From Bronze to Platinum in 3 years: Our EcoVadis journey
Our journey to earning the prestigious EcoVadis Platinum Medal reflects our dedication to sustainability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Starting with a Bronze Medal in 2021, we refined our policies, tools, and practices with valuable feedback from EcoVadis. In this article, members of our EcoVadis core team will explain how we got here, and why it matters.
Getting clear on our why
One challenge on our journey to Platinum was internal communication. “At first, we didn’t fully explain why we were pursuing an EcoVadis medal,” says Harri Puputti, Director of Quality & Compliance. “People initially saw it as extra work. But once we connected the dots, it became clear that EcoVadis isn’t just about getting a medal—it aligns with our core values and brings us together toward a common goal.”
That shared goal was deeply rooted in our long-standing sustainability policies and practices, which have been a key part of our management system for decades. Puputti explains, “EcoVadis introduced new pillars, and the scoring helped us prioritise areas for improvement, aligned with our strategy and values.”
Michaela Martin, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, highlights an important external driver: “Our customers, especially large multinational companies, increasingly demand proof of sustainability. EcoVadis helps us meet these expectations while strengthening our internal policies.”
EcoVadis 21 Sustainability criteria
| ENVIRONMENT | LABOUR & HUMAN RIGHTS | ETHICS | SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operations – Energy consumption and GHG emissions – Water – Biodiversity – Air pollution – Materials, chemicals & waste Products – Product use – Product end-of-life – Consumer health & safety – Environmental services & advocacy | Human resources: – Employee health & safety – Working conditions – Social dialogue – Career management & training Human rights: – Child labour, forced labour & human trafficking – Diversity, equity & inclusion – External stakeholder human rights | – Corruption – Anti-competitive practices – Responsible information management | – Supplier environmental practices – Supplier social practices |
Key success factors
A combination of factors and initiatives played a role in earning our Platinum medal, but here are a few that made the biggest impact.
Our dedication to enhancing our people, processes, and policies played a pivotal role in getting us to Platinum.
Martin explains: “Our HR system allowed us cascade training globally and track performance reviews, ensuring employees were equipped to take action. For example, we could show EcoVadis that 92% of our employees took the Code of Conduct training during the reporting period.
Training isn’t just about ticking boxes, but about real learning. Inari Laveri, Climate & Compliance Manager and project manager of EcoVadis collaboration shares: “It’s not enough to create policies at our head office. We can now show they’re followed by Lindströmers in every region and country.”
Kristiina Tiilikainen, Director of Sustainable Procurement, reflects on the learning curve with Ecovadis assessments: “It’s a process. You learn by doing and by applying EcoVadis’ feedback to improve. Honestly, it wouldn’t have been ideal to get Platinum on the first try—it’s a journey of growth and refinement.”
A cross-functional EcoVadis team and collaborative approach
Since 2022, Inari has coordinated the EcoVadis project team. “My role was to make sure everyone was clear on what was needed and to connect the dots between teams,” says Laveri.
But reaching Platinum wasn’t just about the core group—it was a company-wide effort. “We couldn’t have reached Platinum without involving everyone at Lindström,” says Tiilikainen.
In addition to internal collaboration, Laveri highlights the value of external partnerships: “External assurance from EY made our sustainability data more reliable, and our involvement in initiatives like the UN Global Compact and Science Based Targets Initiative has been crucial in making progress.”
Benchmarking was also a critical part of the journey. “We met with companies that had already achieved Platinum to learn from their experiences,” says Martin. “Their insights gave us confidence to think ‘If they could do it, so could we.’”
EcoVadis reporting also helped us prepare for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which we’ll start reporting on in 2025.
Sustainability integrated into our annual goals
Achieving our sustainability goals is a team effort, driven by strong support from top management and integrated into our annual goals for all employees.
Anita Bela, Global HR Operations Manager, shares, “Beyond the financial impact, what stood out was the leadership team’s belief in the value of this work. That belief inspired us to work together. When we want to aim high, then support has to come from high.”
Puputti adds, “The management team’s commitment made all the difference. We felt their support every step of the way, and that motivated us to keep pushing for success.”
With management championing the cause, we built on existing sustainability policies and identified areas that needed more attention, like human rights and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In 2024, we stepped up our work in these areas, alongside clear progress in ethics and sustainable procurement.
“The EcoVadis questionnaire acted as a compass, steering us toward areas that needed attention,” says Martin. “It gave the whole organisation clarity on where we stand.”
Celebrating the team victory
When the Platinum Medal news arrived, it sparked celebrations across continents.
“I was at my desk, nervously refreshing my email,” recalls Laveri. “When I saw the result, I screamed, ‘It’s Platinum!’ My colleague and I were so loud that everyone on the floor heard us. We ran to share the news with our CEO—it felt like winning the Olympics in team sports.”
Tiilikainen had a similar reaction while visiting a recycling partner in India. “We were sitting in a taxi when I saw the email and I started screaming, ‘We got Platinum!’ The poor taxi driver probably thought we were crazy.”
Martin adds, “I was so happy I might have even shed a tear.”
Our sustainability journey continues
Earning the EcoVadis Platinum Medal is one milestone in our ongoing sustainability journey. As Tiilikainen puts it, “The best thing about EcoVadis is that it’s always evolving. It keeps us on our toes, pushing us to refine our policies and build capabilities. It’s not just a project, it’s become a way of life.”
Puputti concludes, “There’s always room for improvement, whether it’s in regulations, textile recycling, health and safety, or compliance. As we’ve come this far, why stop now? The only option is to keep moving forward.”
Here are our top tips for companies aiming to improve their EcoVadis results:
- Align with business values: Connect sustainability efforts directly to your core business, values, and strategy to ensure it’s seen as valuable—not just extra admin work.
- Focus on key priorities: Prioritise the right things at the right time, and don’t try to do everything at once. Create a plan to guide your efforts.
- Identify flag bearers: Find dedicated, enthusiastic individuals who can inspire others to get involved.
- Seek support and share knowledge: Ask for help from other companies and share your learnings to foster collaboration and drive sustainability in your wider ecosystem.
Related
EcoVadis Platinum places us among the top 1% of more than 130,000 companies assessed by the leading global sustainability ratings provider.
Here’s why we participate in EcoVadis business sustainability assessments, and how they help us improve our sustainability performance.
