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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Os atuais desafios de sustentabilidade e a existência de um mercado cada vez mais
competitivo, têm resultado numa maior consciencialização das empresas relativamente à
importância de desenvolver os negócios de uma forma responsável, pensando no médio e
no longo prazo, e nas necessidades e expectativas dos seus stakeholders (incluindo clientes).
A adoção de boas práticas torna-se imprescindível para garantir competitividade e criação de
valor de uma forma sustentável. A EcoVadis é uma plataforma que avalia o desempenho de
sustentabilidade das empresas, de modo a promover cadeias de fornecimento sustentáveis,
estimulando a sustentabilidade dos negócios e da sociedade em geral. No entanto, existe um
gap na literatura, sobre o efeito da metodologia EcoVadis no desempenho organizacional.
Assim surgiu a questão da investigação: Qual é o impacto da EcoVadis no Desempenho de
Sustentabilidade das Organizações? Com o intuito de responder a esta questão, a presente
investigação explora de que modo a utilização do registo EcoVadis permite potenciar a
adoção de estratégias de sustentabilidade, enquanto ferramenta diferenciadora para a
criação de valor para as Organizações e respetivos stakeholders. Para atingir os objetivos
definidos, foi utilizada uma metodologia case study, na qual se avalia a evolução do
desempenho de sustentabilidade de uma empresa de referência no setor energético
português, que utiliza a ferramenta EcoVadis para report e melhoria contínua do seu
desempenho. Os resultados apresentam as medidas implementadas pela empresa analisada
para elevar o seu desempenho de sustentabilidade em 2023, considerando os insights do
processo de avaliação EcoVadis em 2022. Verificou-se um aumento do desempenho avaliado
pela EcoVadis, entre esse período, e concluiu-se que as medidas que mais impactaram esta
melhoria foram a (i) criação de indicadores de monitorização específicos para a empresa
analisada (separados do grupo empresarial a que pertence), (ii) o incremento da qualidade
do report, validado por uma terceira parte, e (iii) os programas de transformação cultural
implementados para melhorar o desempenho de sustentabilidade na organização (segurança
e saúde no trabalho, security, circularidade, well-being, gestão sustentável da cadeia de
fornecimento, etc.). Através da presente investigação, foi possível constatar que a EcoVadis
contribui para potenciar a implementação de boas práticas de sustentabilidade empresarial,
através dos insights do processo de avaliação do ano anterior, bem como do estímulo criado
junto da empresa para acelerar o processo de melhoria contínua de modo a obter um rating
superior, algo que é valorizado pelos clientes e pela sociedade em geral. A EcoVadis provou
ser uma mais-valia para a sustentabilidade nas organizações, demonstrando um impacto
positivo e significativo não só no desempenho de sustentabilidade das empresas, mas
também nas cadeias de fornecimento e na perceção dos stakeholders das empresas. Por fim,
tendo por base a literatura e os resultados desenvolvidos, foram propostas algumas
estratégias para promover a melhoria contínua do desempenho de sustentabilidade nas
organizações, entre as quais, antecipar as tendências relacionadas com o desenvolvimento
sustentável, de modo a implementar atempadamente iniciativas organizacionais que
permitam endereçar as necessidades e expectativas dos clientes e da sociedade em geral.
Através de uma maior proximidade entre as empresas, a academia e as organizações que
trabalham os temas da sustentabilidade (p.ex. ONG, ratings de sustentabilidade, etc.), será
possível criar vantagens competitivas diferenciadores no mercado. No final da dissertação,
são apresentadas algumas oportunidades para continuar a aprofundar a investigação no
futuro, assim como as limitações do trabalho desenvolvido.
The current sustainability challenges and the existence of an increasingly competitive market have led to a greater awareness among companies regarding the importance of developing businesses in a responsible manner, thinking in the medium and long term, and considering the needs and expectations of their stakeholders (including customers). The adoption of good practices becomes essential to ensure competitiveness and value creation in a sustainable way. EcoVadis is a platform that assesses the sustainability performance of companies in order to promote sustainable supply chains, stimulating the sustainability of businesses and society in general. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the effect of the EcoVadis methodology on organizational performance. Thus, the research question arose: What is the impact of EcoVadis on the Sustainability Performance of Organizations? In order to answer this question, the present investigation explores how the use of the EcoVadis registry can enhance the adoption of sustainability strategies as a differentiating tool for creating value for organizations and their respective stakeholders. To achieve the defined objectives, a case study methodology was used, evaluating the evolution of the sustainability performance of a reference company in the Portuguese energy sector that uses the EcoVadis tool for reporting and continuous improvement of its performance. The results present the measures implemented by the analyzed company to increase its sustainability performance in 2023, considering the insights from the EcoVadis assessment process in 2022. An increase in performance evaluated by EcoVadis was observed during this period, and it was concluded that the measures that most impacted this improvement were (i) the creation of specific monitoring indicators for the analyzed company (separate from the business group to which it belongs), (ii) the improvement of report quality, validated by a third party, and (iii) the implementation of cultural transformation programs to improve sustainability performance in the organization (occupational health and safety, security, circularity, well-being, sustainable supply chain management, etc.). Through this research, it was possible to verify that EcoVadis contributes to enhancing the implementation of good corporate sustainability practices, through insights from the previous year's assessment process, as well as the stimulus created with the company to accelerate the continuous improvement process to achieve a higher rating, something valued by customers and society in general. EcoVadis has proven to be an asset for sustainability in organizations, demonstrating a positive and significant impact not only on the sustainability performance of companies but also on supply chains and the perception of companies' stakeholders. Finally, based on the developed literature and results, some strategies were proposed to promote continuous improvement in sustainability performance in organizations, including anticipating trends related to sustainable development in order to timely implement organizational initiatives that address the needs and expectations of customers and society in general. Through closer collaboration between companies, academia, and organizations working on sustainability issues (e.g., NGOs, sustainability ratings, etc.), it will be possible to create differentiating competitive advantages in the market. At the end of the dissertation, some opportunities to further research in the future are presented, as well as the limitations of the work developed.
The current sustainability challenges and the existence of an increasingly competitive market have led to a greater awareness among companies regarding the importance of developing businesses in a responsible manner, thinking in the medium and long term, and considering the needs and expectations of their stakeholders (including customers). The adoption of good practices becomes essential to ensure competitiveness and value creation in a sustainable way. EcoVadis is a platform that assesses the sustainability performance of companies in order to promote sustainable supply chains, stimulating the sustainability of businesses and society in general. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the effect of the EcoVadis methodology on organizational performance. Thus, the research question arose: What is the impact of EcoVadis on the Sustainability Performance of Organizations? In order to answer this question, the present investigation explores how the use of the EcoVadis registry can enhance the adoption of sustainability strategies as a differentiating tool for creating value for organizations and their respective stakeholders. To achieve the defined objectives, a case study methodology was used, evaluating the evolution of the sustainability performance of a reference company in the Portuguese energy sector that uses the EcoVadis tool for reporting and continuous improvement of its performance. The results present the measures implemented by the analyzed company to increase its sustainability performance in 2023, considering the insights from the EcoVadis assessment process in 2022. An increase in performance evaluated by EcoVadis was observed during this period, and it was concluded that the measures that most impacted this improvement were (i) the creation of specific monitoring indicators for the analyzed company (separate from the business group to which it belongs), (ii) the improvement of report quality, validated by a third party, and (iii) the implementation of cultural transformation programs to improve sustainability performance in the organization (occupational health and safety, security, circularity, well-being, sustainable supply chain management, etc.). Through this research, it was possible to verify that EcoVadis contributes to enhancing the implementation of good corporate sustainability practices, through insights from the previous year's assessment process, as well as the stimulus created with the company to accelerate the continuous improvement process to achieve a higher rating, something valued by customers and society in general. EcoVadis has proven to be an asset for sustainability in organizations, demonstrating a positive and significant impact not only on the sustainability performance of companies but also on supply chains and the perception of companies' stakeholders. Finally, based on the developed literature and results, some strategies were proposed to promote continuous improvement in sustainability performance in organizations, including anticipating trends related to sustainable development in order to timely implement organizational initiatives that address the needs and expectations of customers and society in general. Through closer collaboration between companies, academia, and organizations working on sustainability issues (e.g., NGOs, sustainability ratings, etc.), it will be possible to create differentiating competitive advantages in the market. At the end of the dissertation, some opportunities to further research in the future are presented, as well as the limitations of the work developed.
Description
Keywords
Business performance Customer perception EcoVadis Sustainability