HERE’S A SECRET no one tells you when you set out to “change the industry” … the first year isn’t all that cool. It’s spreadsheets, second-guessing and wondering whether your enthusiasm for carbon accounting has made you less fun at parties. That was my experience when I began this role directing sustainability and responsibility for PPAI midway through 2023. And it’s what will await any one of you seeking to reimagine your own company’s impact on the planet and your community if you’re starting today. My advice: Don’t be discouraged if everything’s not solved overnight. You may feel like progress moves at the speed of molasses in winter. But sustainability isn’t a sprint. It’s more like a scenic marathon, complete with unexpected hills and a lot of cheering each time you hit a milestone. You may accomplish less in one year than you hoped – but far more in five years than you ever imagined. But you’ve got to start. So much is possible if you get going in 2026. From my own experience at PPAI and what I’m eyeing in the near future, here are some important mile markers: The Steady Start The first 12 months of any sustainability effort are about building the scaffolding: Map your baseline, gather supplier data that may not live in one place yet, and be prepared to explain what “Scope 3” means for the 10th (or 50th) time. By year’s end, you will have moved the needle, just maybe not as far as you dreamed. That’s OK. Those quiet, behind-the-scenes systems you’re building are the foundation for everything that follows. Finding A Pacesetter There’s proof all around that the industry is already moving. The latest ESG Impact Reports from PPAI members show what happens when companies stay the course: • SanMar reduced its combined emissions intensity by 11% compared to a 2019 baseline, demonstrating how stretch goals pay off when early infrastructure is in place. • PCNA increased waste diversion at its Leed’s facility from 76% to 83%, saving more than $110,000 in avoided costs – proof that optimizing the unglamorous parts of the business can yield big wins for both the planet and the balance sheet. • Fairware reported that 42.5% of its significant product sales came from items with verified sustainable attributes. That’s nearly half its business reflecting conscious material choices. • Koozie Group reaffirmed its commitment to responsible sourcing, maintaining FSC certification across all U.S. manufacturing facilities and continuing participation in Sedex for third-party verification. Individually, these updates may seem incremental. Collectively, they mark the unmistakable shift from sustainability as an initiative to sustainability as an integrated business practice. Sustainability isn’t a sprint. Build the foundation now and keep working toward progress in 2026 and beyond. By Elizabeth Wimbush, CAS Slow Starts, Bold Futures DesignRage / Shutterstock.com Sustainability isn’t a sprint. It’s more like a scenic marathon, complete with unexpected hills and a lot of cheering each time you hit a milestone. 30 • JANUARY 2026 • PPAI Voices | Responsibility
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