TSA’s partnership with EcoVerify helps its members get EcoVadis accreditation to future proof their business and improve on sustainability goals
Increasingly companies, in particular from the hospitality and healthcare sectors, are looking for sustainability credentials from their commercial laundry service providers. One of the highly sought third party accreditation organisations is EcoVadis, a globally recognised sustainability rating platform. Receiving an EcoVadis rating can be a complex business and now TSA has teamed up with EcoVerify, one of the approved UK training providers of EcoVadis, to offer its members help in achieving this important accreditation.
Steve Bland is head of EcoVerify and he explains the relationship. “We are here to offer specialist help in achieving an EcoVadis rating,” he says. “Our normal practice is to manage the whole process, developing relationships with our clients and taking the lead on the questionnaires. However, the TSA wanted to provide a more supportive and comprehensive approach for their members. So we help members with the process, offering advice, with the option for them to manage the questionnaire submission.”
Steve says this is a refreshing approach to the accreditation. “I was really impressed by the TSA’s attitude. This way it can make a real difference within a member’s business, as they are fully involved in the process, and not be just a tick box exercise, so that’s really positive.”
For TSA’s managing director Emma Kiviniemi Wilson, EcoVadis is becoming more important for TSA members. “On the one hand, it’s an important resource that can help a business build a sustainability strategy and show evidence of their sustainability progress,” she says. “At the same time, more and more of our members’ customers are specifically asking about EcoVadis ratings.
“The support package with EcoVerify includes a help desk service as well as top tips webinars. It is designed to help commercial laundries of all sizes, from independents to multinationals.”
One TSA member that has already worked with EcoVerify is Clean. Chris Bell is Clean’s director of safety and sustainability. “Achieving a silver EcoVadis rating places us in the top 15% of companies globally,” he says. “EcoVerify’s expertise in sustainability benchmarking and guidance on EcoVadis requirements helped us align our policies, processes, and reporting with best practices. Through their support, we strengthened our approach to responsible procurement, environmental management, and social governance—ensuring Clean not only met but exceeded the standards required for Silver status.”
County Linen has also achieved a silver EcoVadis rating. “I’m happy to talk to other members and to pass on our experiences,” says Karl Bueggeln, the company’s finance director. “As with everything they do, the TSA has put their heart into this initiative with EcoVerify to help members achieve an EcoVadis rating. I think most members will want to jump on board. I’m really glad that we did it internally – our staff know our business and that helped us achieve our rating. I think with the TSA’s and EcoVerify’s support, we could achieve an even higher score going forward.”
Steve Bland says partnering with the TSA has been his first foray into the commercial laundry industry. He admires the TSA’s approach of encouraging its members to collaborate with EcoVerify and believes the long-term benefits to this are mutual.
“While we do love handling EcoVadis questionnaires for companies, I think it’s also rewarding to work this way,” he says.
To find out more about TSA’s partnership with EcoVerify, email tsa@tsa-uk.org.