Ecovadis Platinum Medal awarded to Linde MH

Linde Material Handling recognized for excellent sustainability results

Intralogistics specialist Linde Material Handling (MH) has made significant progress in achieving its sustainability goals and has been awarded a platinum medal by the rating agency Ecovadis, an organization specializing in sustainability assessments. In the certification process, which took place in late 2023, Linde MH achieved significantly above-average scores in all four assessment categories, placing the company in the top one percent of all companies in the ranking. Compared to the previous screening, Linde MH improved its Scorecard in the Ethics and Sustainable Sourcing categories.

"At Linde Material Handling, sustainability is a strategic theme that we have systematically pursued and continuously improved in recent years," says Ulrike Just, Executive Vice President Sales & Service Linde MH EMEA. The company's ongoing commitment has now been rewarded and recognized with the Platinum rating: Linde MH thus belongs to the small circle of companies that make up the top international group.

"We are very pleased with this prestigious award and see it as an incentive to do even better next year," says Linde's MH manager. The Ecovadis ranking established a uniform international standard for sustainability that provides guidance in business and eliminates many reporting lines. "With the Platinum Award, we show our customers that with Linde MH they are choosing a supplier and business partner that takes the topic of sustainability seriously and has a comprehensive approach." The same goes for the products and solutions the company offers. "The Linde brand portfolio stands for efficient use of energy, low emissions and comprehensive occupational health and safety, combined with maximum performance," states Ulrike Just. In order to determine the environmental impact of forklifts and warehouse trucks throughout their entire life cycle, life cycle analyses were carried out for the main product groups using a scientific method certified by the technical inspection body TÜV. The company's activities in the field of approved used trucks make a positive contribution to reducing resource consumption. Returns from the leasing and rental sector are reconditioned to uniform standards and then given a second life as forklifts. Last year, Linde MH entered into a strategic business partnership to ensure environmentally friendly recycling of lithium-ion batteries.

Founded in Paris in 2007, the global assessment agency Ecovadis measures companies' sustainability efforts in four categories: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. The assessment is based on defined indicators, including policies implemented, measures taken and documentation of results. In the Carbon Scorecard, which is used to assess a company's carbon management system, Ecovadis awarded Linde MH an "Advanced" performance level, giving it the second-highest rating.

"At Linde MH, the data collected as part of the Ecovadis audit comes from all relevant departments, such as Occupational Safety, Environmental Management, Purchasing, Human Resources and Production," explained Linde Brand Manager Ulrike Just. An important basis for the Ecovadis certification is Linde MH's sustainability report, which was first published in 2015 and is available as an online report on the company website in the latest edition for 2022. The Facts & Figures section documents the status quo achieved in core areas such as Sustainability Strategy and Management, Corporate Governance, Environment, Products and Solutions, Good Workmanship and Social Engagement, and updates the respective targets for the future. "Systematic vetting and the involvement of many people from the organization are the key components for further improvements," says manager Ulrike Just.

The Ecovadis network now includes more than 125,000 rated companies. The purpose of the certification is to promote innovation and encourage sustainability. The content of the assessments is based on the ISO 26000 guidelines and various global reporting standards.