In today's business world, sustainability is no longer a marginal issue, but an integral part of corporate strategy. Environmentally conscious consumers, investors and regulatory requirements are pushing companies to rethink their supply chains. In this context, certifications, standards and labels play a crucial role, especially when it comes to demonstrating and improving performance through a reliable assessment such as an EcoVadis rating. EcoVadis evaluates the sustainability management systems of companies based on the criteria of environment, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. Certifications issued by recognized organizations such as DQS can help provide the necessary evidence.
The Role of Certifications in the EcoVadis Assessment Process
With the growing focus on sustainability challenges such as environmental degradation, labor rights and human rights violations, biodiversity loss and the climate crisis, certifications offer important frameworks for setting up corresponding management systems. Specifically for climate change, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) added supplements to the relevant management system standards in 2024. The additions are intended to ensure that organizations consider climate change issues in connection with the effectiveness of their management systems.
The EcoVadis Ratings methodology aims to measure the quality of a company's sustainability management system based on three management pillars: Policies, Actions, and Results and is based on a variety of data sources. These three management levels are divided into seven management indicators: Policies, Supports, Actions, Certifications, Coverage - Implementation of actions and certifications, Reporting (KPIs), and 360° Watch Results. These elements originate from the PDCA concept ("Plan, Do, Check, Act"), which forms the basis for a large number of global management standards. EcoVadis integrates these certifications into its assessment methodology by using the information as evidence of compliance with best practices and guidelines in various areas. For example, ISO 45001 certification, which focuses on health and safety management, can help achieve a higher score in the area of "labor and human rights". The EcoVadis methodology currently covers more than 1,350 certifications, labels and standards and documents submitted are accepted in all languages. All supporting documents, such as certifications, are reviewed, analyzed and evaluated by a team of over 450 experts using a robust methodology and the 6-eyes principle.
Specific Examples of Certifications and their Integration into the Rating
The EcoVadis methodology considers certifiable standards such as ISO 45001, ISO 14001, etc. Non-certifiable guidelines such as ISO 26000 are not covered by the methodology, but nevertheless offer companies useful assistance in setting up and improving their management systems effectively. The following examples show how certain certifications can be used as supporting documents in the EcoVadis assessment process:
ISO 45001: Labor and human rights
ISO 45001 is an international standard that sets requirements for an occupational health and safety management system and aims to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses. For the EcoVadis criterion "Labour and human rights", ISO 45001 certification shows that a company is taking proactive measures to improve working conditions and minimize risks. This can have a positive impact on the performance assessment in this area.
ISO 14001: Environmental management
ISO 14001 sets out criteria for an effective environmental management system. Companies certified to ISO 14001 may be able to demonstrate better environmental performance because they have already implemented a system to minimize their environmental footprint. This certification shows that the company not only meets regulatory requirements, but also invests in environmental initiatives.
From Rating to Audit
However, the synergy potential of EcoVadis ratings and certifications and audits does not end there. Many companies use social audits, for example, to complement EcoVadis ratings. If, for example, risk areas relating to labor and human rights are identified in the EcoVadis assessment, an independent on-site audit can help to verify these.
Leveraging Synergies
By integrating certifications into reporting and using them as evidence in the EcoVadis rating process, companies can not only validate their existing sustainability initiatives, but also identify areas where improvements are needed.
By using synergies between existing certifications and the EcoVadis requirements, companies can further develop and improve their sustainable practices.
Find out more at http://www.ecovadis.com.
EU Ban on Products from Forced Labour – Integrating Supplier Audits into the Due Diligence Process
While the prohibition of forced labour is already embedded in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and multiple other EU legislative initiatives, products made using forced labour continue to circulate on the EU market. To remediate this situation, the EU institutions are negotiating a ban on products made with forced labour on the Union market. In this article, we will explore how audits and standards can help affected companies ensure compliance with the regulation.
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