Sustainability only matters when you can demonstrate it

"Retaining Gold is at least as demanding as achieving it for the first time," he explains. "EcoVadis benchmarks companies against each other, so the standard continues to rise every year. Standing still simply isn't enough. To remain in the top five percent, you have to keep improving."

 

EcoVadis has become one of the leading independent assessments of sustainability and responsible business practices. Companies are evaluated across four key areas: environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Rather than visiting sites, EcoVadis assesses documented evidence, including policies, certifications, reports and measurable performance.

 

For Den Hartogh, the assessment has become increasingly important as more customers include EcoVadis ratings in their supplier qualification processes.

"A strong EcoVadis score provides independent confirmation that our sustainability approach is well managed, transparent and backed by evidence," says Goverde. "It gives customers confidence that they're working with a logistics partner whose sustainability performance has been independently verified."

 

This year's improvement from 75 to 83 points is a significant achievement, particularly as the assessment criteria continue to become more demanding.

"We're proud of the progress we've made," he says. "An eight-point increase in a system where the benchmark itself keeps moving is substantial. It reflects the continuous efforts made across the organisation to strengthen both our sustainability performance and the way we demonstrate it."

 

According to Goverde, achieving a strong EcoVadis result requires much more than completing an annual assessment. "It starts with having robust management systems across the organisation. Environmental management, safety, working conditions and responsible procurement all need to be embedded in the way we operate every day. Over the past year, for example, we expanded our ISO certifications to additional European locations, ensuring more sites operate under the same internationally recognised standards."

 

At the same time, he emphasises that implementation alone is not enough. "EcoVadis is based entirely on documented evidence. The analysts don't visit our operations, so the documentation becomes the proof of what we do. Good practices that aren't properly recorded simply cannot be assessed. That makes documentation an integral part of responsible business, not an administrative exercise."

 

Maintaining a Gold rating therefore requires continuous attention. "The assessment is repeated every year, expectations continue to increase and documentation has to remain current. Sustainability cannot be owned by a single department. It has to be part of how the entire organisation works."

 

While the EcoVadis Gold Medal is an important recognition, Goverde is clear that the award itself is not the ultimate objective. "For us, the medal is confirmation, not the goal. It validates that our management systems, policies and reporting meet the standards expected of leading companies worldwide."

 

He believes the real measure of sustainability lies in the practical improvements delivered every day throughout the business. "What matters most is what we implement in our operations. A good example is our use of HVO renewable diesel. Today, nearly ten percent of our total fuel consumption consists of HVO, which we believe puts us among the leaders in our industry. Initiatives like these make a real difference in reducing emissions, even if they are only partly reflected in an assessment score."

 

Ultimately, the Gold Medal sends a clear message to customers, partners and employees alike. "No matter what market conditions we face, our commitment to sustainability remains unchanged," Goverde concludes. "Our ambition is not simply to retain a medal, but to keep improving the way we operate and to continue building a more sustainable supply chain together with our customers and partners."