At EcoVadis, decarbonization is a core pillar of our internal sustainability management. We recognize the impact our operations and supply chain have on the environment, and we are acting decisively to minimize it. Driven by our purpose to ‘guide all companies toward a sustainable world,’ we are determined to lead by example with a best-in-class carbon management system.
We validated our near-term targets with the SBTi in 2023 and have moved fast to meet them. By 2024, we had already achieved two out of our three targets by fundamentally reshaping how we do business and embedding carbon criteria into our decision-making.
But the reality of the climate crisis demands that we do more - and that we do it faster. That is why we are taking the next leap. We are looking beyond our own operations and supply chain to mobilize our entire ecosystem, committing to a SBTi verified Net Zero target by 2040.
Our Net Zero Targets
In alignment with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) requirements, EcoVadis has committed to the following:
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Scope 1 and 2: Reduce absolute emissions by 90% by 2040 (vs. 2019).
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Scope 3: Reduce emissions by 97% per value added by 2040 (vs. 2019).
Why aim for 2040?
We recognize that reaching Net Zero by 2040 is a deeply ambitious undertaking. But the reality of the climate crisis demands nothing less. Every year counts, and we simply cannot afford to wait. We are setting our sights on reaching this milestone a full decade ahead of the global 2050 target to demonstrate that urgent, accelerated action is not just necessary - it must happen as soon as possible.
Supplier Engagement: The Critical Lever
With purchased goods and services accounting for 55-60% of our annual emissions, our supply chain is where the battle for Net Zero will be won. We are already actively engaging suppliers to meet our near-term goals, but reaching our 2040 target requires a fundamental shift in scale. To bridge that gap, we need 100% of our suppliers to adopt their own science-based carbon reduction targets.
This is a massive undertaking that demands unprecedented collaboration across the supply chain. But we are in a unique position to lead this charge. At EcoVadis, we practice what we preach -applying the very solutions we offer our customers to drive best practices and accelerate decarbonization within our own value chain.
How We Are Making It Happen: 4 Key Steps
To achieve this 100% engagement target, we are deploying a rigorous, four-step approach within our own supply chain:
1 - Establish a supplier emissions baseline. You cannot reduce what you do not measure. The first step is establishing a robust status quo. This baseline is essential for identifying emission hotspots, targeting our actions where they matter most, and creating a reliable benchmark to track our progress.
2 - Drive toward primary, product-specific data. Averages aren't enough for the speed at which we need to move. The most reliable baseline comes from primary supplier data. We support our suppliers in understanding the methodologies needed to measure their own footprint, aiming to capture Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data. This allows us to move beyond estimates and use specific data for the exact products we purchase.
Learn more about the EcoVadis Carbon Action Manager
3 - Build capacity and co-create transition plans. Measurement is just the start; action is the goal. Once we assess a supplier’s climate maturity, we engage in 1:1 conversations to identify exactly what support they need to scale their decarbonization journey. This includes providing access to e-learning via the EcoVadis Academy and reviewing Carbon Scorecards to highlight quick wins and define long-term transition plans.
4 - Integrate carbon into procurement decisions. Decarbonization isn’t a side project - it is business critical. The final step is the ongoing monitoring of supply chain decarbonization. We utilize software solutions to integrate this data directly into our procurement systems, ensuring that purchasing decisions are aligned with the carbon performance of our suppliers.
For more insights access the Carbon Action Report 2025
Systemic Change Starts with Us
As we mapped out our path, one fundamental difference between our near-term plans and our long-term goals became clear: Achieving Net Zero requires radical, holistic, and systemic change.
In every reduction lever we identified, we found that success depends on ecosystem collaboration. We have already highlighted the critical need for supply chain engagement, but the challenge extends much further. Decarbonizing employee commuting and business travel requires a revolution in mobility systems - from e-mobility infrastructure to better public transport and aviation innovation. Similarly, reducing emissions from IT equipment depends on a circular economy that no single company can build alone. And ultimately, all these efforts rest on the foundation of a swift, global energy transition.
Relying on these macro-transformations can be daunting. The feeling that success depends on regulatory or political decisions outside our control stops many companies from committing to Net Zero.
But we argue that setting these targets is exactly what sparks the change.
A system doesn't just change from the top down. Systems change when thousands of small parts start moving in a new direction. Setting a Net Zero target sets your company in motion. It forces carbon criteria into every decision you make, necessitating new conversations with landlords, suppliers, and ecosystem partners. These conversations and changes in decision-making patterns set a much larger process in motion, and through this, we can collectively bring about systemic change and move toward a more sustainable world.
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