Sustainability has always been a core part of how we operate. It shapes the way we work with clients, care for our people, and choose our partners.
To continue building a supply chain that truly reflects our values, we partnered with SMI to measure our progress in a transparent and accountable way.
Measuring what matters
SMI produced our latest Responsible Sustainable Partner Scorecard using data from DOC’s top ten suppliers. The scorecard reviews each supplier’s approach to environmental, social, and governance practices, covering areas such as ethical business conduct, climate action, health and safety, waste reduction, biodiversity and data protection.
The process gives us a clear, evidence-based view of how our supply chain performs across sustainability indicators. It helps us celebrate progress and identify where further improvements can be made.
The results highlight strong performance across our partnerships.
- Average ESG score: 74%
- 17% Gold | 50% Platinum | 33% Diamond
These findings show that our suppliers are not just aligned with our expectations but are actively helping to raise the standard of responsible sourcing in our industry.
Collaboration that drives progress
Our partnership with SMI continues to grow. Their Responsible Sustainable Partner Strategy (RSPS) scorecard gives us a simple yet powerful way to assess supplier performance. It also ensures transparency across our supply chain and creates a shared framework for improvement.
SMI’s Head of ESG and Sustainable Procurement shared her reflections on our work together:
To ensure a responsible and sustainable supply chain, DOC Cleaning uses SMI’s Responsible Sustainable Partner Strategy (RSPS) scorecard to evaluate its top five uniform suppliers. The scorecard reviews sustainability and responsible business practices, helping DOC Cleaning choose partners aligned with their values.
Shortlisted for the Edie Net Zero Awards and National Sustainability Awards, the RSPS demonstrates SMI’s role in helping clients decarbonise their supply chain. By using the RSPS scorecard, DOC Cleaning can clearly see how each supplier performs. It’s a simple, transparent tool that helps build a responsible supply chain and supports long-term sustainability targets.
As Head of ESG at SMI, I’m proud to work alongside a forward-thinking client that doesn’t just talk about sustainability but actively demonstrates it through real, measurable action.
We value SMI’s expertise and independence. Their assessment helps us see where our supply chain is strong and where we can do even more. This collaborative approach also ensures that sustainability is never a box-ticking exercise but a continuous cycle of learning and progress.
Recognition from SMI
This shared commitment to responsible sourcing was recently recognised when DOC received an SMI Award for Sustainability Excellence. The award highlights the results of our latest partner scorecard and our ongoing efforts to embed sustainability throughout our business.
It also reinforces our belief that collaboration with like-minded partners delivers the greatest impact. We are proud to work with SMI, whose transparent methodology supports measurable improvement.
Our Beyond Cleaning strategy
The Responsible Sustainable Partner Scorecard directly supports our Beyond Cleaning strategy. This strategy looks beyond the delivery of exceptional cleaning services to focus on four key pillars. Empowering our people. Reducing our environmental impact. Supporting our communities. Strengthening our governance.
Sustainable procurement sits at the heart of this framework. Every product we buy, every supplier we engage with, and every partnership we form influences our broader environmental and social footprint.
By using the SMI scorecard, we can make informed choices that align with our Beyond Cleaning commitments. It allows us to demonstrate progress through data, set new targets with confidence, and share success stories that inspire further action.
This approach turns our values into measurable outcomes. It helps us deliver a cleaner, safer and more sustainable future for everyone connected to DOC.
Creating shared responsibility across the supply chain
Our suppliers are an extension of our business. Their actions influence our impact, and their achievements contribute to our shared success. The Responsible Sustainable Partner Scorecard gives us a framework for constructive dialogue with each supplier.
Rather than focusing solely on compliance, we work together to build understanding and drive positive change. Where the data highlights room for improvement, we support our partners with guidance and resources. Where excellence is shown, we recognise and celebrate it.
This approach has already encouraged several suppliers to strengthen their sustainability reporting, introduce carbon reduction targets, and explore more responsible sourcing options. Every improvement helps raise the standard across the sector.
Transparency and accountability in action
The strength of the scorecard lies in its clarity. It gives us a visual snapshot of each supplier’s performance across multiple ESG criteria. That transparency allows us to make procurement decisions grounded in fact, not perception.
It also builds trust. Our clients can see that we are taking sustainability seriously and applying the same level of scrutiny to our suppliers as we do to ourselves. This consistency reinforces confidence in DOC’s ability to manage contracts responsibly and ethically.
We believe that data-driven insight is the most effective way to turn ambition into action. It helps us measure real progress and stay focused on continuous improvement.
Looking to the future
The Responsible Sustainable Partner Scorecard has shown us the power of collaboration and measurable action, helping us to understand our supply chain better, identify opportunities for innovation, and strengthen our relationships with partners who share our vision.
As we continue to develop our sustainability programme, we will keep building on this foundation. Our goal is to expand the scope of the scorecard to cover additional product categories and service areas, ensuring every supplier we work with contributes to positive environmental and social outcomes.
We also plan to share insights and best practice from our assessments more widely. By doing so, we hope to inspire other organisations to adopt similar transparent and collaborative approaches.
Our future with SMI
Our partnership with SMI and the success of the Responsible Sustainable Partner Scorecard demonstrate that progress happens when values and data come together.
By making sustainability measurable, we turn good intentions into meaningful change. By working with partners who care as deeply as we do, we make that change last.
Through Beyond Cleaning, we continue to show that responsible business is about more than what we deliver. It is about how we deliver it, who we work with, and the impact we leave behind.
To find out more about our partnership with SMI or our other Beyond Cleaning initiatives, get in touch today.