Promotional Products: How Arpe Helps Brands Communicate Without Greenwashing

A promotional product is not sustainable simply because it is described that way. To communicate its impact accurately, we need to explain what has been measured, which methodology has been used and which product or activity each figure relates to.

At Arpe, we measure our carbon footprint, analyse the life cycle of specific products and work with recognised certifications. This information helps us identify where we need to improve and enables our distributors to present promotional projects using clearer, more precise and verifiable evidence.

The Challenge: Communicating Sustainability Without Resorting to Generic Claims

Clients are increasingly asking about the origin, materials and environmental impact of promotional products.

This represents an opportunity, but also a responsibility for distributors. Expressions such as “green product”, “eco-friendly” or “planet-friendly” mean very little unless they are supported by specific information.

To assess a promotional proposal responsibly, we should be able to answer questions such as:

• Where is the product made?
• What materials does it contain?
• What percentage of the material is recycled?
• Is it supported by any certifications?
• Has the company’s carbon footprint or the product’s carbon footprint been measured?
• Which year, model and conditions does each figure relate to?
• Which aspects can still be improved?

Sustainability is not about finding the most eye-catching phrase. It is about being able to explain what lies behind every decision.

Local and Controlled Textile Production

We are a family-owned textile company that designs and manufactures its products in Arenys de Munt, near Barcelona.

Carrying out much of the process in-house allows us to monitor and control stages such as material selection, knitting, digital printing, cutting, sewing, quality control and order preparation.

Local production is not only about origin. It also gives us greater insight into our processes, helps us identify opportunities for improvement and enables us to offer greater traceability to the distributors who trust us.

However, controlling production is not enough. We also need to measure it.

Measuring Before Communicating: Arpe’s Carbon Footprint

In 2024, we recalculated our organisational carbon footprint in accordance with ISO 14064-1.

The total result was 837.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. Its distribution helped us understand where our impact is concentrated:

• Approximately 1% corresponds to direct Scope 1 emissions.
• Scope 2, related to electricity, represents 0% of the inventory.
• Scope 3 indirect emissions account for 99%.
• Raw materials account for 87% of the total footprint.

We also obtained two indicators that allow us to monitor how our activity evolves:

• Approximately 9.5 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of product manufactured.
• Approximately 0.5 kg of CO₂ equivalent per euro of revenue.

These figures are neither an accolade nor a sign that the work is complete. They show us that the main challenge lies within the value chain, particularly in raw materials, transport, product use and end of life.

You can read the complete analysis in our article about Arpe’s carbon footprint.

Organisational Carbon Footprint and Product Carbon Footprint: What Is the Difference?

An organisational carbon footprint measures the emissions associated with a company’s activities within the scope defined by its inventory.

A life cycle assessment, on the other hand, examines a specific product by considering different stages, including materials, manufacturing, distribution, use and end of life.

It is important not to confuse the two. Corporate data can be used to assess how a supplier operates, but it should not automatically be presented as the carbon footprint of every product.

At Arpe, we also have a life cycle assessment for our 75 × 155 cm microfiber towel, conducted by Inèdit and Leitat in accordance with ISO 14040-44:2006.

The study found that:

• The towel analysed has a carbon footprint of 2.70 kg of CO₂ equivalent.
• Its carbon footprint is 76% lower than that of a cotton towel of the same dimensions.
• Over a scenario of 150 washes, it uses 58% less electricity, 55% less water and 40% less detergent.
• The model analysed is made from 100% polyester and contains 30% recycled rPET.

These results apply exclusively to the model, dimensions and conditions covered by the study. They should not automatically be extended to every product in the catalogue.

You can learn more about the methodology and conditions used for the comparison in our life cycle assessment of Arpe towels.

What Role Do Certifications Play?

Certifications help verify specific aspects, but they are not interchangeable, and no single certification can explain the full impact of a product.

Arpe holds the following certifications, among others:

• Certified B Corporation, which assesses the company’s social and environmental impact, transparency and accountability.
• Global Recycled Standard, related to the use and traceability of certified post-consumer rPET thread.
• OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, applied to certified inks and the control of harmful substances.
• ISO 14001, covering our environmental management system.
• ISO 14064-1, used to quantify and verify the organisation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Each certification answers a different question. That is why, when we talk about sustainability, we explain what each one certifies and verify that it applies to the product or project being presented.

You can view our certifications and awards.

How Does This Data Help Promotional Product Distributors?

Access to traceable information allows distributors to:

1. Respond more precisely to their clients’ environmental requirements.
2. Include verifiable information in proposals, tenders and presentations.
3. Distinguish between company-level data and product-specific data.
4. Avoid absolute claims or statements that are difficult to substantiate.
5. Create projects that align with each brand’s commitments.

Instead of describing an item as “100% sustainable”, we can use a more accurate statement:

A project manufactured and customized in Arenys de Munt by Arpe, a company that calculates its organisational carbon footprint in accordance with ISO 14064-1 and works with certified environmental management and material traceability systems.

When a product-specific assessment is available, its results can be included, always specifying the model, dimensions, comparison and conditions studied.

From Data to a Consistent Promotional Project

For us, communicating sustainability honestly means providing information that can be understood, verified and used correctly.

Data allows us to understand our impact. Certifications help verify specific aspects. Local production gives us control and traceability. And the experience of our distributors turns all this knowledge into relevant projects for brands.

If you are preparing a proposal and looking for a customized textile product supported by clear environmental information, we can help you choose the most suitable format, materials and type of customization.

Tell us about your idea and let’s develop a promotional project together.