TCS Europe has joined the POC Membership Community. We spoke to TCS’s Justine Dalby to hear more about the company’s sustainability journey so far and what it is looking forward to as a POC Member.
- Tell me a bit about what you do
I am the managing director of TCS Europe, the ideas company, a creative sourcing and supply chain partner that helps brands and corporates bring promotional products, merchandise, packaging and retail-related products to life.
We work with clients from concept through to production and delivery, managing sourcing, product development, compliance, quality assurance and logistics. Our role is to help clients create products that support their brand objectives while reducing risk, improving visibility and ensuring products are sourced responsibly and delivered on time.
- What does sustainability mean to you?
For me, sustainability is about making better business decisions and helping partners do that also, so we create long-term value for people, partners and the environment.
It means looking beyond cost and considering how products are designed, sourced, manufactured, transported and ultimately used or disposed of. Sustainability is not a standalone initiative; we embedded it into our everyday decision-making and continuous improvement across concept, production and the supply chain.
At TCS, we see sustainability as a journey of progress, transparency and accountability rather than the pursuit of perfection.
- Why have you joined POC?
We joined POC because we believe collaboration is essential if businesses are going to make meaningful progress on sustainability. We have been connected to POC for some time, I have been to the POC Conference for many years and I am keen for us to get more involved.
As a supply chain partner, we sit between brands, manufacturers and logistics providers, giving us a unique opportunity to influence positive change. Being part of POC allows us to learn from others, stay informed on emerging best practice and contribute to industry-wide discussions that can help raise standards across the promotional products sector.
- What would you like to get out of POC membership?
We are keen to improve our knowledge, share experiences and connect with organisations that are serious about responsible business practices.
POC provides an opportunity to engage with experts, other members, stay ahead of regulatory and sustainability developments, and strengthen the advice and solutions we provide to our clients.
Ultimately, we want to become a better-informed and more effective sustainability partner for the organisations we work with.
- Sustainability achievements so far?
For many years, sustainability has been a key and important part of our business and our client offering plus our supplier selection process.
Although we are a not a big business we have been at the forefront of the environmental impact knowledge and change for many years. Pushing the change to recycled and also recyclabe materials to be used where they are fit for purpose. Commissioning LCA for products to ensure knowledge is there, that can then be communicated and worked on so improvements can not only happen but can be shown.
We have expanded the range of sustainable and lower-impact product options available to clients, strengthened supplier due diligence processes, improved transparency around materials and manufacturing, and increased our focus on compliance, product safety and ethical sourcing considerations.
We are have had and are having more proactive conversations with clients around material choices, packaging reduction, product longevity and responsible sourcing, helping sustainability become part of the decision-making process rather than an afterthought.
- Sustainability ambitions?
Our ambition is to continue embedding sustainability into every stage of the product sourcing journey.
We have some key reductions in CO2 and also environmental impact reductions through product and also supply chain. We want to provide clients with greater visibility into supply chain decisions, expand access to innovative and lower-impact product solutions, strengthen supplier engagement and ensure our recommendations balance environmental responsibility with quality, practicality and commercial viability.
We also want TCS to be recognised as a trusted, knowledgeable sourcing partner that helps clients navigate an increasingly complex sustainability landscape with confidence.
Environmental compliance is a major part of our day-to-day work. Meeting current and emerging UK and EU requirements can be resource-intensive, so our ambition is to stay ahead of the curve by investing the time and effort needed to keep both ourselves and our partners informed and compliant.
- Thoughts on sustainability in your industry – challenges and opportunities?
The promotional products and branded merchandise industry faces some important challenges. Clients continue to expect high quality, competitive pricing and fast delivery, while also seeking more sustainable solutions and greater transparency throughout the supply chain.
As above meeting environmental and safety requirements can be complex and time consuming to understand, I think its important to understand these areas and ensure not only compliance but understanding also, which is not always easy 🙂 .
The opportunity lies in moving the conversation beyond simply choosing a recycled material and taking a more holistic view of product design, durability, fit for purpose, responsible sourcing, packaging and end-of-life considerations.
