We promote the development of an increasingly sustainable supply chain, both via a procurement process that integrates elements of sustainability, and by consolidating our partnership with suppliers, supporting their acquisition of skills and awareness about the core issues of sustainability and occupational safety. We in fact request that our commitment regarding the various issues, including workers’ rights, health and safety and environmental conservation be shared also throughout the supply chain, with the involvement of suppliers, sub-contractors and sub-suppliers.
With a view to ensuring a productive and long-lasting collaboration, suppliers undertake to accept and commit to all the requirements set forth in our Code of Ethics and subscribe to our Sustainable procurement policy, which encourages a partnership relationship and reflects the growing integration of ESG criteria into the group’s procurement processes. Moreover, our Human Rights Policy envisages the extension across the entire supply chain of the protection of workers’ fundamental rights (opposition to forced child labour, adequate working and pay conditions, etc.).
The Sustainability Plan includes a specific strategic objective - “Evolution of the supply chain” - which consists of a line of intervention for the development of sustainable procurement processes and an explicit line with regard to health and safety matters.
| Lines of intervetion | Target for 2028 | |
|---|---|---|
Sustainable procurement | ESG criteria in tenders | 90% of calls for tender regarding works, goods and services with application of sustainability criteria |
Responsible Procurement Policy | Definition of the Policy and inclusion in qualification | |
Supplier self-assessment (QASER) | 350 suppliers self-assessed through QASER versus 2023 (315 suppliers self-assessed) | |
Supplier qualification (Ecovadis) | 80% of suppliers Ecovadis1 credited versus 2023 (71% of suppliers)
Implementation of Ecovadis KPIs in the Vendor Rating model | |
Supplier health and safety | Training on safety issues | Injury incidence rate < average for last three years |
Technical professional eligibility assessment | Digitalisation of process for all Group companies | |
Site supplier inspection | number of inspections +5% versus 2023 |
of suppliers qualified in 2024 were credited through the Ecovadis platform
safety inspections at worksites
of tender procedures with ESG reward criteria
*FY2024
We work together with our suppliers to ensure the high quality of work and services and to enhance sustainability in our operations and in the management of sites and works.
The suppliers qualify using our dedicated portal, filling out a self-assessment survey focused on Quality, Environment, Safety, Energy and other sustainability aspects.
During qualification, the supplier may be subjected to second-party audit to verify the information provided. For monitoring the supply chain, Acea has adopted a Group Vendor Rating system, which allows the evaluation of various performance indicators, including indicators associated with social and environmental sustainability, detected also using the EcoVadis system.
The Vendor Rating system is the tool used to measure supply chain performance, enabling the precise evaluation of an economic operator’s eligibility. By way of this evaluation, points are assigned to suppliers according to their actual performances. The model put in place by the Acea Group is based on the elaboration of a rating, for each supplier/merchandise group, calculated as the weighted sum of four indicators.
Basic requirements
Indicator of performance, during the bidding phase and during execution of the contract, and of economic and financial soundness.
Quality
Indicator of compliance as regards services and products provided with respect to the reference technical documentation.
Timeliness
Indicator of punctuality in relation to the deadlines stipulated in the contract.
Safety
Indicator of compliance with safety requirements (for works and services) as imposed by legislation and by the reference documentation.
Acea encourages its suppliers to adopt sustainability-oriented practices and, with this aim, has launched a collaboration with EcoVadis, one of the leading European value chain sustainability certification platforms.
Our suppliers and trade partners are able to carry out the assessment process via the EcoVadis platform, obtaining an assessment scorecard accompanied by an indication of strengths and areas for improvement. With a view to promoting the enhancement of our suppliers’ ESG performances, the EcoVadis rating is included among the reward criteria in tenders called by Acea.
Occupational safety is a core aspect of the relationship with our suppliers and we therefore adopt initiatives designed to ensure the protection of workers throughout the supply chain, in keeping with the requirements of the Italian Public Contracts Code, our Code of Ethics and with our sustainability objectives. In addition to awareness and training initiatives, audits and inspections are regularly carried out to verify compliance with safety standards on the part of contractors and sub-contractors.
The Vendor Day is an occasion for exchange and meeting with our partners and suppliers, to share the Group’s vision and operational and sustainability objectives.
During the 2024 edition, the meeting was focused on sharing the “Green Diligent Growth” Business Plan. The Vendor Day is a precious opportunity to enhance the dialogue and cooperation between all players in the supply chain, with a view to constantly improving process efficiency, concentrating on innovation, sustainability and occupational health and safety.
The company Aguas de San Pedro (in Honduras) manages the integrated water service for the city of San Pedro Sula, under a thirty-year contract initiated in 2001. In the 2024-2028 Sustainability Plan we have included a health and safety objective, with a view to achieving 90% attendance at health and safety courses for suppliers.
