De Angeli Prodotti confirms its commitment to sustainable production with the EcoVadis certification
We can talk about sustainability endlessly as it has become a matter of primary importance. However, to demonstrate concrete commitment towards a sustainable industry, it is necessary to define boundaries within which companies can operate while upholding these values. In this regard, the EcoVadis certification not only assesses the sustainability of operations but also helps to delineate these boundaries in full compliance with current regulations, thereby accelerating a widespread impact and subsequent improvement in performance.
Summary:
1. Corporate sustainability
We’ve already extensively discussed this topic in an article dedicated to corporate sustainability. However, it’s important to emphasize the role that a company like De Angeli Prodotti can play in the well-being and safeguarding of people and the planet. Often, when we talk about sustainability, we solely refer to the relationship with the environment. However, this definition identifies a much broader commitment in which the environment is indeed crucial but is intimately linked to the social and economic responsibility of the enterprise. Concern for the local, regional, and global environmental impact of the company is therefore correct but incomplete, as the social aspect also influences the environment, albeit indirectly. An employee who feels valued psychologically and economically is not only a loyal employee but is also someone who, outside the work environment, can afford, even unconsciously, to make more environmentally sustainable choices. For example, buying an electric car with an 800 V engine. Similarly, a supplier paid promptly is not just a supplier who gives their best to their correct customer, but is also a company that can afford to make sustainable choices at the local, regional, and global levels. Sustainability is magical because it’s capable of triggering a series of virtuous circles, and De Angeli Prodotti actively participates with concrete objectives in the Agenda 2030, as you can read in this article.
2. What is EcoVadis?
In 2007, EcoVadis was founded, and in just 15 years, it has grown to become the largest and most reliable partner for corporate sustainability certification. It has helped over 130,000 companies from all over the world achieve this goal. EcoVadis’ strength lies in its ability to adapt to various business sectors, in addition to the culturally rich contexts with nuanced habits in which these companies operate. Among these companies are AirFrance, Ferrero, Coca Cola, Axa, Henkel, RFI – Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, Hitachi, and, of course, De Angeli Prodotti.
In particular, EcoVadis helps manage risk and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) compliance to have an impact that extends beyond the company itself, resonating positively on a large scale through the value chain. Enhancing supply chain performance and reducing costs while increasing value is not only beneficial for the territory where De Angeli Prodotti operates but also creates a virtuous environment with global impact. This is also thanks to the work our company does to improve electricity performance in various countries, which, as you can imagine, requires a carefully managed and significant supply chain. This process is based on three fundamental pillars: risk management, reliable scorecards with actionable assessments, and comprehensive audit and improvement management aimed at large-scale decarbonization.
3. EcoVadis certification
Being certified by EcoVadis means implementing robust and transparent sustainability practices alongside effective ESG policies. Achieving a high score also means accessing new business opportunities with partners who value environmental and social responsibility, while simultaneously meeting the demands of the increasing number of consumers who choose sustainability-conscious companies.
3.1 EcoVadis audits and ratings
EcoVadis’ rating is based on an analysis of the company that considers a multitude of factors relevant to environmental well-being. This begins with the completion of a customized questionnaire covering topics such as the environment, human rights, ethics, and the supply chain from procurement to sales, with questions appropriately formulated based on the company’s size, geographical location, and industry. Support is provided by requesting extensive documentation demonstrating real commitment from the company. After gathering all the data and potentially requesting additional information, EcoVadis sustainability experts conduct an initial assessment of the company’s current situation, comparing its practices with those of its peers and assigning a score from 0 to 100. This number is accompanied by an extremely detailed report aimed at highlighting both the company’s strengths and areas for improvement. Based on their performance, companies receive a medal which can be platinum (over 99 points), gold (from 95 to 99 points), silver (from 85 to 94 points), or bronze (from 65 to 84 points) to demonstrate to stakeholders that their commitment to sustainability is not arbitrary or superficial but rather concrete and tangible. However, this score is not static and definitive: EcoVadis encourages companies not to limit themselves to the feedback received but to implement all suggested improvement strategies to earn an increasingly better medal. The assessment can be repeated periodically to ensure it reflects all progress made.
3.2 EcoVadis certified companies: De Angeli Prodotti
Our company’s commitment to sustainability is daily and encompasses the entire supply chain of our products, including the people involved: from suppliers to employees to customers. In particular, we are committed to not violating any human rights and to hiring the necessary personnel without gender discrimination. This has led to a 10% increase in female hires last year compared to 2022, with women now constituting about 20% of our total workforce of 332 employees. Education plays a key role for De Angeli Prodotti, as evidenced by our investment in 3,971 hours of training in just one year.
Regarding energy, in the past year, we achieved the extraordinary result of 90% self-produced energy out of the total consumed, marking a 23% increase compared to the previous year. Of this, 6% comes from renewable sources, showing a growth of +240%. In particular, through the use of self-produced energy and photovoltaic panels, De Angeli Prodotti saves over 6000 tons of CO2 annually compared to purchasing 100% electricity and gas from the open market.
Regarding the supply chain, sourcing occurs both with low-impact copper (~ 2 kg of CO2/kg) and with very low-impact copper (~ 1 kg of CO2/kg), with us choosing the most virtuous business partners first.
We are also proud to inform you that in 2022, we recovered over 95% of our waste.
4. Conclusions
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an action plan for people, the planet, and prosperity that encompasses various areas. Among these, De Angeli Prodotti has chosen to focus on the well-being of people through health, wellness, fair compensation, and education. As for the environment, we are particularly committed to energy transition, which can make cities and communities more sustainable. We firmly believe that innovation and research are the keys to progress and the foundation for tangible respect for our planet – once overlooked until just a few years ago – now at the forefront of a virtuous cultural shift destined to exponentially grow in the coming years.
For further details about our commitment to the Agenda 2030, we invite you to visit this page dedicated to sustainability.
