Suppliers are a strategic lever for achieving company objectives and maximising our positive impact on the territory. We work closely alongside them, with a view to promoting responsible behaviour throughout the supply chain, with special attention to environmental and social issues.
We promote the development of an increasingly sustainable supply chain, both via procurement processes that integrate sustainability criteria and by involving the suppliers also in projects aimed at enhancing their skills and awareness about the core sustainability issues.
We ask our partners to adopt and encourage throughout the supply chain high standards in matters concerning:
With a view to guaranteeing a productive and long-lasting collaboration, we ask suppliers to accept and commit to all the values, principles and behaviours set forth in our Code of Ethics, the Sustainable Procurement Policy and the Human Rights Policy, as an integral part of our contractual agreements. Moreover, via the 'Comunicate Whistleblowing' platform we make available a dedicated channel for reporting ethical or human rights violations, always ensuring confidentiality and data protection.
The Sustainability Plan includes a specific strategic objective dedicated to the “Evolution of the supply chain”, divided into interventions aimed at:
| Lines of intervetion | Target for 2028 | |
|---|---|---|
Sustainable procurement | ESG criteria in tenders | 90% of calls for tender regarding works, goods and services with application of sustainability criteria |
Responsible Procurement Policy | Definition of the Policy and inclusion in qualification | |
Supplier qualification (EcoVadis) | 80% of suppliers EcoVadis certified (71% in 2023) | |
Supplier health and safety | Training on safety issues | Injury incidence rate < average for last three years |
Technical professional eligibility assessment | Digitalisation of process for all Acea companies | |
Site supplier inspection | Number of inspections +5% versus 2023 |
suppliers qualified in 2025 were certified via the EcoVadis platform
safety inspections at worksites
of tender procedures with ESG reward criteria
*Data as at 31 December 2025
We work together with suppliers to achieve high standards of quality and promote the integration of sustainability in operating activities and worksite management.
The qualification process takes place by way of a dedicated portal, which requires the compilation of a self-assessment questionnaire, with regard to:
During qualification, the supplier may be subjected to second-party audit to verify the information provided.
For monitoring the supply chain, Acea has adopted a Vendor Rating system, which allows the evaluation of various performance indicators, including indicators associated with social and environmental sustainability, detected also using the EcoVadis platform.
The Vendor Rating system is the tool we use to monitor and assess the eligibility of suppliers during the execution of contracts.
The supplier is assigned a score based on four main dimensions. The overall rating is calculated as a weighted sum of these indicators.
Basic requirements
Indicator of performance, during the bidding phase and during execution of the contract, and of economic and financial soundness.
Quality
Indicator of compliance as regards services and products provided with respect to the reference technical documentation.
Timeliness
Indicator of punctuality in relation to the deadlines stipulated in the contract.
Safety
Indicator of compliance with safety requirements (for works and services) as imposed by legislation and by the reference documentation.
We encourage our suppliers to implement sustainability-oriented practices and, for this purpose, have adopted EcoVadis, the leading European value chain sustainability assessment platform.
Our suppliers and trade partners who decide to apply for accreditation on the platform are assessed and receive a scorecard which, alongside the score obtained, indicates strengths and areas for improvement with related corrective plans.
The EcoVadis rating is included among the reward criteria in the “most economically advantageous offer (MEAO)” tender procedures, with the aim of incentivising the continuous enhancement of ESG performances.
Occupational health and safety protection is a core aspect as regards the management of relationships with our suppliers. For this reason, we encourage compliance with regulatory standards and our internal requirements throughout the supply chain by way of training and awareness activities, audits and periodical inspections and monitoring of safety performances, in keeping with the provisions contained in the Italian Public Contracts Code, our Code of Ethics and our sustainability objectives.
Vendor Day is an annual event during which we hold meetings and discussions with our partners and suppliers.
The 2025 edition was also attended by Caterina Dentoni Litta, Head of Sustainability, who illustrated Acea's contribution to achieving the 2030 Agenda's 12 Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, the initiative provided the backdrop for presentation of an ESG performance continuous improvement program involving the company's entire supply chain.
A precious opportunity to promote dialogue and collaboration among all players of the value chain, with the aim of continuously improving the efficiency of processes, focusing on innovation, sustainability, health, and workplace safety.
Acea also operates at international level through the company Aguas de San Pedro, which manages the integrated water service for the city of San Pedro Sula (Honduras), under a contract initiated in 2001. The 2024-2028 Sustainability Plan included a specific objective aimed at enhancing the safety culture throughout the supply chain, with a 90% supplier attendance target at the health and safety courses.
