EcoVadis rating brings transparency to sustainability efforts and fosters sustainable practices
EcoVadis is a globally recognized business sustainability rating provider that over 75,000 companies use to assess and improve their sustainability performance, manage their partnering network both up- and downstream as well as benchmark their sustainability achievements against other companies using EcoVadis.
Ahlstrom-Munksjö has been participating in EcoVadis sustainability rating since 2017 and awarded with EcoVadis Gold rating for their sustainability management and performance in the past four years. There are four EcoVadis rating levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Platinum rating, which is now the highest rating, was taken into use in 2020.
EcoVadis plays an important role for the customers of an EcoVadis rated company, as the rating brings transparency to suppliers’ sustainability performance and reduces sustainability related risks in the supply chain. As the rating needs to be renewed yearly, the customers can be sure of their suppliers’ continuous focus on sustainability matters.
“We strive to be a force for good through our commitment to sustainability, which requires focus on sustainability at every step of our supply chain. It is very important for us to have a good understanding of the sustainability efforts in our supply chain and assurance of responsible business conduct. Ahlstrom-Munksjö is an important supplier for us, and EcoVadis rating is one way for us to follow the sustainability development of the company”, commented Gabrielle Armstrong, Global Sustainability, Avery Dennison.
“For Ahlstrom-Munksjö, EcoVadis is an efficient collaboration platform in our partnering networks of suppliers and customers globally which allows us to communicate an independent view of our sustainability work and our progress. Our position in the value chains, on the one hand as a supplier of fiber-based materials to global customers, and on the other hand as an industrial operator using a wide range of raw materials globally, gives us the opportunity to ensure that the value chains are managed in a sustainable manner. Together with our customers and suppliers, we can drive progress in corporate social responsibility, traceability and product design, working for a sustainable everyday life”, said Heli Nykänen, Manager, Group Sustainability, Ahlstrom-Munksjö.
Based on international principles for sustainability reporting
The assessment of EcoVadis includes four themes: environment, labor practices, sustainable procurement and fair business practices. The EcoVadis methodology is based on internationally adopted principles for sustainability reporting, such as the Global Reporting Initiative, United Nations Global Compact and ISO 26000, and is audited by independent sustainability experts. This single methodology focuses on strengths, improvement areas and weaknesses, putting weight on policies (20%), actions (40%) and reporting of results (40%).
Ahlstrom-Munksjö is continuously making improvements in the four areas that are part of the EcoVadis assessment. This year the company has started to instruct its suppliers on carrying out audits for their own suppliers. This will provide more insight and transparency on the supply chain downstream.
Since 2017 when Ahlstrom-Munksjö got their first rating, the number of companies assessed by the tool has grown from approximately 35,000 to some 75,000. In 2020, Ahlstrom-Munksjö was at the top 2% of the manufacturing companies assessed, a notch lower than in the previous year but still in the Gold level. Our ambition is to qualify for the highest Platinum rating.