Case Study: Bee-Clean’s Journey to EcoVadis Bronze Medal

Client Background:
Bee-Clean Building Maintenance (“Bee-Clean”), the largest commercial cleaning company in Canada, has always been dedicated to corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and innovation. Over time, it has gradually integrated sustainable development into its core strategy through a range of initiatives such as adopting low environmental impact products, offering scholarships to employees and their families, optimizing cleaning routes to reduce resource use, encouraging volunteer engagement, and many more.

In 2022, Bee-Clean undertook its first EcoVadis assessment. While the process presented several challenges, it marked a significant step forward in formalizing its commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices. In 2024, Bee-clean sought external expertise to improve its evaluation results and streamline its sustainability documentation.

Challenges:

• Bee Clean had previously attempted the EcoVadis evaluation but did not achieve the desired outcome.
• The company found the evaluation process overwhelming due to the extensive documentation and specific requirements.
• They needed to restructure their existing policies and create new ones to meet EcoVadis standards.

Success Strategies:
Bee-Clean partnered with GPSI to guide them through the EcoVadis evaluation process and implement necessary improvements. Our approach included:

1. Initial Assessment:
   • Conducted a thorough analysis of Bee-Clean’s previous EcoVadis evaluations to identify gaps and areas for improvement.
2. Policy and Documentation Overhaul:
   • Revised Bee-Clean’s environmental policy, employee handbook, and code of ethics to align with EcoVadis requirements.
   • Created a new responsible procurement policy.
3. Implementation of Measures:
   • Assisted in restructuring existing environmental and social measures to better present documentation.
   • Implemented new measures for responsible procurement, including supplier risk assessments and training on social issues in the supply chain.
4. Data Management and Reporting:
   • Helped Bee-Clean structure their data for accurate reporting and align it with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.
   • Created a comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report to support the EcoVadis evaluation.
5. Ongoing Support:
   • Held bi-weekly meetings to review progress, address questions, and ensure alignment with Bee-Clean’s objectives.

Results:

• Bee-Clean successfully improved their EcoVadis score, achieving a bronze medal, which also met the requirements of their clients.
• The company saved significant time and resources by leveraging GPSI’s expertise, reducing the internal effort required for the evaluation process.
• Bee-Clean now has a structured approach to sustainability documentation and reporting, positioning them for future success in sustainability evaluations.

Conclusion:
Our comprehensive support enabled Bee-Clean to overcome its initial challenges and achieve the EcoVadis Bronze medal, meeting its sustainability goals and demonstrating the value of expert guidance in navigating complex evaluation processes.