Recently, the German Villeroy & Boch Group was awarded the highest rating – the Platinum Medal – by EcoVadis, a globally recognized authority in sustainability assessments. In this evaluation, Villeroy & Boch achieved a score of 85 out of 100, placing it among the top 1% of over 150,000 companies assessed worldwide. This outstanding result fully affirms Villeroy & Boch's exceptional performance in sustainable development, bolstering confidence among its partners, customers, and suppliers. The EcoVadis sustainability assessment evaluates 21 criteria across four core areas: "Environment," "Labor & Human Rights," "Ethics," and "Sustainable Procurement." It analyzes a company's sustainability performance based on internationally recognized standards and presents the findings in a data-driven format. Villeroy & Boch AG has participated in this assessment annually since 2018, using it to measure its own sustainability progress and continuously enhance transparency. After achieving Silver ratings for two consecutive years, the Group has now attained the Platinum level for the first time. Key factors contributing to this breakthrough include renewed participation in the UN Global Compact, signing the UN Women's Empowerment Principles, and having its climate targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Furthermore, the Group actively supports local projects, such as expanding the hydrogen network in Germany's Saarland region. In this year's assessment, Villeroy & Boch performed particularly well in the "Environmental" and "Labor & Human Rights" categories. Major initiatives included implementing energy efficiency measures in production, increasing investment in workplace safety, conducting leadership development programs through its internal Leadership Academy, and performing social responsibility audits to ensure human rights and ethical standards within its supply chain. Mr. Georg Loerz, Chief Operating Officer of the Bathroom and Wellness division at Villeroy & Boch, stated: "We are extremely honored to receive this year's EcoVadis Platinum Medal. Villeroy & Boch is deeply committed to advancing sustainability, with goals to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 25% before 2030, achieve zero waste at all ceramic production sites, and actively enhance the physical and mental well-being of our employees worldwide. This EcoVadis certification reflects our commitment to responsible business practices and our determination to drive positive change."