Operating ethically has always been at the forefront of Ital Logistics, having always paid above industry averages, and always ensuring that all our employees are treated well. From day one it just came natural to do so. As such, it didn’t seem high on the agenda to put it all in writing when developing our business.
It is easy to write a policy to tick a box, but this is meaningless if there is no desire to actively pursue its content. Clearly it is a minefield, and one can easily understand why the creation of multiple (and somewhat repetitive) policies slip to the back of the queue. Especially when you are already operating respectfully, and doing what you can to reduce environmental impact.
We have since put pen to paper, and in July 2022 we did our first assessment on EcoVadis, a globally recognised assessment platform that rates businesses’ sustainability based on four key categories: environmental impact, labour and human rights standards, ethics, and procurement practices. We achieved Bronze standard with a score of 51/100.
On re-assessment in August 2023, our score had increased to 61/100 achieving Silver standard, placing us 79th percentile, and in the top 25% of companies assessed on EcoVadis. Our highest scores came from our Ethics, alongside our Labour Practices and Human Rights, which is truly reflective of our Company’s standards.
On re-assessment in November 2024, our score increased to 66/100 which placed us 84th percentile. This positive result has come with a downside though – the requirement to retain a silver medal has moved up to 85%, which means that we revert back to bronze. Across the board, EcoVadis’ new medal system (which you can read about here) has led to many companies being downgraded, despite improving their performance.
Only 14% of companies assessed in our sector had a score of 65 or more. And when you split the four categories; environmental impact, labour and human rights standards, ethics, and procurement practices, we are in the top 9%, 3%, 18% and 14% respectively.