THE UK’s largest compliance scheme, Valpak by Reconomy, has announced it has earned a rare Platinum sustainability rating from EcoVadis – awarded to only 1% of 130,000 global companies assessed annually.
Valpak scored particularly highly in environmental certification, including Real Living Wage accreditation, impact reporting, Thrive at Work and Zero Waste to Landfill accreditation. As a Reconomy brand, Valpak has also benefited from group-wide initiatives such as the group menopause and social dialogue policies.
Steve Gough, CEO at Valpak, said, “As a company that was launched to support and advise others on their sustainability journeys, it is our responsibility to lead by example. Making it into the top 1% is an exceptional achievement for the whole Valpak team.”
The EcoVadis rating is based on performance across four areas:
- Environment – tackling emissions, recycling and environmental impact.
- Labour and human rights – ensuring safe, inclusive and equitable workplaces.
- Ethics – ensuring the highest standards of integrity.
- Sustainable procurement.
Each area is scored on policies, actions and results. Organisations are rated from Bronze to Platinum and provided with a score card that highlights potential areas for improvement.
Following its Gold rating last year, Valpak revealed that it created an action plan that led to additional policies as well as improving overall management of sustainability and increasing visibility around sustainability reporting, using publications such as the company’s annual impact report.
Specific developments included:
- greater engagement with the supply chain to introduce environmental clauses;
- improved internal communication around career management and training, and the opening of a dedicated wellbeing room at Valpak’s office;
- increased visibility around renewable energy generation and consumption; and,
- improved visibility around ethics reporting.
Steve Gough added, “If we are to tackle the challenges we face globally, businesses need to address their impact and identify ways to improve. One of Valpak’s key strengths in gaining the highest level of EcoVadis assessment was the depth of our policy measurement.
“However, while we celebrate our achievements, we are conscious that this is not the conclusion – we will continue to prioritise sustainability throughout the business and our supply chain.”
