Today, businesses are under increasing pressure to disclose critical sustainability information to obtain vital environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments, improve their brand image in the eyes of consumers, and confirm the results of their sustainability practices to industry regulators.

Why Companies Should Consider Partnering with Ecovadis Certified Suppliers
Partnering with an EcoVadis certified supplier is one way to enhance a brand’s sustainability practices and cover all of the CSR bases.
 
Since its founding in 2007, EcoVadis has grown to become a trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, creating a global network of more than 90,000 rated companies.
 
Tens of thousands of companies partner with EcoVadis to collaborate on sustainability with a common platform, universal scorecard, benchmarks and performance improvement tools.
 
The organization envisions “a global marketplace where sustainability intelligence influences every business decision—improving economies, people’s lives and the planet we all depend on.”
 
The rating structure is based on four levels: Platinum (top 1%), Gold (top 5%), Silver (top 25%), and Bronze (top 50%).

What is the EcoVadis CSR score?
The EcoVadis sustainability assessment methodology is at the heart of EcoVadis’ Ratings and Scorecards and is an evaluation of how well a company has integrated the principles of Sustainability/CSR into their business and management system. It is based on seven founding principles:
 

• Assessment by International Experts
• Tailored to Industry Sector, Country and Company Size
• Source Diversification to Ensure Rich Stakeholder Input for Reliable Scoring
• Utilize Technology to Ensure a Secure and Confidential Process and Accelerated Cycle Time
• Traceability and Transparency of Documentation
• Evidence-Based
• Excellence Through Continuous Improvement

 
Furthermore, the methodology is built on international sustainability standards, including the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact, and the ISO 26000, covering 200+ spend categories and 160+ countries. The Sustainability Scorecard illustrates performance across 21 indicators in four themes:
 

1. Environment
2. Labor and Human Rights
3. Ethics
4. Sustainable Procurement

Based on this vigorous methodology, a brand that works with an EcoVadis-certified supplier, is assured that their manufacturing process has been reviewed and meets the highest standards of sustainability. Companies must go through the rigorous process every year to maintain their ranking or enhance their standing.
 
By partnering with Ecovadis certified suppliers, brands can strengthen the social, environmental and economic performance of their supply chain, reducing their collective footprints and strengthening their companies as well. EcoVadis’ standards also help companies map their supplier performance to their own responsibility standards, and thereby present a compelling sustainability story to consumers.
 
The following are just some of the nonwovens-related companies that have earned EcoVadis certification in the past year:
 
Ahlstrom
In September 2022, Ahlstrom was been awarded EcoVadis’ highest recognition level, Platinum, for the company’s sustainability performance. 

The company’s continuous efforts have now been rewarded, placing the group among the top 1% of companies assessed by EcoVadis. The rating is an improvement from Gold level rating, which it was previously rated since 2019. The score increased especially in Environmental performance and Labour & Human rights.

“During the past year we have made a significant step change in sustainability and put it as a key value driver for our growing business. We have a sharper sustainability strategy, an integrated operative model and a solid and holistic set of key performance indicators to help us monitor and evaluate our performance. We are thrilled and proud to move from the gold rating to platinum, as this gives us external validation that our ambition has been recognized and the concrete actions are already bearing fruit,” says Johan Lunabba, vice president, Sustainability and Public Affairs.

EcoVadis is a globally recognized rating system that brings visibility to sustainability performance. The Corporate Social Responsibility assessment criteria include four themes: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. The EcoVadis methodology builds on international sustainability reporting principles, including the Global Reporting Initiative, United Nations Global Compact and ISO 26000, and is audited by independent sustainability experts.

With this process, Ahlstrom ensures that its Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance System continuously supports the group’s sustainability ambition and strategy, and answers challenges like emission reduction and resource efficiency, responsible sourcing and transition to circular economy, equal opportunities and well-being at work place as well as positive contribution to its local communities, transparency and ethics. 
 
Fibertex Personal Care
In June 2022, Fibertex Personal Care reported it had achieved Gold Medal status from EcoVadis – for its CSR performance with a score of 67/100. Additionally, its facilities in Germany, the U.S. and Malaysia have achieved the prestigious Ecovadis Silver Medals.
 
This is the first time that Fibertex Personal Care has been assessed by EcoVadis, and the score obtained by Fibertex Personal Care A/S puts it in the Top 7% of the best performing companies out of more than 90,000 companies assessed by EcoVadis.
 
Freudenberg Performance Materials
In September, Freudenberg Performance Materials was been awarded its first EcoVadis Silver Medal at its two U.K. facilities in Ebbw Vale and Littleborough. The company manufactures solutions for advanced wound care and ostomy products at these two locations. With the award, EcoVadis recognizes the company’s performance in the categories of environment, ethics, labor and human rights, and sustainable procurement. The award means that Freudenberg Performance Materials LP with its two facilities in Ebbw Vale and Littleborough ranks among the best 25% of companies rated by EcoVadis.

“The good EcoVadis rating confirms our consistent implementation of our sustainability strategy. We are working systematically to minimize our footprint and maximize our handprint,” says Dr. Henk Randau, general manager and SVP of the Global Business Division Healthcare at Freudenberg Performance Materials. “That means we are continuously improving our energy efficiency and use of resources while at the same time supporting our customers in the medical products industry to make their processes more efficient and roll out sustainable products.”
 
PFNonwovens
PFNonwovens announced its Hazleton, PA facility earned Ecovadis Silver.
 
“Congratulations to our US team for their commitment and hard work as we achieved a SILVER Level EcoVadis sustainability rating! This is the first year that the Hazleton site and PFN as a whole have participated in the EcoVadis audit process. The results are external validation that we are a top-notch sustainable supply chain partner. The Silver medal is important recognition for our decades-long journey to continuously improving our operational systems, while reducing our sustainable footprint. The EcoVadis audit has also provided us with important guidance of where we can further improve,” the company announced on LinkedIn.  

PFN sites additional sites, which are located in The Czech Republic, Egypt and South Africa, completed the EcoVadis audit in 2022, with the Czech Republic sites receiving a gold medal, and the Egypt and South Africa sites each receiving a Silver medal.
 
Monadnock
Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc., the oldest continuously operating paper mill in the U.S., earned a gold rating in the EcoVadis Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) assessment in August. This achievement places the company in the top eight percent of the 90,000 companies ranked by EcoVadis. The company has achieved a 30% increase in its performance level since earning a silver rating in its assessment in 2015.

Monadnock is FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified (FSC C018866) ensuring that the fiber it sources comes from responsibly managed forests and recycling facilities that meet the highest environmental and social standards. Its products are manufactured carbon neutral, and they use 100% renewable Green-e certified wind-powered electricity, all under a third-party certified ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.

“Through our years of sustainability leadership, we know that it’s a hard-fought journey where the gains are well worth it – for our employees, communities and our customers,” said Richard G. Verney, Chairman and CEO, Monadnock Paper Mills. “We will continue to innovate in-house and with our many supply-chain partners to create value, continue to lessen our environmental impact, and deliver sustainably advantaged paper and packaging.”

Optima Machinery
In November, packaging equipment supplier, Optima received a silver medal for its core sustainability strategy, ‘We care for tomorrow’, placing the group in the top 25% of the companies rated by the environmental certification program.

Optima’s sustainability strategy is assessed annually by EcoVadis to identify new potential initiatives and promote existing activities. The areas assessed were the environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

“The jump from last year’s bronze medal to this year’s silver medal demonstrates that we are on track with our sustainability strategy. We are looking to become outstanding across the board in the areas of environment, social responsibility and corporate governance,” says Dr. Stefan König, Optima’s Managing Director.

Since May 2022, the company-wide sustainability strategy “We care for tomorrow” has consisted of three pillars: circular packaging, sustainable technology and corporate sustainability. This means that Optima is targeting packaging solutions for a circular economy along with resource-saving production processes developed in partnership with customers. In addition, past activities are integrated into a comprehensive environmental and climate strategy. Specific goals for the next few years have been set as well as aspirations in the areas of social responsibility and sustainable corporate governance.
 
Suominen
In August, wipes substrate material supplier, Suominen was  awarded a silver level rating from the EcoVadis assessment. This was the first time that the company completed the EcoVadis assessment and received a rating. Suominen received 63/100 points, which is only three points from reaching the next, gold level. This result places Suominen in the top 8% of companies in the manufacture of other textiles industry rated by EcoVadis.

EcoVadis is a global leading corporate social responsibility rating provider. The EcoVadis assessment rates corporate sustainability on four themes: environment, labor & human rights, ethics, sustainable procurement. Its methodology is based on internationally recognized principles and standards such as Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), UN Global Compact, and ISO 26000.

Based on the assessment, the performance on labor & human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement issues was found to be on a good level and environmental performance on an advanced level. According to EcoVadis, Suominen demonstrates an advanced management system on environmental issues.

“Reaching a silver level in our first assesment is a result of systematic work across the company and example of great teamwork. Sustainability really is at the core of both our stategy and all daily operations. We use these results to further improve our corporate social responsibility and sustainability work and we aim to reach the gold level next time,” says Emilia Peltola, vice president, Communications & IR.

Archroma
In December, Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, announced the renewal of its EcoVadis “Platinum” status and further improvement of its overall rating.

Following an in-depth assessment by EcoVadis, covering 21 criteria grouped into 4 themes – Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement – Archroma further improved its score by 4 points (from 78/100 to 82/100), thanks in particular to its ongoing efforts in sustainable procurement, focusing on supply chain transparency and best practice sharing with suppliers and industry peers.

More details on Archroma’s sustainable sourcing activities can be found in the company’s Sustainability Report for its fiscal year 2022, just released on December 8, 2022. The report includes an assurance report by KPMG, who conducted a limited assurance on several core ESG metrics, including CO2 emissions, water intake, occupational safety and gender diversity. Archroma passed the audit successfully, providing yet another third-party validation of the company’s deep commitment to its ESG objectives and roadmap.

“Our purpose is to lead our industry towards a more sustainable future for our customers and markets, and we are doing everything we can at Archroma to deliver on that ambition,” comments Danielle Blomert, Archroma’s chief sustainability officer.

Daniel Madueno, global head of Quality Management adds: “We see sustainability as a true team effort, and the renewed EcoVadis recognition as a tribute to the hard work and ambition of all my colleagues to achieve and maintain the highest ESG standards every day, everywhere.”