Responsible Impact & Sustainable Excellence
We are committed to making bold changes to help reshape the future of branded merchandise. RISE by Whitestone is where purpose fuels progress.
Inspiring Brands. Advancing Sustainability.
Our mission is simple: Create great merchandise sustainably and run our business responsibly. We are taking action today for a better tomorrow. Join us on this journey.
Responsible Impact
We focus on creating lasting change. Through RISE, we prioritize ethical practices, reducing emissions, and working towards a more sustainable supply chain while inspiring and educating our stakeholders.
Sustainable Excellence
Excellence isn’t just about quality; it’s about being purpose-driven. Our commitment to the planet and its people drives our decisions, ensuring long term success without compromising our values.
Awarded 2026 PPAI Gold Pyramid for Marketing Programs – Cause Advocacy Marketing Programs.
Our Impact Report Is Here
From January 1 through December 31, 2025, we measured what matters — to our people, our partners, and our planet. See how we turned intention into action.
EcoVadis Bronze
In 2025, we earned the EcoVadis Bronze Medal, placing us in the top 35% of assessed companies and reinforcing our unwavering commitment to responsible sustainability practices.
Purpose in Practice
By committing a portion of our revenue to environmental causes, we're dedicated to making a lasting difference and supporting the well-being of our planet for future generations.
Partnered with Aclymate
Whitestone partners with Aclymate to measure, track, offset, reduce and report our emissions, helping us work towards a net zero future.
We’re Committed
Whitestone commits to maintain zero scope 1 and scope 2 emissions through 2030, and to measure and reduce its scope 3 emissions from a 2024 base year.
Mindset
We’re committed to daily improvement, measuring our progress against yesterday, not perfection. Our focus is on taking small, consistent steps toward a better tomorrow.
Education
The path forward begins with knowledge. We are educating our employees and customers about sustainability challenges and solutions, we empower everyone to make informed, impactful choices.
Suppliers
Responsible sourcing is key. We prioritize partners who uphold exceptional environmental standards and maintain ethical workplaces, ensuring every product reflects our values.
Products
We make sustainable choices easy by offering high-quality, eco-friendly merchandise that our customers can confidently choose.
End of Life
Sustainability doesn’t end at purchase. We help our customers responsibly manage obsolete merchandise, keeping items out of landfills and reducing waste.
Cutting Operational Emissions
From digital solutions to locally sourced products and optimized delivery routes, we minimize our carbon footprint at every stage of the process.
Offset
We actively partner with carbon offset programs to neutralize our environmental impact.
As a merchandise agency, we are addressing sustainability in multiple ways:
Create Better Merchandise
We’re dedicated to producing merchandise that people truly want, use, and value. It’s not just about making eco-friendly items- it’s about creating purposeful, thoughtful merchandise that’s meant to be used time and time again.
We measure success by how excited recipients are to receive our creations, how often they use them, and their likelihood of regifting. By focusing on purpose, personality, and quality, we ensure our merchandise leaves a lasting impact, minimizes waste, and enhances the experience for everyone involved.
Learn More About RISE
Submit the following form for exclusive access to our catalog detailing
- Understanding Sustainability in the Branded Merchandise Industry
- What are sustainable pieces of branded merchandise
- How companies can implement sustainable practices
- Trends shaping tomorrow and the future of sustainable merchandising.
Our initiative aims to decrease express shipments to less than 7% of all company shipments by 2027
Our Initiative aims to divert 75,000 items from ever reaching landfills by 2027
Learn About Brands Leading in Sustainability
Good for the Planet
Trend Shop
Shop genuine sustainable product in a series of categories. Featuring brands like Tentree, Patagonia, Herschel, Timbuk2, and more!
Upcycle Your Brand:
Transform Waste into New Creations
Learn more about Upcycling Opportunities
Tiered Supplier Framework
We recognize that the success of our sustainability goals are deeply tied to the strength of our supplier partnerships. With over 5,000 suppliers, brands, and factories in our global sourcing network, we’ve developed a tiered supplier framework to strategically manage these relationships. This approach allows us to prioritize partners who share our commitment to quality, innovation, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.
Our goal is to strategically shift our purchasing toward Tier 1 vendors. By doing so, we aim to increase our investment in suppliers who align with Whitestone’s sustainability objectives, enhancing our impact on environmental and social responsibility.
Sustainability in Action: Our Journey to Honduras with SanMar
Boots on the ground. Innovation in motion. Impact that matters.
Get an Inside Look: Watch our Latest RISE Webinars
Discover what sustainability looks like in action. Tune into our webinar recordings to gain industry insights and learn how to make measurable impact.
Meet the Committee Members
Chairs
Managers
Tejal Makuck
Co-Chair,
Strategic Operations Manager
Joseph Sommer
Chair,
CEO
Lee Ann Mazzarisi
Manager, Labor & Human Rights
Executive Director, Brand Operations
Amelia Detwiler
Manager, Environment
Creative Designer
Committee Members
Gemma Burbach
Committee Member
Director of Growth
Aimee Anthes-Balfe
Committee Member
Program Coordinator
Jillian Brandt
Committee Member
Director, Production
Kylie Jones
Manager, Sustainable Sourcing
Training & Development Manager
Samantha Pollak
Manager, Ethics
Program Manager
Emily Vilanova
Committee Member
Business Development Manager
Dominique Volker
Committee Member
President
