Villeroy & Boch further improves its sustainability rating and secures another EcoVadis Platinum medal

For the second year running, the Mettlach-based ceramics and fittings manufacturer Villeroy & Boch has been awarded the EcoVadis Platinum Medal. In doing so, the company has once again significantly improved its rating. With 94 out of a possible 100 points – an increase of 9 points on the previous year – Villeroy & Boch is, according to EcoVadis, the world’s leading platform for sustainability ratings, once again among the top 1 per cent of all assessed companies and thus also at the very pinnacle of its industry.

Sustainability performance is assessed across four areas: the environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement, in each case based on verifiable evidence. Villeroy & Boch has improved in all four categories compared with the previous year. This demonstrates that sustainability is not only being driven forward in individual areas, but consistently across the entire Group, from global procurement policy right through to production processes in the factories. Furthermore, the company’s climate targets were recently officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

“For us, sustainability is a strategic value driver,” says Chief Financial Officer Dr Markus Warncke. “Receiving the Platinum award once again and our further improvement in the ranking show that consistent ESG management pays off, both environmentally and economically. Particularly in a challenging economic environment, we are committed to responsible business practices in the long term. By consistently pursuing our climate targets, we are positioning ourselves for the future.”

Less CO₂, more recycled material: the figures behind the progress

Environment:

Since 2021, Villeroy & Boch has already reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 34.5 per cent. In 2025 alone, nearly 9,500 tonnes of CO₂e were saved, partly through new power purchase agreements (PPAs) and the expansion of solar power generation from the company’s own facilities at the Torgau (Germany) and Hódmezővásárhely (Hungary) sites. The product portfolio is also consistently geared towards conserving resources: For example, the ALU+ range of fittings is made from 100 per cent recycled aluminium. Furthermore, innovative technologies such as TwistFlush and AquaReduct noticeably reduce everyday water consumption: with TwistFlush technology, a four-person household saves up to 19,700 litres of water per year. At the same time, the company is committed to a consistent circular economy in its manufacturing processes. On the path to its ambitious ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ target, Villeroy & Boch minimises remaining production waste through targeted process optimisations. Unfired scrap is directly returned to production internally, whilst all other residual materials are effectively recycled externally. Through this three-stage approach, material cycles are continuously closed and valuable primary resources are conserved.

Labour and human rights:

With the integration of all Ideal Standard employees into the central HR system Workday in May 2025, the Group has standardised its HR processes worldwide. In terms of occupational health and safety, Villeroy & Boch significantly exceeds its own targets: 87 per cent of the workforce across 19 sites now work under ISO 45001 certification (target: 80 per cent). In 2025, the Executive Board also adopted a Group-wide DEI policy and signed the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles. By 2028, the proportion of women in management positions is set to rise from the current 41 per cent to 50 per cent. Those who wish to work more flexibly can do so: a global home-working policy allows for up to 40 per cent remote working outside production, whilst in Germany a lifetime working hours account has been in place since January 2025.

Ethics:

97.6 per cent of employees in areas particularly prone to risk, such as procurement, sales and marketing, have received training in corruption prevention – a new record high. Confirmed cases of corruption: zero. This is complemented by an anonymous whistleblowing scheme that is open not only to the company’s own workforce but also to external suppliers and partners.

Sustainable procurement:

86.5 per cent of the procurement volume is now subject to the Group’s own Code of Conduct, exceeding the self-imposed target of 84 per cent. In spring 2025, Villeroy & Boch also systematically analysed all its global suppliers for human rights and environmental risks, as required by the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG).