Fibox Tested Systems has achieved a significant sustainability milestone by earning the EcoVadis Silver Medal, a globally recognized sustainability rating that has assessed more than 150,000 companies worldwide.
To learn more about the journey behind the result, the improvements made over the past year, and what comes next, we spoke with Monika Gorzelak, QHSE Manager at Fibox Tested Systems Oy. In this interview, she shares insights into the EcoVadis assessment process, the importance of robust management systems, and how sustainability is creating value for employees, customers, and the business alike.
Congratulations on achieving the EcoVadis Silver Medal. What does this recognition mean for FTS?
Thank you. It's a significant milestone for the entire organization and, honestly, a proud moment for me personally as well.
To put it into perspective, just a year ago we scored 58 points and received the EcoVadis Commitment Badge. Even that result reflected several years of continuous improvement. Reaching 74 points this year means we've progressed to the group of companies performing at an advanced level within our industry.
EcoVadis doesn't simply evaluate what a company claims. It verifies policies, management systems, certifications, performance data, and public disclosures. Our score reflects practices that are documented, measurable, continuously improved, and independently validated which is exactly the standard I've always aimed to achieve in my QHSE work.
What changed between last year's assessment and this one? Was there a specific strategy?
Absolutely. Once we received last year's assessment, I didn't file it away. I analyzed it line by line, asking a simple question: where is the gap between what we actually do and what EcoVadis can verify?
In many areas, our practices were already well established, but they weren't fully supported by documentation or external reporting. We identified Sustainable Procurement, Ethics, and related reporting as the areas with the greatest potential for improvement and developed a focused action plan around them.
What does "closing the documentation gap" actually mean in practice?
It means reviewing our management systems from end to end: internal policies, performance indicators, procedures, management reviews, and third-party audit results, to make sure they all tell one consistent story.
Where evidence was incomplete, we treated it as an opportunity for improvement rather than simply a documentation exercise. It's not enough to say you're complying; you need reliable evidence to demonstrate it. That's a principle I've followed throughout my career, long before ESG became a buzzword.
Looking at the score breakdown, Environment scored 70, while Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement each reached 75. Was Environment always expected to be the most challenging area?
Yes. Environmental performance is often the most difficult area to improve quickly because it depends on long-term data, such as carbon emissions, energy consumption, and other environmental performance indicators.
At FTS, we already benefit from our ISO 14001-certified environmental management system, which provides a strong foundation. Looking ahead, further development of our carbon footprint measurement and VSME reporting will offer the greatest opportunities for improvement, as much of the necessary groundwork is already in place.
What does achieving the Silver Medal mean for FTS in practical terms — for employees, customers, and the business?
For our customers and business partners, it provides independent confirmation that our commitments to sustainability, environmental responsibility, occupational health and safety, and ethical business practices are more than declarations , they are supported by verified evidence.
Increasingly, customers require suppliers to demonstrate their sustainability performance before they can even participate in tender processes. A strong EcoVadis rating therefore strengthens both our competitive advantage and our long-term customer relationships. In a way, it's a direct expression of what FTS stands for as a company. "We help you to grow" isn't just a slogan for our customers it also reflects how we develop as an organization.
Internally, this achievement is equally meaningful. Many colleagues in Poland and Finland contributed data, evidence, and improvement initiatives throughout the year without necessarily seeing the overall picture. Sharing this result allows everyone to understand how their individual efforts contributed to a measurable achievement that the entire company can be proud of.
Beyond customer relationships, a stronger score also makes us more resilient. Fewer blind spots in compliance, ethics, and environmental management mean fewer risks catching us by surprise in the future. And with more people, especially professionals actively considering a company's environmental and human rights performance before deciding where to work, an independently verified result like this also makes FTS a more attractive employer.
You've worked in QHSE for more than twenty years. Does this achievement feel different from earlier milestones in your career?
Every certification and every successful audit have its own significance. What makes this achievement particularly rewarding is that it reflects long-term progress rather than the outcome of a single assessment.
I would also say that this result draws directly on my entire career in quality, environment, occupational safety and labor and human rights. Moving into ESG felt like a natural next step because it's where these disciplines converge and increasingly where the market and institutions expect suppliers like us to demonstrate compliance.
What matters most to me is not the medal itself, but the confirmation that our management system continues to mature, improve, and deliver sustainable results year after year.
What's next? Is a Gold Medal the next objective?
Yes, that is certainly the direction we want to pursue.
The assessment already shows us where to focus on strengthening environmental and GHG reporting, and making sure our good practices are properly evidenced and communicated. Our current score is valid until May 2027, so work on the next assessment has already begun.
Finally, is there a message you'd like to share with colleagues across the Fibox Group?
This wasn't one person's achievement. It took colleagues across many functions and countries trusting the direction and contributing their part. Silver is a milestone, not a finish line.
I would encourage everyone to continue sharing the excellent work they are already doing, because that's exactly what will help us reach the next level and stay true to what we promise: We help you to grow.
Read more about Tested Systems Sustainability here.