According to the rating agency EcoVadis, forklift manufacturer Still stands out significantly from the average German company in the evaluation areas of "environmental management" and "labor and human rights." For this, it has now been awarded the Gold Sustainability Certificate.
For more than ten years, Still has regularly undergone assessment by EcoVadis. The result: As in previous years, the manufacturer received the coveted quality certification for 2022. The company has made significant progress, particularly in the strategic implementation of "environmental management" and "labor and human rights," achieving an increase of ten points in each category compared to the previous year's results.
The positive assessment focuses on implemented management systems that reliably and sustainably embed the consistent implementation of company values and guidelines by making them measurable and transparently documented. EcoVadis rates these systems as particularly innovative and sophisticated. "Last year, we set further important courses to sustainably develop ourselves and our business processes with regard to the crucial future topics of environmental management and working conditions," explains Frank Müller, Head of Brand Management. "The focus here is on the strategic approach, evaluation, and continuous process optimization. The fact that this has been successful and is being recognized in this way is a fantastic confirmation of our work and a great motivation to continue on this path rigorously and with great conviction."
STILL's systematic approach can be illustrated by its integrated environmental management system: The "Health, Safety and Environmental Standards" policy mandates the company-wide reduction of emissions in accordance with national legislation. To achieve this, STILL implemented numerous measures last year, such as the ongoing conversion to LED lighting in certain areas and the optimization of the district heating network's control system. The consistent implementation and resulting outcomes were continuously evaluated and documented, and further optimization potential was identified – for subsequent measures in the coming year.
Conducting business in accordance with ecological, ethical, and social standards is increasingly becoming a seal of approval for companies – and thus a relevant differentiating factor in the global competition for customers, contracts, and employees. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) encompasses maximum transparency across the entire value chain, the responsible use of resources from production to disposal, and ensuring and promoting high social and safety standards among suppliers and partners. According to Müller, the regular review of CSR standards by the independent rating agency EcoVadis is an important component of this strategy.
EcoVadis assesses suppliers from 95 countries based on over 150 purchasing categories and 21 CSR criteria. The assessment is conducted by CSR experts who evaluate companies' responses to a survey according to international standards, such as the Global Reporting Index (GRI), ISO 26000, and the principles of the UN Global Compact. The assessment also incorporates supporting documentation and information from public bodies and stakeholders (NGOs, trade unions, press).
