Lawrence, MA (April 16, 2025) – Gemline®, the fifth-largest hard goods supplier in the promotional products industry, and a recognized leader in corporate social responsibility, raises the bar again with the release of its 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report. Guided by its betterway™ framework, and new Accountability Standards, Gemline continues to deepen its commitment to driving positive change—advancing initiatives that make a meaningful impact on people, the planet, and the products it brings to market.

In addition to highlighting the company’s 2024 achievement of earning Certified B Corporation status, a certification that underscores the company’s dedication to meeting the highest standards of social and environmental impact, Gemline also introduced its best-in-class betterwayTM Accountability Standards, which will serve as guidelines for continuous improvement against the company’s goals to create a lasting, positive impact on people, the planet and the products it makes. The Accountability Standards include brand standards and certifications, as well as product accountability standards, and demonstrate the company’s commitment to transparent reporting on behalf of its stakeholders. Additional 2024 betterwayTM CSR report highlights include:

Community Impact

In 2024, Gemline contributed more than $525,000 in cash and in-kind donations to charitable organizations, bringing the company’s total giving to over $2.2 million the past three years. On a national level, Gemline maintained its ongoing partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Locally, Gemline continued to invest in its home community of Lawrence, MA, supporting programs in health and wellness, housing and human welfare, and leadership development. Beneficiaries included the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Elevate New England, Lawrence Partnership, Lawrence Community Works, One Family, Junior Achievement, and Groundwork Lawrence, among others.

People

Since its inception in 2023, Gemline’s Scholarship Program has awarded $45,000 in scholarships to 17 students, helping them pursue their educational goals and ambitions.

Planet

Carbon Offsets: To mitigate its 2024 carbon footprint, Gemline partnered with Climate Impact Partners to purchase certified carbon offsets covering its Scope 1 and 2 emissions. These offsets supported three impactful projects across the United States, India, and Bangladesh, all countries where Gemline produces some of its core products:

United States: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians project helps preserve tribal forest land. By selling carbon credits instead of harvesting timber, the tribe aims to fund the construction of a new high school, creating benefits for future generations.

India: The Orb Rooftop Solar PV initiative installs solar panel systems that convert sunlight into clean electricity, reducing reliance on India’s conventional energy grid.

Bangladesh: In Dhaka, a city challenged by widespread methane leakage due to aging infrastructure, a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project provides technology and training to detect and repair gas leaks—dramatically lowering emissions and improving air quality.

Product

In 2024, Gemline advanced its commitment to cleaner, safer, and more responsible products:

Cleaner Materials: 97% of all Gemline-branded, house brand, and brand partner products are now PVC-free, and 100% are PFAS-free.

Carbon Accountability: Gemline began tracking the carbon footprint (kg of CO₂e) of more than 375 products, measuring emissions from raw material sourcing to product decoration and distribution. This cradle-to-gate data marks the company’s first step toward managing Scope 3 emissions, supporting future reductions across the full product lifecycle.

“We don’t just talk about corporate responsibility—our mindset is all about raising the bar for our customers, industry and company,” said Frank Carpenito, President & CEO of Gemline. “From becoming a Certified B Corp to introducing carbon footprint information at the item level, to our commitment to eliminating PVC and PFAS from our product line, we are proving that bold moves and big impact can go hand in hand. betterway™ isn’t just our framework, it’s our competitive edge. Our new betterway™ Accountability Standards will be game-changing for our company and distributors.”

As Gemline looks ahead, the company remains focused on continuous improvement and bold innovation in corporate social responsibility. To read the full report and learn more about Gemline’s betterway™ commitments, visit https://www.gemline.com.

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About Gemline

Founded in 1958, Gemline is an award-winning, design-centric supplier dedicated to supporting all types of communities by providing high-quality branded consumer products to the promotional products industry. Exemplified in our purpose statement of 'We Promote Community,' Gemline prioritizes building connections in everything we do.

Ranked as the 12th largest industry supplier and the 5th largest hard goods supplier by the Advertising Specialty Institute, Gemline offers a diverse range of headwear, umbrellas, writing instruments, electronics, bags, coolers, drinkware, stationery, gourmet food, and lifestyle gifts. In addition to its strong portfolio of house brands and Gemline-branded products, the company’s product lineup includes renowned retail brands such as Ahead™, Anker, CORKCICLE®, Cuisinart®, High Sierra®, Igloo®, iLive®, MiiR®, New Balance®, Osprey®, Moleskine®, Samsonite®, Sharpie®, and more.

Gemline is both B Corp Certified and a State of Massachusetts Public Benefit Corporation, and is committed to making a positive impact both locally and globally. To learn more about Gemline, visit www.gemline.com or call 1-800-800-3200. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.