Now more than ever, sustainability in the industries that we serve is a vital topic. As the world temporarily stands still, we, too, are slowing down to learn and evaluate even more the impact of our current system of operations to adapt to these ongoing and inevitable changes. To address sustainability in the coming years means more than rolling out a line of unbleached tote bags. With the climate crisis reaching near-irreversible proportions, the sociopolitical climate more divided than ever and an immense strain on the earth’s resources that continues to grow, sustainability is more than just a trendy buzzword: it is the standing ground on our responsibility to make sure we are doing the things we can do to educate and provide effective solutions for our clients and our communities. 

At Verge, we are serious about unmasking the buzz and much of the misinformation and claims around sustainability in our industry. It is one of the most important steps on the journey to true sustainable practices and products - and there are many ways to approach it responsibly. Though regulations are getting better, often there are claims that a material is sustainable when it is not. Choosing truly sustainable, “eco-conscious” materials can often hike up costs and that is not feasible for many of our clients' programs or product lines. That does not mean they cannot develop robust, sustainable programs. So what are the alternatives? 

One of the most important solutions to sustainable products and slow excessive waste is longevity, quality, and exceptional design. Value over volume. 

• We are constantly strategizing innovative ways to reduce waste such as multi-use packaging ideas for fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and health brands; developing products exclusively from scrap materials and more. We consider the "second-life" or life cycle in all our sustainable product development. 

• We partner with our factories to provide responsibly sourced materials of high quality and offer carefully considered recommendations that emphasize the value of the products and not the volume of products we create. 

• We continuously explore ways to reduce our carbon footprint as well as offer recommendations to our clients such as utilizing carbon-friendly manufacturing and shipping processes and implementing smart recycling systems and donation programs. 

To become truly sustainable in the new decade, every corner of production, business, and marketing must be reviewed and overhauled with environmentally and socially conscious decisions — from a revitalized emphasis on ethical sourcing and workers’ rights to energy-efficient manufacturing processes; from paperless advertising to packaging reduction in promotional mailings. We are constantly evaluating and increasing our efforts to make conscious and responsible choices toward positive progress that we can share from beginning to end with our clients on their journey with us. We look forward to working together in the coming months and years to continue to effectuate true and meaningful environmental change.