#Sustainability #Sweden #Stockholm #EcoVadis #Essity

Essity Achieves Prestigious EcoVadis Platinum Medal

In a significant achievement for sustainability in business, hygiene and health company Essity has been awarded the esteemed EcoVadis Platinum medal. This accolade follows an impressive score of 90 out of a potential 100, an increase from 88 in the previous year. The recognition positions Essity within the top 1% of companies globally that were evaluated by EcoVadis in the last twelve months, underscoring their commitment to responsible business practices.

What EcoVadis Measures

EcoVadis, a global sustainability rating platform, assesses companies based on the quality of their sustainability management systems, using a framework that encompasses four key themes:
1. Environment: This evaluates how companies manage their environmental impact, including resource usage and waste management.
2. Labor & Human Rights: This theme scrutinizes workplace conditions, labor rights, and the overall treatment of employees.
3. Ethics: Companies are expected to uphold ethical conduct in business practices, including anti-corruption measures.
4. Sustainable Procurement: This focuses on a company's supply chain and their approach to responsible sourcing.

Essity's recognition as a Platinum medalist reflects not only the robustness of their sustainability initiatives but also their commitment to transparency. The company is dedicated to sharing its assessment results with customers and partners, fostering an environment of open dialogue about sustainability priorities.

An Independent View of Sustainability

Sahil Tesfu, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Essity, articulated that the improved score is a testament to their systematic approach to sustainability. He stated, "For our customers and partners, the assessment provides an independent view of how we manage sustainability in our business. We will use these insights to drive further improvements across our operations and value chain with our customers, suppliers and other partners."

This assessment is especially noteworthy given EcoVadis has evaluated over 175,000 companies in more than 180 countries, making their evaluations a trusted source for sustainability insights. The results are based on evidence-driven assessments, adhering to international sustainability standards and reviewed by experts in the field.

The Road Ahead for Essity

The recognition by EcoVadis is more than just an award; it reflects a commitment to ongoing improvement and responsiveness to sustainability challenges. Essity plans to continue leveraging the insights gained from these assessments to enhance their sustainability performance further, potentially inspiring other companies to accelerate their initiatives as well.

The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed several vulnerabilities across industries, particularly in terms of supply chain sustainability and corporate responsibility. Companies that proactively engage in sustainability practices, like Essity, set a benchmark for others in the industry.

As consumers and businesses alike increasingly prioritize sustainability, accolades like the EcoVadis Platinum medal are instrumental. They serve as a reliable indicator of a company’s commitment to minimizing its environmental impact and promoting social responsibility.

As Essity moves forward, they aim not only to maintain their Platinum status but to drive the industry towards a more sustainable future. Their efforts could ultimately contribute to a paradigm shift in how businesses approach environmental and social governance, impacting decisions for years to come.