Increasing demands for sustainability and ethical standards in procurement pose major challenges for companies worldwide. With its global SustainUP programme, printing ink manufacturer Siegwerk has shown how these requirements can be successfully met.
The company was recently honoured with the EcoVadis Sustainability Achievement Award 2026 in the „Best New Program“ category. This recognition acknowledges Siegwerk's outstanding progress in establishing a human rights-based and sustainable procurement programme.
The SustainUP programme, which was launched in mid-2025, aims to promote sustainability and human rights throughout Siegwerk's supply chain. Arash Babai, Head of Global Purchasing at Siegwerk, explains: „At Siegwerk, we believe that sustainability is a shared responsibility. By working closely with our suppliers, we can proactively address challenges, drive innovation and build a resilient and transparent supply chain.“
The programme provides Siegwerk's teams with clear guidelines, practical tools and a structured framework to integrate environmental and social responsibility into every procurement decision. These efforts were highlighted by the EcoVadis Awards jury, which praised the programme's transparency and strong initial results.
The role of SustainUP
SustainUP is a central component of Siegwerk's sustainability strategy HorizonNOW. It goes beyond mere compliance with legal requirements and places responsible procurement at the centre of the company's operational activities. Cathleen Hansohm, Global Supplier Sustainability Manager and Human Rights at Siegwerk, emphasises: „With SustainUP, we have developed a programme that brings sustainability to life in our procurement processes. The fact that we have now received the EcoVadis Sustainability Achievement Award for the best new programme shows us that we are on the right track.“
Recently, Siegwerk held interactive webinars and a workshop in India to provide its suppliers with practical knowledge and tools for responsible business practices. These measures are part of active supplier engagement to ensure that sustainability becomes an embedded and scalable part of Siegwerk's global sourcing activities.
Source: Siegwerk
