EcoVadis Silver Medal 2023: Spring GDS sustainability efforts

Spring GDS proudly announces its recent achievement: the EcoVadis Silver Medal. This represents a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability. To shed light on this accomplishment and what it means for the company, we asked Rutger, Sustainable Solutions Manager of Spring GDS, a couple of questions regarding EcoVadis and what it means for Spring GDS.

Interviewer: Rutger, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. To begin, could you provide our readers with some background on EcoVadis and its significance in the realm of sustainability?

Rutger: EcoVadis is a globally recognised sustainability assessment platform that evaluates companies based on their environmental, social, and ethical performance. The evaluation is based on a comparison of the company’s performance to those of other companies within its specific sector, size and location. It provides us, Spring Global Delivery Solutions, with a clear understanding of our own sustainability efforts and reflects how we compare to others in the sector. EcoVadis provides ratings across four performance levels, with the Silver Medal being attained by the top 15% of companies.

Interviewer: What are the four performance levels in EcoVadis?

Rutger: The four performances levels that a company can achieve are as follows:

• Platinum: Reserved for the top 1% (99+ percentile)
• Gold: Achieved by the top 5% (95+ percentile)
• Silver: Attained by the top 15% (85+ percentile)
• Bronze: Recognizing the top 35% (65+ percentile)

Interviewer: Clear. Now, Spring GDS recently earned the Silver EcoVadis Medal. What does this recognition mean for the company?

Rutger: The EcoVadis Silver Medal means with our current sustainability efforts, we are recognised as the top 15% compared to other companies in the sector. It gives us a clear overview of where we are standing now, but also on what elements need to be improved. The evaluation of EcoVadis gives us a framework along which we can determine our next course of action. This of high value to us, since our mission is to become an industry leading company in regard to sustainability and to be net zero by 2040.

Interviewer: It sounds like sustainability is deeply ingrained in Spring GDS's culture. How do you ensure that it remains a priority within the company?

Rutger: Sustainability isn't just a checkbox for us; it's part of our DNA. From our operations to our decision-making processes, we strive to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our business. This award serves as a testament to the fact that our commitments are more than just words; they're tangible actions that have a positive impact on the environment and society.

The EcoVadis platform analysis allows us to address the most pressing issues with the highest social and environmental impact. This provides guidance to focus our efforts and ensure our actions has the greatest impact possible. And on top of all of that, the EcoVadis medal enables us to communicate about our efforts effectively both internally and externally. We know where we want to go, but to speak in EcoVadis terms: we're striving for gold.