Product environmental footprint: a study in the promotional gift sector

The challenge

ID Gamax, a manufacturer of promotional key rings, pin badges and magnets with a strong export focus, has experienced a progressive increase in requests for environmental information from its clients, particularly in international markets. These requests are linked to the growth of sustainability policies, ESG criteria and responsible purchasing processes.

Until now, there were no Life Cycle Assessment references applied to promotional merchandise, which made it difficult to provide rigorous and comparable environmental information. In view of this context, ID Gamax identified the opportunity to develop a pioneering project that would allow it to anticipate market demands and strengthen its positioning.

The solution

To address this challenge, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) project with a cradle-to-gate approach was carried out on three representative families from the company's catalogue:

• Keyrings
• Bottle caps
• Magnets

The study was carried out in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards, covering everything from the extraction and processing of raw materials to the factory gate of the product. Six environmental impact categories were evaluated, providing a homogeneous and comparable information base for each product family.

The project included scope definition, the collection of primary data from production processes, systems modelling and impact calculation, as well as the documentation of results for strategic and commercial use.

Value contributed

Carrying out these LCAs constitutes a pioneering case in the promotional merchandise sector and brings value to ID Gamax on different levels:

• Ability to respond to the growing environmental demands of national and international clients.
• Competitive differentiation through quantified environmental information based on a recognised methodology.
• Reinforcement of the company's positioning as a responsible manufacturer in markets with high sustainability requirements.
• Solid technical basis for future environmental communication, eco-design or environmental declaration development actions.
• Anticipation of future regulatory and market trends.

Conclusion

The development of cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessments for keyrings, pin badges and magnets has enabled ID Gamax to integrate sustainability criteria in a structured way into its business strategy. This pioneering project provides the company with rigorous environmental information, enhances its value proposition in international markets, and lays the foundations for transparent environmental communication aligned with current market expectations.