UPM has strengthened its position as a global sustainability leader after receiving two significant international recognitions for responsible business practices and supplier engagement. The material solutions company has once again been awarded the highest possible Platinum rating by EcoVadis while also achieving an A score in the 2025 CDP Supplier Engagement Assessment.
The latest achievements highlight the company’s continued focus on environmental responsibility, ethical operations and sustainable procurement. They also demonstrate the growing importance of transparent supply chains as businesses respond to evolving customer expectations and stricter sustainability requirements.
EcoVadis, one of the world’s leading providers of corporate sustainability assessments, awarded UPM its Platinum recognition for another consecutive year. More than 150,000 organisations across multiple industries were evaluated during the assessment process. Only the top one per cent of participating companies received Platinum status.
UPM has remained within this highest-performing group since 2020. For the second consecutive year, the company achieved an overall score of 90 out of 100, reflecting consistent performance across key sustainability indicators.
Assessment Covers Four Core Sustainability Areas
The EcoVadis evaluation measures corporate performance against four major sustainability categories. These include environmental management, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.
Each category is assessed using internationally recognised standards and verified methodologies. Performance is reviewed against established frameworks including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the United Nations Global Compact and ISO 26000 guidance on social responsibility.
The assessment process is supervised by an independent international scientific committee. This helps ensure consistency, transparency and credibility throughout the evaluation.
EcoVadis supports procurement teams worldwide by providing independent sustainability ratings that help organisations reduce operational risks while encouraging responsible business practices across global supply networks.
The assessment currently covers more than 230 industries operating in over 175 countries.
Strong Supplier Engagement Recognised by CDP
In addition to its EcoVadis success, UPM also secured an A score in CDP’s 2025 Supplier Engagement Assessment.
The assessment examines how effectively organisations work with suppliers to address climate-related risks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout their value chains.
Supplier engagement has become an increasingly important aspect of corporate climate strategies. Many organisations now recognise that a significant proportion of emissions originate beyond their direct operations.
According to CDP, companies that actively collaborate with suppliers on climate action make an important contribution towards the global transition to a lower-carbon economy.
The A rating reflects UPM’s efforts to integrate sustainability objectives throughout its supply chain while encouraging long-term environmental improvements among business partners.
Partnerships Built Around Shared Sustainability Goals
UPM works closely with approximately 17,000 suppliers across its international operations. These partnerships support the sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing inputs and operational services.
The company’s supplier relationships are guided by common sustainability principles and responsible business practices. Transparency remains a central element of this approach.
Gabriele Wende, Director of Responsibility at UPM, said the international recognitions reinforce customer confidence in the company’s products, operations and supply chain.
She stated that the awards respond to increasing customer expectations while supporting high product quality, responsible performance and greater transparency throughout the organisation’s global activities.
She also noted that long-term partnerships continue to be strengthened through shared sustainability commitments across the supplier network.
Sustainability Embedded Across Global Operations
UPM operates as a material solutions company with a broad portfolio spanning renewable fibres, advanced materials, decarbonisation solutions and communication papers.
Its business strategy focuses on developing products that support the transition towards more sustainable value chains while reducing dependence on fossil-based resources.
Innovation remains a key driver of the company’s long-term growth strategy. Renewable materials continue to play an increasingly important role across multiple industrial sectors.
The organisation employs approximately 15,100 people worldwide. Annual sales are reported at around €9.7 billion, reflecting its significant international presence.
Its sustainability performance has also been recognised by several independent organisations over recent years. Alongside EcoVadis and CDP, UPM has received acknowledgement through the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for its responsible business practices.
Sustainability Ratings Continue to Shape Industry Expectations
Independent sustainability assessments are becoming increasingly influential across global procurement and investment decisions.
Customers, investors and regulators are placing greater emphasis on measurable environmental, social and governance performance. As a result, recognised assessment frameworks are being used more widely to benchmark corporate responsibility.
Awards such as the EcoVadis Platinum rating and CDP Supplier Engagement Assessment provide organisations with externally verified evidence of their sustainability performance.
For manufacturers and industrial companies, responsible supply chain management is now viewed as a strategic business priority rather than solely a compliance requirement.
UPM’s latest achievements demonstrate how environmental responsibility, ethical governance and supplier collaboration can be integrated into long-term business strategy. They also underline the growing importance of transparency across increasingly complex global value chains.
With continued investment in renewable materials, responsible sourcing and climate-focused supplier engagement, UPM is reinforcing its role in supporting more sustainable industrial development while maintaining high operational standards across its worldwide business network.
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