Recognised across multiple sectors and aligns with the NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment.
Holding the EcoVadis Silver status demonstrates a commitment to sustainability, ethical conduct, and corporate responsibility.
EcoVadis is a leading provider of sustainability ratings, assessing companies across multiple sectors—such as manufacturing, logistics, retail, healthcare, and technology—on their sustainability performance. With a rigorous evaluation process covering environmental impact, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement, EcoVadis has become a trusted benchmark for organisations committed to responsible practices.
For R&H, the EcoVadis Silver status is a recognition of its efforts to operate responsibly and sustainably. It signifies that the company meets high standards in areas such as reducing environmental impact, promoting ethical business conduct, and maintaining transparency in its supply chain.
“Holding the EcoVadis Silver status is not just a mark of recognition—it is a testament to the company’s dedication to sustainable practices, ethical business conduct, and corporate responsibility. EcoVadis is a leading platform providing comprehensive and reliable sustainability assessments that help companies understand, manage, and improve their environmental, social, and ethical performance, particularly within the context of global supply chains. It’s increasingly being recognised and considered by the NHS within its broader sustainability and procurement strategies. It directly relates to the NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment”
Denzil Allen
Head of HSEQT, Rudolph and Hellmann
Committed to Retaining and Exceeding Silver Status
While achieving Silver status is an accomplishment, R&H is determined not to become complacent. As the company approaches the renewal of its accreditation, it is actively working to enhance its sustainability performance. This commitment is evident in ongoing initiatives to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, support employee welfare, and strengthen ethical sourcing practices.
R&H understands that sustainability is an ongoing journey, and it is determined to not only maintain its Silver status but also strive for even higher recognition. By continually assessing and improving its sustainability strategies, the company aims to further strengthen its position as a responsible leader in its industry.
A Future-Focused Approach
As the renewal process approaches, R&H reflects on the value of EcoVadis accreditation. It is more than just a certificate—it is a symbol of trust, integrity, and continuous improvement. R&H remains dedicated to driving positive change, fostering a culture of responsibility, and setting an example for others in the industry.
What EcoVadis does:
Sustainability Assessments
EcoVadis evaluates companies based on four key themes:
Environment: This looks at a company’s environmental impact, including energy consumption, emissions, waste management, and product end-of-life.
Labour & Human Rights: This assesses labour practices, working conditions, health and safety, and human rights within the company and its supply chain.
Ethics: This examines a company’s ethics and anti-corruption practices, including measures against bribery and fair business practices.
Sustainable Procurement: This evaluates how a company integrates sustainability into its purchasing decisions and how it monitors its own suppliers’ sustainability performance.
Evidence-Based Ratings
EcoVadis uses a detailed questionnaire tailored to a company’s industry, size, and location. Companies provide evidence to support their responses, which are then analysed by EcoVadis’ sustainability experts. They also consider external information from various sources, including NGOs, trade unions, and media.
Scorecards and Benchmarking
Following the assessment, companies receive a scorecard with scores for each of the four themes and an overall score (ranging from 0 to 100). The scorecard also highlights strengths and areas for improvement. EcoVadis allows companies to benchmark their performance against industry peers.
Medals and Badges
Companies that meet certain criteria and demonstrate a strong sustainability management system are awarded EcoVadis medals (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum) or badges (Committed, Fast Mover). The criteria for these awards are updated periodically and are based on percentile rankings of assessed companies.
For scorecards published in 2025, the medal thresholds are:
Platinum: Top 1%
Gold: Top 5%
Silver: Top 15%
Bronze: Top 35%
Committed Badge: Minimum score of 45.
Fast Mover Badge: Score between 34-44 with a minimum 6-point improvement compared to the previous assessment within 18 months.
Supply Chain Sustainability
A significant use of EcoVadis is by large organisations to assess the sustainability performance of their suppliers. This helps them understand and mitigate risks within their supply chains and drive sustainability improvements among their trading partners.
Continuous Improvement
EcoVadis encourages companies to use the feedback from their scorecards to develop and implement corrective action plans and improve their sustainability performance over time. Re-assessment is possible to improve ratings.
Why is EcoVadis important?
Transparency and Accountability: It provides a standardised and transparent way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
Risk Management: It helps businesses identify and manage environmental, social, and ethical risks within their operations and supply chains.
Competitive Advantage: A good EcoVadis rating can enhance a company’s reputation and make it more attractive to customers, investors, and partners, as sustainability increasingly influences purchasing and investment decisions.
Market Access: Many large corporations and public institutions require their suppliers to have an EcoVadis rating as a prerequisite for doing business.
Benchmarking: It allows companies to compare their sustainability performance against industry peers and identify best practices.
Regulatory Compliance: It can help companies meet increasing regulatory requirements related to sustainability and supply chain due diligence.
NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment
The NHS has its own program called the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment. This program aims to evaluate and encourage sustainability and ethical practices among its suppliers. Here’s a breakdown of how EcoVadis relates to the NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment:
1. Achieving a top-tier ESG rating
EcoVadis is considered essential for businesses seeking to pass the NHS Evergreen assessment, because EcoVadis ratings are a recognised benchmark for demonstrating sustainability commitment to the NHS.
The Evergreen assessment helps suppliers align with the NHS’s net-zero ambitions and broader sustainability goals.
2. Embedding Sustainability in NHS Procurement:
The NHS is committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2040 for direct emissions and by 2045 for indirect emissions (those influenced by the goods and services it buys).
Sustainable procurement is a crucial part of achieving these targets. This involves considering the environmental, social, and ethical impact of procured goods and services throughout their lifecycle.
Since April 2022, all NHS procurements include a minimum 10% weighting for net zero and social value.
For contracts above £5 million per annum (since April 2023) and all new procurements (from April 2024), suppliers are required to publish a Carbon Reduction Plan.
By April 2027, all suppliers will need to publicly report targets and emissions aligned with the NHS net-zero target, covering all scopes (1, 2, and 3).
3. EcoVadis as a Tool for Suppliers:
An EcoVadis rating provides suppliers with a globally recognised and standardised assessment of their sustainability performance across environment, labour & human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.
This can be a valuable way for suppliers to demonstrate their sustainability credentials to the NHS and other organisations.
Some NHS suppliers have already achieved EcoVadis medals (e.g., Gold for Crest Medical, Silver for Fulkers Bailey Russell), highlighting its relevance in the healthcare supply chain.
The EcoVadis assessment aligns with international sustainability standards, which adds credibility for the NHS.
4. Potential for Direct Recognition:
While the NHS has its own Evergreen assessment, having an EcoVadis rating can likely support a supplier’s application and demonstrate a proactive approach to sustainability.
It acts as an independent validation of a supplier’s ESG efforts, which aligns with the NHS’s increasing focus on these factors in procurement.
The NHS encourages suppliers to engage with their sustainability journey, and providing an existing EcoVadis rating can be a strong indicator of progress.
In conclusion, while the NHS has its own specific sustainability assessment program (Evergreen), EcoVadis is a recognised and valuable framework that aligns with the NHS’s sustainability objectives.
Achieving a good EcoVadis rating can significantly benefit suppliers looking to work with the NHS by demonstrating their commitment to environmental, social, and ethical practices.
