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Interview
▲ Pierre-François Thaler
What is the biggest lesson you’ ve learned since founding EcoVadis? The biggest lesson is that sustainability is a journey of maturity, not a destination. I wish I had known early on how much change management would be required. It’ s 20 percent data and 80 percent psychology. You must show people that changing their buying habits is in their own long-term interest.
If there was one thing you wish people would ask, what would it be? I wish people would ask more about Impact ROI. We talk a lot about Rating ROI, but I want to talk about how many tons of CO 2 were actually removed or how many workers’ lives were improved because a company moved from a Bronze to a Silver rating. Those are the real metrics that matter.
Is there anything else you’ d like to add? Only that in 2026, the importance of shared ownership cannot be ignored. ESG and ethical supply chain management should be as much a priority for sustainability teams and procurement leads as it is for the board. ■
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