Cargus, a leading courier company in Romania, has been honoured with a silver medal by EcoVadis, an international benchmark in terms of rating and certification, for its sustained efforts in adopting responsible practices in sustainability and business ethics. This marks the second consecutive year that Cargus has received recognition from EcoVadis. In 2022, the company was awarded with the bronze medal, marking the first acknowledgement of its commitment to implementing long-term sustainable practices.
EcoVadis assessed Cargus’ performance by considering four main pillars: environment, fundamental human rights at the workplace, ethics, and sustainable procurement – categories where the company has made significant progress, positioning itself among the top organizations analyzed.
As a result, Cargus ranks in the top 11 percent of companies in the transport and courier industry in terms of sustainable procurement and in the top 2 percent of companies for its approach to business ethics. In terms of the overall score, Cargus is among the top 18 percent of companies in the postal, courier, and multimodal transport industry and is the only courier company in Romania certified by EcoVadis.
“We are honoured by such a distinction, like the one granted by EcoVadis, as it represents a confirmation of our efforts to embrace sustainable business practices. We embarked on this transformation approximately two years ago, investing in several significant areas, including the replacement of our own fleet, the expansion of our out-of-home delivery network, and the implementation of ESG principles at the organizational level. We are committed to becoming a responsible player for the benefit of future generations, making it a long-term strategic objective for Cargus. We will continue to invest in this direction,” said Monica Buiciuc, Head of Sustainability & Compliance at Cargus.
Additionally, starting in May, Cargus was accepted into the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a global network of over 17,000 companies from 166 countries committed to building a sustainable future. UNGC provides companies with a framework for assessing, defining, implementing, measuring, and communicating sustainability strategies.
These results reflect the significant efforts of the courier company over the past 2-3 years to align its sustainability and ethical principles with international standards and global trends. The company began the process of renewing its vehicle fleet with hybrid cars in 2021, with the goal of reducing its carbon footprint and contributing to environmental protection.
Furthermore, over the past two years, Cargus has developed its own out-of-home delivery network, which represents a sustainable solution for shipments and returns. Today, the national Cargus SHIP & GO network consists of approximately 3,000 points (PUDO and lockers) and serves as an efficient resource management solution (time, fuel, courier schedule) in the delivery process. SHIP & GO points have nationwide coverage, and high density, and operate in pre-existing spaces, eliminating the need for additional investments and expenses. Additionally, Cargus lockers, developed in partnership with SwipBox, are battery-powered and have a lifespan of up to 10 years, reducing their long-term environmental impact.
Cargus is also a company that promotes workplace diversity and inclusion, with a significant percentage of female employees and a gender-balanced leadership structure. 46.5 percent of the total employees are women, and 4 out of 10 management positions are held by women (data available in 2022). Furthermore, the current executive structure consists of 12 members, with 7 being male and 5 being female. Over its more than 30 years of presence in the Romanian market, Cargus has consistently made efforts to create a balanced working environment and to be an attractive company for employees, regardless of specialization, level of education, role, gender, age, or religion.
As part of its efforts to promote the sustainable development of the company, Cargus places special emphasis on evaluating suppliers according to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) standards. Collaborating with partners and suppliers who share the same values and principles becomes essential in this process. Cargus ensures that providers of goods and services undergo an ESG assessment to ensure social responsibility throughout the entire supply chain.
Additionally, during this year, Cargus has initiated partnerships with several non-governmental organizations such as Let’s Do It, Romania!, Viitor Plus, Casa Bună, Together for Humanity, and the Inocenți Foundation. Together with these NGOs, Cargus will implement projects in the fields of environmental conservation and education, thus contributing to the promotion of its values within the community.
