Business sustainability ratings and solutions provider EcoVadis announced the expansion of its peer-to-peer sustainable supply chain-focused platform, Community, to all procurement organizations and non-EcoVadis customers.
Launched earlier this year, Community was established by EcoVadis as a platform to bring procurement leaders and sustainability practitioners together to exchange sustainability best practices, tackle challenges, and strengthen their performance, with features including discussion forums and working groups, a knowledge hub including a library of peer-contributed examples that illustrate how complex challenges are being addressed in the real world, and events and webinars, alongside capabilities including search and recommendations to find tailored experts, events and resources, and mentoring and peer matching.
Since launching, EcoVadis said that the Community platform has seen a 20% monthly growth rate globally, with more than 800 in-depth peer discussions and insights already generated, and an 86% question resolution rate. Top engagement has come from the UK, U.S., Western Europe and Brazil, with participation from sectors including chemicals, plastics & materials, manufacturing & heavy machinery, logistics & transportation, and wholesale, retail, food & beverage.
While initially available only to suppliers who have received an EcoVadis Rating, the company said that the Community platform will now be open to all procurement leaders and sustainability practitioners, with EcoVadis noting that the move is aimed at creating “a “living network” where procurement leaders and sustainability practitioners can collaborate, share advice, and solve supply chain challenges together.”
Under the new structure, EcoVadis said that forums and webinars are open to everyone while specific EcoVadis product advice is kept private for rated customers, while high-value, collaborative areas like the Sustainable Procurement Co-Lab and CPO Roundtables have premium access.
Pierre-François Thaler, cofounder and co-CEO of EcoVadis, said:
“True sustainability cannot be forced; it has to be built together. By opening our community to all procurement organizations and suppliers anywhere in the world, we are removing the isolation companies often feel. We are making it easier to share practical advice and turn sustainability efforts into a real business advantage.”
