Azelis has revealed that its corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold rating for the second time in a row. Their CSR assessment methodology covers 198 purchasing categories, 155 countries, and 21 CSR indicators.
The EcoVadis Gold rating was an important prerequisite for Azelis’ membership to Together for Sustainbiliy (TfS), a global initiative for sustainable supply chains, which the company announced recently.
The EcoVadis overall score (0-100) reflects the quality of the company's CSR performance at the time of the assessment. To obtain the Gold rating, a company must score between 66 and 72. Azelis achieved 70 points, a two-point increase compared to its previous rating. Azelis was assessed on four pillars: environment, labuor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.
Maria Almenar, Group Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) and Sustainability director, said: “In 2018, we were awarded the EcoVadis Gold rating for the first time, making us the first specialty chemicals distributor to receive this award. To now obtain this prestigious accolade for the second time in a row is a wonderful recognition of our group-wide efforts and commitments to implement the same high standards for our CSR performance across all regions in which we operate. We are convinced that CSR and sustainable innovation should continue to play an integral role in our business model.”
Dr. Hans Joachim Müller, Azelis chief executive officer, added: “It is our genuine belief that only innovation and sustainable business can offer long-term partnerships with customers and suppliers, as well as considerable benefits to society. Our engagement for the EcoVadis
assessment is therefore not a ‘nice-to-have,’ but almost a pre-requisite of an exclusive partnership between a principal and an innovation service provider like ourselves. It’s a new norm, a new responsible way of doing business. Both our membership of TfS and the EcoVadis Gold rating are moreover an important motivation and inspiration to our employees who have put our CSR efforts on top of their agenda, and it stimulates a sense of pride and belonging. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone involved in making this happen and specifically to Gerrit De Vos and Emanuele Ferrero who have contributed greatly to the Legal and HR pillars of our CSR program, and in particular to Maria Almenar who has been leading our CSR program with passion and determination.”
