BOSTON (News release) -- Sappi Limited, a leading global provider of powerful everyday materials made from woodfibre-based renewable resources today announces its partnership with EcoVadis, a global leader in third-party evaluations of business sustainability performance. The two companies will collaborate to assess the sustainability performance of Sappi's suppliers through proactive ratings and evaluations using EcoVadis' methodology.

As a global forest products leader, Sappi produces pulp, paper and biomaterials made from woodfibre sourced from well-managed forests and plantations. Sappi's partnership with EcoVadis demonstrates its commitment to sustainability by empowering the company to gain a clearer view of its supply chain and suppliers, evaluate and promote responsible business practices, and scale its collective contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as outlined in its Thrive25 business strategy.

"Sappi's purpose is to build a thriving world by unlocking the power of renewable resources to benefit people, communities and the planet," said Tracy Wessels, General Manager, Group Head of Sustainability, Sappi Limited. "By working together in partnership with EcoVadis and our valued suppliers, we can better identify risk, assess social and environmental performance, and encourage commitment to sustainable choices and the SDGs throughout our value chain. It reinforces the expectations we set out in our Supplier Code of Conduct, and provides a platform to build transparency and collaborate."

The EcoVadis methodology focuses on 21 sustainability criteria that are grouped into four themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. These criteria are aligned with international sustainability standards such as the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and the ISO 26000 standard.

"Having already rated nearly 3000 companies in Africa, EcoVadis sees strong potential to accelerate sustainable practices across the continent. We are extremely pleased to work with Sappi, an African multinational company demonstrating their leadership and expanding their sustainability commitments by engaging their value chain in the sustainability performance improvement journey," said Emily Rakowski, CMO of EcoVadis. "Having undergone the rating process themselves in all three of their regional entities, and achieving Platinum level performance, Sappi is setting a great example for their suppliers to follow."