The Greeting Card Association’s series of blogs covering Sustainability in the Card Industry is designed to share good practice, celebrating the work being done across our industry to reduce environmental impact and inspire others.
This blog looks at the changes Danilo has made to its business as sustainability continues to grow in importance for retailers, consumers and the greeting card industry as a whole.
Since launching its sustainability plan in 2019, Danilo has been making changes across its products, premises and working practices. From reducing plastic packaging and improving recyclability to generating renewable energy and setting science-based emissions targets, the company has focused on practical action and continuous improvement.
Danilo’s approach brings together people, profit and planet; finding ways to reduce environmental impact while creating products customers love and building a business ready for the future.
Danilo is moving towards becoming a carbon neutral company. Within that there are many individual targets we want to achieve, we need to better understand our environmental impact and research ways to be more environmentally friendly.
says Daniel Prince, Danilo MD, who also chairs the GCA sustainability sub-committee.
Rethinking Materials and Packaging
Reducing unnecessary packaging and improving product sustainability has been a key area of focus for Danilo.
Plastic packaging has been removed from nearly all greeting cards and gift wrap products. The majority of calendars are now also free from plastic packaging, although the company continues to explore ways to extend this across all calendar ranges.
Danilo removed glitter from all cards in 2020. Foil remains a feature on some designs, but coverage is kept below the threshold that would prevent cards from being recycled.
Other improvements include:
Giving Surplus Stock Another Chapter
Danilo works hard to ensure products are used wherever possible rather than going to waste.
Surplus stock is prioritised for donation to charities, schools and hospitals, helping products find a second life within local communities. Where reuse is not possible, materials are recycled through certified waste management partners.
By focusing on reuse before recycling, Danilo seeks to maximise the value of products while reducing waste.
Measuring the Footprint, Mapping the Next Steps
Understanding environmental impact is an important part of creating meaningful change.
Danilo measures its carbon footprint annually to better understand emissions, identify areas for improvement and monitor progress over time. This data helps inform future decision-making and sustainability priorities across the business.
A significant milestone was achieved in January 2026 when Danilo’s near-term emissions reduction targets were approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). These approved targets provide a clear framework for the company’s carbon reduction strategy and future sustainability efforts.
Alongside this work, Danilo is exploring longer-term Net Zero targets and continues to work closely with suppliers, encouraging them to measure and improve their own environmental performance.
Putting Sunshine to Work
In 2023, Danilo installed solar panels at its premises, generating renewable electricity on-site and reducing reliance on grid energy.
Additional energy-saving initiatives include:
- LED and sensor lighting throughout office and warehouse spaces.
- Recycling facilities for employees across the business.
- Free electric vehicle charging for staff.
- Participation in the Cycle to Work scheme.
Looking ahead, the company is exploring further improvements, including more energy-efficient alternatives to ageing boilers, additional EV charging points and secure bicycle storage facilities.
A Team Effort
Sustainability is embedded throughout the business and supported by Danilo’s dedicated Green Team, which encourages colleagues to share ideas and identify opportunities to reduce waste, reuse materials and improve everyday working practices.
Employee engagement remains a key part of the company’s sustainability journey, helping ensure improvements become part of day-to-day decision-making across the organisation.
Since partnering with Ecologi in 2020, Danilo has supported the planting of more than 80,000 trees. The partnership forms part of the company’s broader environmental commitments and also enables customers to get involved through initiatives promoted on its website.
Building Sustainability into Everyday Decisions
Danilo is currently working towards joint ISO 14001 Environmental Management and ISO 9001 Quality Management certification.
Achieving these standards will help strengthen internal processes, clarify responsibilities and support continual improvement across the organisation.
By embedding sustainability considerations into everyday decision-making, Danilo aims to ensure environmental responsibility remains a core part of how the business operates.
Looking Ahead
While significant progress has already been made, Danilo recognises that sustainability is an ongoing journey.
From reducing plastic usage and increasing renewable energy generation to setting science-based emissions targets and engaging employees in environmental initiatives, the company continues to look for practical ways to reduce its impact and drive positive change.
As the greeting card industry continues to evolve, Danilo’s approach demonstrates how long-term commitment, collaboration and incremental improvements can contribute to a more sustainable future.
If you have a story to tell, or information on changes you have made to your business to share, please contact us so that we can share your story and inspire others.
For more information, visit Danilo’s sustainability page.
Further Information
For latest information and tips on reducing your environmental footprint see the GCA’s Into a Greener Future blog
For other case studies, changes to the law and other important information please visit our members’ library and see our Environment section (please log in to see all relevant information)
