Rank 33 in the PPAI 100. One of 7 European companies on the list - and one of only two from Germany. Here is what that means to us, and how we got there.
What is the PPAI 100?
The Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) is the world's largest trade association for the promotional products industry, headquartered in the United States. Each year, it publishes the PPAI 100: a data-driven ranking of the 100 highest-performing distributors and suppliers in global branded merchandise. Companies are evaluated across eight categories - Revenue, Growth, Industry Faith, Professional Development, Responsibility, Innovation, Employee Happiness, and Online Presence.
Rank 33 - How We Got Here
We did not optimize for this ranking. We simply did what we have been doing for 28 years: investing in the right areas, thinking long-term, and taking responsibility. In doing so, three areas contributed particularly to our evaluation in the ranking:
Technology and Artificial Intelligence
With our internal AI system, we automate processes that many companies in the industry still handle manually. This saves time, increases quality, and makes us a faster and more reliable partner.
Automation in Logistics
Our automated packaging line at our headquarters in Monsheim is a concrete example of how we combine efficiency and quality assurance. The result: a 42% reduction in carbon footprint and 34% less packaging material usage - measurable, documented, and sustainable.
Sustainable Supply Chains and CO2 Reduction
Our sustainability strategy is not a marketing promise. We document CO2 savings for our clients concretely and verifiably, offer certified product options including FSC, GOTS, and Fairtrade, and have been awarded CDP Score B for the third consecutive year - the highest rating for SMEs.
What This Recognition Means to Us
GBC is a family business - without external investors, without a corporate structure in the background. In a ranking that brings together many of the most well-known names in the global promotional products industry, an owner-managed company from the Rhineland represents its own path. One we have chosen deliberately.
Rank 33 is more than a number to us. It is proof that "big brands in best hands" is not just a tagline - it is a commitment we work toward every day. From Monsheim, and from our locations in the USA, China, Hong Kong, and Canada.