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ESG has moved from a reporting requirement to a business priority and core measure of how organizations create value, manage risk and earn trust. As stakeholder expectations continue to rise, public companies are being asked to do more than disclose progress. They must show that environmental, social and governance priorities are integrated into the way they operate, make decisions and serve their stakeholders.
That connection between practice and communication is what makes independent assessments like EcoVadis so important. These ESG disclosures reflect how a business actually operates. By evaluating companies across Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement, EcoVadis provides an external view into the policies, practices and management systems behind sustainable business performance.
ESG has become a business imperative for organizations working to build trust with investors, customers, employees and regulators. As expectations for transparency continue to rise, companies are being asked not only to disclose their ESG commitments, but to demonstrate the governance, actions and measurable progress behind them.
EcoVadis found that 87% of U.S. companies maintained or increased their sustainability investments in 2025. This continued investment signals that ESG remains a priority, even as companies navigate shifting regulatory requirements and economic uncertainty. The Platinum Medal is awarded to the top 1% of companies assessed by EcoVadis, while the Gold Medal is awarded to the top 5%, underscoring a level of performance that is benchmarked against companies assessed globally over the prior 12 months.
While the recognition itself is meaningful, what matters most is the work behind it: embedding responsible business practices into day-to-day operations and holding ourselves accountable to the same principles of credibility, transparency and continuous improvement that strong ESG reporting requires.
Why Credibility Matters in ESG Communications
More than ever before, investors are asking ESG leaders more challenging questions.
- How are you progressing against your goals/targets?
- What evidence supports your claims?
- Can you demonstrate the impact of how your policies translate into climate action and outcomes?
In this environment, ESG communications are most effective when it connects ambition to evidence, governance to action, and performance to clear stakeholder expectations.
Independent assessments, including EcoVadis, can help organizations evaluate progress, identify opportunities for improvement and provide stakeholders with greater confidence that ESG commitments are supported by defined processes and measurable outcomes.
For companies navigating new disclosure requirements, changing stakeholder expectations and heightened scrutiny, that external perspective can strengthen both the substance of ESG programs and the clarity of the story being told.
How Toppan Merrill Brings That Perspective to Clients
At Toppan Merrill, we support organizations across sustainability/ESG, proxy and stakeholder communications, giving us a clear view into what makes reporting effective: authentic action, clear governance, reliable data, and a narrative that connects business priorities to measurable outcomes.
We are also committed to ESG, with very high standards. This year Toppan Merrill is proud to have earned an EcoVadis Platinum Medal in EMEA and Gold Medal in the United States, recognition that reflects more than a milestone for our business, but our ongoing commitment to this generation and future generations
We believe, as our customers do, that ESG is most powerful when it is embedded in how our organization operates, not treated as a stand-alone reporting exercise.
Looking Ahead
As ESG expectations continue to evolve, organizations have an opportunity to strengthen not only the practices behind their disclosures, but also the way they communicate progress.
For us, EcoVadis recognition is a meaningful marker of our ESG journey and a reflection of the standard we bring to our work with customers: helping organizations communicate ESG progress with credibility, clarity and confidence. We hold ourselves to those same expectations because responsible business practices build stronger organizations, stronger communities and more sustainable outcomes for our customers, employees and communities
Credible ESG communication starts with credible ESG practices, and the strongest stories are the ones organizations can stand behind. That is the work we do every day for our customers and for our team, as we bring ESG progress to life with transparency, purpose and accountability.
