EcoVadis is one of the world’s leading sustainability rating platforms, used by more than 100,000 companies worldwide to measure and demonstrate their environmental, social, and ethical performance.
The assessment helps companies understand their sustainability strengths, identify areas for improvement, and share results with business partners. Many organizations now use EcoVadis ratings as part of their supplier evaluation and procurement processes, making it a valuable tool for demonstrating commitment to responsible business practices.
How does an EcoVadis assessment work?
The EcoVadis process follows eight main steps
Registration & Questionnaire Customization
Companies register on the EcoVadis platform and receive a questionnaire tailored to their industry, size, and country of operation.
Data Collection
Companies upload supporting documents such as sustainability reports, codes of conduct, certificates, or KPIs.
Only formal, recent, and credible documents are accepted (self-declarations are not sufficient)
Data Verification & Analysis
EcoVadis analysts review submitted documents against 21 sustainability criteria grouped into 4 themes:
Environment
Labor & Human Rights
Ethics
Sustainable Procurement
360° Watch (External Monitoring)
EcoVadis cross-checks information against external sources such as NGOs, media, and regulatory databases.
Scoring & Benchmarking
Companies receive scores from 0 to 100, along with a Scorecard benchmarking their performance against peers.
Medals & Badges
Based on percentile ranking, companies may be awarded Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum medals, valid for 12 months.
Improvement Areas
The Scorecard highlights strengths and weaknesses and includes an Action Plan feature to guide improvements.
Disclosure & Sharing
Companies can choose to share their Scorecard with business partners, buyers, or investors.
Common challenges companies face
While EcoVadis provides a clear framework, companies often encounter difficulties during the assessment. Summary of Documents and proofs…:
Time & resource intensity – Collecting documents across departments can be complex.
Document rejections – Files may be refused if outdated, missing a company name/logo, or not covering the full scope.
Scope clarity – For groups with multiple sites, ensuring documents apply to the entire assessed scope can be difficult.
Standardization limits – Some organizations feel EcoVadis simplifies complex sustainability practices into a single score.
Supplier cooperation – For procurement-related assessments, companies depend on suppliers to also engage with the process.
What are the benefits of an EcoVadis assessment?
Despite these challenges, the benefits are significant:
Risk management – Identify and mitigate environmental, social, and ethical risks in your operations and supply chain.
Regulatory compliance – Align with major ESG frameworks such as CSRD, GRI, ISO 26000, and the UN Global Compact.
Competitive advantage – A strong EcoVadis score enhances your reputation and can unlock new business opportunities.
Supply chain transparency – Buyers can benchmark suppliers and ensure responsible sourcing practices.
Continuous improvement – Scorecards and action plans provide a roadmap to advance sustainability performance year after year.