Last year, you had to settle for bronze but this year you took gold. What’s the secret?

"We pulled out all the stops to submit the strongest possible application. The fact that we ultimately achieved gold is down to several factors: our performance has improved across the board and we made progress in each of EcoVadis’ four key areas."

We made changes in terms of the environment and certification, we are making greater use of renewable energy sources and are increasingly investing in sustainability at local level, such as the biodiversity projects in Desselgem, where a considerable number of trees have now been planted. We apply global standards in the areas of labour and human rights, and in terms of ethics, our cybersecurity efforts earned us a lot of extra points. We’re also making our procurement policy more sustainable: we do more due diligence while opting for certified raw materials, such as FSC- or PEFC-certified wood. EcoVadis also greatly appreciates our professional approach to reporting."

What does EcoVadis mean exactly?

"That we rank among the top 5% of all companies worldwide. Over the past four years, EcoVadis has evaluated more than 100,000 different companies. To rank among the top 5% is something we can be genuinely proud of."

Why is this label important to Unilin?

“Because it gives us credibility. EcoVadis is an independent organisation that confirms in black and white that our efforts are genuine and not greenwashing. It also helps us identify our strengths and where there is room for improvement. Customers value that: they often have to report on their own supply chain and use our score to demonstrate their own sustainability.”

How does EcoVadis fit into Unilin’s broader One Home sustainability strategy?

“Seamlessly. One Home is our strategy to make the company structurally more sustainable. EcoVadis gives us external recognition that we are on the right track, while also highlighting gaps that we need to address. The label also complements our other certifications, such as Cradle to Cradle, the EU Ecolabel and Nordic Swan. Together, they give both our customers and consumers confidence in the sustainability of our products and the way we operate.”

What did the application actually involve?

"It was quite a demanding process. We were assessed on four themes: environment, procurement, labour and human rights, and ethics. The last category focuses mainly on cybersecurity and anti-corruption. We had to answer a total of 60 main questions and 300 sub-questions, and submit 83 documents as evidence. There is always a chance that answers or documents will not be accepted. We did better than last year in every category."

Can you do even better?

(laughs) "Yes, there’s also platinum: the top 1% worldwide. That’s not an official target at the moment, but it would be great to achieve it one day. It would mean even more focus on third-party certification, for example in the area of ethics. With gold, we are already ahead of most of our competitors but that doesn’t mean we can rest on our laurels: every year, EcoVadis raises the bar with new questions, and our competitors aren’t standing still either."

What’s next?

"We remain ambitious and are already thinking about how we can keep improving our score, or at the very least maintain our gold rating. Mind you, that in itself is no mean feat as the bar is raised every year. That’s what I like about it: it’s a challenge to keep improving. Work on the next application starts in spring 2027."

Want to know more about how Unilin approaches sustainability?

Then check out our One Home sustainability strategy