The UK’S longest running water retailer has increased its score from the world’s most trusted sustainability assessor, placing it in the 97th percentile of companies assessed globally.

Edinburgh-based Business Stream increased its score by 5-percentage points, improving on its Gold rating initially awarded last year. This included achieving a 10-percentage point increase in its environmental score and a 10-percentage point increase in its sustainable procurement score.

EcoVadis asses more than 75,000 companies in over 200 industries on their sustainability credentials. The assessment is based on international sustainability standards, including the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and ISO 2600 certification.

In addition to assessing Business Stream’s environmental credentials, EcoVadis also measured the water retailer’s commitment to labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.

Chief Executive of Business Stream, Jo Dow (pictured above) said: “We’re thrilled to have improved on our sustainability rating from EcoVadis, securing a gold rating for the second consecutive year, now placing us within the 97th percentile of all companies assessed.

We’re passionate about being a responsible business and we work hard to embed sustainability practices across everything we do. That said, we know there is always more that can be done so we’ll remain focused on making further improvements across our operations to support our sustainability goals.”

The rating comes after Business Stream announced it had become a carbon neutral company following its partnership with climate action specialist, Ecologi, helping the company offset its carbon emissions as it works towards its 2030 net zero target.

Business Stream recently cut its carbon emissions by 50% in one year after rolling out a series of carefully planned measures to deliver environmental savings. The result, measured from April 2022 to April 2023, and externally verified, exceeded the retailer’s promise to cut emissions by 20% during the 12-month period.

Business Stream’s latest green successes mark a key component of its vision to make a positive difference (MAPD) to its customers, its people, the environment and its local communities.