1. Click ‘Recommendations’ for an overview of the recommendations you have collected.
2. Unlock recommendations for improvement if the implementation is not completed yet.
3. Collect them in the ‘recommendations overview’ section to create a comprehensive to-do list or tackle them one by one. Your recommendations overview section will show all unlocked recommendations from your Supplier to Zero evaluation.
4. Implement the recommendations to make the necessary changes in your chemical management.
5. Recommendations will disappear once you change self-evaluation answers to ‘(Fully) completed’. Confirm implementation of the relevant recommendation to complete the respective Supplier to Zero Level.

The self-assessment includes mandatory elements related to implementing the ZDHC Chemical Management System (CMS) Framework. Those mandatory questions are visibly marked as mandatory. Once these mandatory elements have been fully implemented into your CMS, you can confirm the implementation is ’(Fully) completed’.

You can mark a recommendation as completed when the recommendation has been implemented. Update your answer in the Supplier to Zero evaluation to show the recommendation is completed. Where required, upload the evidence of your implementation.

It does not negatively impact your progress if you select ‘Not applicable’ or ‘Not completed (yet)’ during the self-evaluation. If you are unsure of the completion status in your facility, we strongly recommend replying ‘Not completed (yet)’. This gives you access to exclusive ZDHC guidance material. You may change your answer when you have completed the relevant improvement measures. Implementing all improvements is necessary to be eligible to receive the Supplier to Zero certificate.

Yes, it is possible to change your answer in the evaluation. Go to the respective question and click on the correct answer to update your answer.

On the recommendations page, click on ‘Save all Recommendations as PDF’ to download, print or share your recommendations.

The ZDHC Chemical Management System (CMS) is one of the continuous improvement cornerstones.

The Supplier to Zero Recommendations Plan is based on your facility’s evaluation. It provides recommendations that explain how to improve your company’s CMS.

Please consider the following steps:

• Use the document to build or add to your implementation plan:
  • Fill in the timeline, meaning start date and planned end date for each item
  • Assign personnel to each item (who will be responsible for implementing each recommendations)
  • Estimate respective resources and budgets
  • You can use this document to get endorsement: present it to the company management, clearly explaining the expected benefits deriving by implementing the recommendations.
• Use this document to track:
  • When you implemented the recommendations.
  • If the implementation has been documented in Supplier to Zero

Every evaluation and recommendation in Supplier to Zero is based on your Supplier Profile on the ZDHC Gateway. Since recommendations are based on your facility type, you should check if your facility type is set correctly on the ZDHC Gateway.

Note: Changing your Supplier Profile on the ZDHC Gateway will reset your Supplier Platform account and delete your current progress. You will have to restart the Supplier to Zero evaluation.

You can also change your answer in the evaluation. It does not impact your progress negatively if you select ‘Not applicable’ during the evaluation.

The total cost of implementing all recommendations varies per supplier and is based on:

• The number of recommendations
• The effort of the recommendations
• Facility type

You can see an estimate of each recommendation in the recommendation overview.

Note: The investment cost is only an estimation based on our general understanding. This cost may vary based on the actual scope and depth of improvements made as well as the geographical location of your facility.

The time needed to implement all recommendations varies per supplier and is based on factors such as:

• The number of recommendations
• The effort of the recommendations
• Facility type

In the recommendation overview, you can see an estimation of the implementation time for each given recommendation.

The majority of suppliers are able to implement recommendations within three months. Please use the recommendations overview to make a timeline and track recommendations.

Payback describes the time needed to achieve a return on investment:

• Immediate: 0 - 3 months
• Short: 3 months - 1 year
• Medium: 1 year - 3 years
• Long: over 3 years

Investment costs describe the costs needed to implement the recommendation:

• No costs: 0 US$
• Small costs: max. 100 US$
• Moderate: max. 1,000 US$
• Considerable: max. 5,000 US$
• It depends: Depending on the individual situation and/or availability of services and material in the region and/or access to financial support (e.g. development banks)

Note: The investment cost is only an estimation based on our general understanding. This cost may vary based on the actual scope and depth of improvements made as well as the geographical location of your facility.

Effort describes the time needed to implement the recommendation:

• Minimum: potentially less than 1/2 day
• Small: potentially within a day
• Medium: potentially within a week
• Expert needed: Suppliers may require expert support
• It depends: dependent on the set-up and location of your facility

You can change your answers to the questions at any time before submitting for a ZDHC Supplier to Zero certificate. Upon receiving the certificate, you will no longer be able to access the self-evaluation and recommendations for a completed level.

Your recommendations overview section will show all recommendations unlocked from the evaluation so far. Follow them to make the necessary improvements. Recommendations will disappear once you change the self-evaluation answer to ‘(Fully) completed’. Confirm implementation of the relevant item to complete the respective Supplier to Zero Level.

Submit your evaluation after implementing all recommendations. Learn more about submitting by clicking here.