How Wilh. Wülfing achieved the Gold medal right away in its first EcoVadis assessment
Customer: Wilh. Wülfing GmbH & Co. KG
Category: Manufacturing / Home Textils
Wilh. Wülfing GmbH & Co. KG is a home textiles manufacturer with three production sites in Germany and the Czech Republic. As a supplier to one of Germany’s largest discount retailers, the company faced the challenge of participating in an EcoVadis assessment for the first time in 2026 and providing this important business partner with structured information and supporting evidence in line with the EcoVadis methodology.
The timeline was demanding. After attending a DFGE policy webinar on the Retail Impact Initiative in May 2026, Wülfing contacted DFGE the following morning. Initially, only a few weeks were available to complete the EcoVadis questionnaire. Together, Wülfing and DFGE developed a structured project plan. Following a systematic data collection process, the preparation of relevant supporting evidence, and submission of the questionnaire, Wülfing received a Gold Medal in August 2026 – in its very first assessment cycle.
Beata Rauer
Key Account Manager & Head of Marketing, Wilh. Wülfing GmbH & Co. KG
“Participating in the EcoVadis assessment was an important opportunity for us to systematically prepare and make visible our existing certificates, policies, and sustainability initiatives within the EcoVadis framework. DFGE helped us bring together the necessary information within a demanding timeframe and align it specifically with the assessment requirements.”
Challenges
First EcoVadis Assessment Cycle under significant Time Pressure
Wülfing had not previously been assessed by EcoVadis. As a result, there was no existing scorecard to serve as a starting point for targeted improvement. At the same time, a key customer required Wülfing to submit the questionnaire by June 2026.
The central challenge was to establish a robust assessment basis for three production sites within a very short timeframe. A rushed submission would have increased the risk of a weak result. It was necessary not only to identify existing sustainability activities, but also to systematically compile suitable supporting evidence and map it to the requirements of the EcoVadis methodology.
Involving multiple sites added further organizational complexity. Policies, KPIs, and documents had to be consolidated, reviewed, and brought into a consistent format. For Wülfing, the task was therefore not simply about completing a questionnaire. It was about presenting the ESG information and supporting evidence relevant to the assessment in a structured, transparent, and traceable way.
Solution
Evidence-Based Project Plan and structured Support
Wülfing and DFGE first developed a realistic project plan. Based on this plan, the submission deadline was extended, allowing the necessary steps to be completed with the required level of professional rigor.
As a strategic EcoVadis partner in the DACH region*, DFGE supported Wülfing throughout the entire assessment process. The focus was on a structured gap analysis of the available information, guided collection and consolidation of relevant data, and the preparation of policies and supporting documentation. DFGE also provided support in developing a KPI dashboard, working on policies, and completing and reviewing the EcoVadis questionnaire.
During a kick-off workshop in June 2026, the approach, responsibilities, and next steps were defined in detail. The subsequent process combined expert advisory support with closely coordinated project management. This enabled Wülfing to make efficient use of existing information while preparing its evidence in a transparent manner and in line with the known assessment logic of EcoVadis.
The collaboration created a link between short-term assessment support and long-term ESG development. In addition to preparing for the immediate EcoVadis assessment, Wülfing established data, KPI, and documentation structures that can also be used for future sustainability projects.
Result & Outlook
Gold Medal in the First Assessment Cycle
According to the EcoVadis scorecard, Wülfing achieved 86 out of 100 points and received a Gold Medal in August 2026, during its first assessment cycle. At the time of assessment, the result placed Wülfing in the 98th percentile of the comparison group shown on the scorecard. This means that Wülfing ranked among the top two percent of that comparison group.
The result is particularly significant given the starting point: Prior to the project, Wülfing had no EcoVadis scorecard and nevertheless achieved a Gold Medal in its very first assessment cycle. What began as a short-term compliance requirement from an important customer thus resulted in a robust foundation, documented through the EcoVadis assessment, for the structured presentation of the sustainability information and supporting evidence considered in the assessment process.
Looking ahead: The scorecard is valid until August 2027. Two further ESG projects are already being considered. The data, KPI, and documentation structures established during the project provide a working foundation for additional ESG initiatives and the continuous development of Wülfing’s sustainability management.
Johannes Dowe
CEO, Wilh. Wülfing GmbH & Co. KG
“The result of 86 points and the Gold Medal in our first assessment cycle exceeded our expectations. What was particularly valuable for us was that our collaboration with DFGE did not end with the submission of the questionnaire. Instead, it created data, KPI, and documentation structures that we can build on for our future ESG activities.”
*Background
The Retail Impact Initiative as the Starting Point
The policy webinar Wülfing attended in May 2026 was held as part of the Retail Impact Initiative (RII). Founded jointly with EcoVadis, the industry initiative aims to further harmonize sustainability requirements in the retail sector and support suppliers in systematically collecting ESG information and developing their processes. Participating retailers include, among others, ALDI SÜD, ALDI Nord, Lidl International, REWE Group, and Gebr. Heinemann. More about the Retail Impact Initiative can be found here.
As part of its expanded strategic partnership with EcoVadis, DFGE serves exclusively as the Learning Partner of the Retail Impact Initiative. In this role, DFGE supports suppliers through webinars, workshops, and action plans focused on the EcoVadis methodology and the further development of their sustainability processes.
For Wülfing, the RII webinar was the company’s first point of contact with the topic. The subsequent individual support provided by DFGE turned this initial introduction directly into a concrete assessment project. The Retail Impact Initiative was therefore not the end point, but rather the starting point for the company’s further ESG development.
