EcoVadis Silver Medal renewed: five points higher and still in the world's top 15%

Moving in the right direction

The EcoVadis platform has placed Forvis Mazars in Slovakia among the top 15% of companies rated worldwide for sustainable business. Our result is higher than that of 86% of all companies assessed by EcoVadis. Compared to the previous assessment, we moved up by five points – a visible advance and clear evidence that our sustainability practices are moving in the right direction.

We have now retained the Silver Medal for the third consecutive year, which confirms that the EcoVadis assessment has become a stable part of strategic management at Forvis Mazars in Slovakia.

“The EcoVadis assessment is clear evidence that our sustainability practices are moving in the right direction. But our ambition goes further. For the next assessment, we aim to expand certified management systems in human resources, ethics and the environment, and to have our ESG report verified by an independent third party.”

— Iveta Lacová, Manager, Sustainability

What EcoVadis is and how the assessment works

EcoVadis is an internationally recognised platform that rates the sustainability of companies on the basis of a comprehensive methodology, which is tightened every year. Its purpose is to independently assess how an organisation integrates ESG (environmental, social, governance) principles into its operations and management system – based on documented policies, data and results.

The assessment is built on 21 criteria across four main themes:

•Environment

•Labour and human rights

•Ethics

•Sustainable procurement

Each company completes a detailed questionnaire focused on corporate policies, specific activities and measurable outcomes. Every piece of information must be supported by evidence and verifiable. The resulting score, on a scale from 0 to 100, shows how a company actually performs in these areas. The medal – bronze, silver, gold or platinum – is awarded based on the percentile rank, that is, the company's position relative to all other rated companies.

The scoring methodology is tightened regularly. Maintaining a medal therefore is not enough: each year the bar moves higher, which continuously drives companies to improve.

Why the EcoVadis assessment is worth it – and what it means for our clients

At Forvis Mazars we have long built a corporate culture rooted in acceptance, support and a positive working environment. We work actively on reducing our carbon footprint, implementing sustainable solutions and reporting transparently. The EcoVadis assessment is, for us, an external check on whether these commitments are genuinely backed by data and processes. It also shows us where we still need to improve.

This approach is not limited to ourselves. We bring our own experience with the EcoVadis assessment into our work with clients on their journey towards a medal. For clients with a silver, gold or platinum medal, the recognition brings competitive advantage on several fronts:

•Reputation. EcoVadis is an internationally recognised standard that signals to customers, suppliers and investors that the company takes ESG seriously.

•Access to contracts. Large international companies often require an EcoVadis assessment from their suppliers as a condition for participation in tenders and supply chains.

•Improved performance. The detailed assessment report identifies areas where the company has room to improve. EcoVadis is therefore not only a rating, but also a tool for tracking progress over time.

•Access to financing. Banks and investors today factor ESG profile into their decisions. A verified assessment can ease access to financing and improve its terms.

How we help clients through the EcoVadis assessment

The EcoVadis assessment calls for a considered strategy, documented policies, prepared data and an aligned team. At Forvis Mazars in Slovakia, we guide clients through the entire process:

•We help set up the ESG strategy and processes that form the foundation of sustainable operations.

•We prepare the company for completing the questionnaire and assembling supporting evidence.

•We identify gaps, define priorities and propose a realistic action plan.

•After the assessment, we help interpret the results and define the next steps towards the highest possible medal.

Our goal is not just to help a client “get a medal”. The goal is to build a sustainability management system that brings real value to the company – in its reputation, its processes and its results. That is the difference between formal compliance and genuinely sustainable business.

“We do not just talk about sustainability – we live it. Retaining the Silver Medal with an even better score than last year is clear evidence that our efforts have stood up to strict, independent scrutiny. We now bring this experience into our work with clients: we help them build credibility and accountability – particularly towards the younger generation – while turning sustainability into a tangible, measurable competitive advantage. In today's business environment, sustainability is becoming a strong strategic pillar of success.”

— Alena Sermeková, Managing Partner of Forvis Mazars in Slovakia

Where we go from here

We see the current Silver Medal as a commitment to keep going. For the next assessment we are preparing to strengthen the systemic side: expanding certified management systems in human resources, ethics and the environment. These certifications carry significant weight in the EcoVadis scoring.

In parallel, we are finalising our local ESG report and considering having it verified by an independent third party – a step that has the potential to substantially increase the credibility of our ESG data with investors, clients and regulators alike.

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Verifying the assessment

The assessment was awarded by EcoVadis based on its sustainability rating methodology. The current scorecard of Forvis Mazars in Slovakia is available for verification directly on the EcoVadis platform: recognition.ecovadis.com. More information about the methodology and the four themes assessed is available at ecovadis.com.