EcoVadis: 360° assessment of CSR criteria

EcoVadis – Taking an all-round look at sustainability
One of the best-known sustainability labels is EcoVadis, which is awarded by the internationally recognised and independent auditing company of the same name. Founded in 2007, the provider of non-financial sustainability ratings has so far audited more than 90,000 companies through its platform – including CWS. The scoring process is remarkably simple: the company reviewed receives a scorecard with a range of points from zero to one hundred and medals based on the submitted data, clearly stating the company's strengths and weaknesses.

Silver Rating for the CWS Group CWS was awarded the silver rating by EcoVadis last year. This puts the company in the top nine percent of its industry. Only one point was missing for the Gold Rating.

Closer look at Corporate Responsibility
When reviewing the company's own processes and measures, EcoVadis covers all dimensions of sustainability in the area of corporate responsibility. 21 CSR criteria are accounted for, divided into four thematic areas: Environment, Labour Practices and Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. In order to achieve an independent assessment, a wide range of data sources are used for verification. These include documents provided by customers and third-party confirmations such as certifications, labels and other documents. In addition, around 2,500 other external sources such as news, watchlists, etc. are used to obtain a comprehensive database. The inclusion of these sources enables the desired 360° analysis.  Companies are always evaluated with regard to the topics that are relevant for the respective company size, location and industry, also in order to remain comparable.

Based on these sources, the EcoVadis ranking classifies a company's sustainability activities, points out strengths and identifies areas for improvement. Thanks to a benchmark with market peers, companies can compare their sustainability efforts with those of other companies. This is also interesting with regard to potential customers, as more and more major customers are using the sustainability audit as a decision-making aid when awarding contracts.

Annual EcoVadis audit
CWS has participated in the rating annually since 2014 and uses the detailed evaluation to make further improvements. This includes, for example, training of procurement staff in social and environmental issues within the supply chain. The CWS Group is currently working on these and other topics.

However, the aspects highlighted as particular strengths also continue to enjoy attention. This applies to the conservation of resources in terms of water and CO₂ emissions, as well as the range of sustainable products and services, recycling activities and transparency with regard to emissions and waste volumes, among other things.