Enhancing Sustainability Management with ESG Criteria
Guidance for establishing and maintaining a sustainability management system
Comply with retailers' sustainability requirements
Increased trust among business partners and customers
External confirmation by an internationally recognized verifier
Navigating a Sustainability Management System in the United States
Is the IFS ESG Check suitable for my company?
How does the IFS ESG Check work?
How the IFS ESG Check works
To evaluate your company’s alignment with ESG criteria and governance factors, your organization is required to complete a comprehensive self-assessment and implement sustainable practices internally. Your company must fill in a self-assessment and carry out the implementation of sustainable practices within the organization.
The completed list must be sent to the auditor at least fourteen days before the verification audit. The more detailed and thorough your checklist is, the faster and more efficient the verification process can be.
If your company opts for the additional carbon footprint module, the calculation of the carbon footprint must take place prior to the verification audit.
Once your company is ready, an audit date will be set with you and approved auditors with experience and expertise in your industry. During the verification audit, our auditors will review the documentation and data presented in the self-assessment. Interviews with selected personnel are also conducted. Excluding additional modules, the audit is scheduled to last between two and four hours. In the final meeting, your auditor will provide you with a detailed presentation of the results. The audit can be conducted on-site or remotely.
The result of the verification audit is measured in points. The total points earned results in a final score, graded from A to E, corresponding to beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels. This grading system encourages a continuous improvement process, allowing your company to enhance its performance year over year.
It's important to note that the results from different modules of the IFS ESG Check are independent of each other and have no influence on other IFS certificates.
The verification audit and its results are evaluated by the independent certification board of DQS Inc., which decides on the issuance of the confirmation letter. These results are documented in a report, and an improvement action plan is provided. The action plan must be implemented within a maximum of 4 weeks after receipt and sent to the auditor. The implementation of the measures will be checked during the next ESG check. Customers also receive a confirmation letter with a validity period of one year.
After one year, the validation of the confirmation letter expires, and a re-audit must take place.
How much does the external verification of the IFS ESG check cost?
Why should companies choose DQS Inc. to verify the IFS ESG Check?
Ready to enhance your organization's sustainability journey?
Watch our complementary ESG and Sustainability Reporting webinar recording to gain insights, strategies, and best practices to enable success for your business.