An increasing number of companies are being asked by their clients to complete an EcoVadis assessment. Major multinationals such as Philips, Heineken, ASML and Unilever routinely require their suppliers to hold an EcoVadis scorecard as part of their supply chain due diligence. It is no longer a nice-to-have, but a prerequisite for participating in the value chain.
In this article, we guide you step by step through the entire EcoVadis process: from the initial analysis of your current situation to annual re-registration. Whether you are participating for the first time or looking to improve your existing score, this step-by-step guide will help you work in a structured and efficient manner.
EcoVadis is an international platform that assesses companies on their sustainability performance. The assessment is based on 21 criteria across four themes:
After completing the questionnaire and uploading supporting documents, EcoVadis assesses your organization and issues a scorecard with an overall score from 0 to 100. The medal levels are:
The average score in the Netherlands is around 44 points. With targeted preparation and professional guidance, most companies achieve at least a silver medal.
The starting point of any EcoVadis process is a thorough analysis of your current situation. Have you already completed a previous assessment? Then your previous scorecard is the starting point. Review each theme to identify where you scored well and where points were missed.
EcoVadis assesses three levels per theme:
Many companies score well on policies (they have the documents) but miss points on actions and results. This is precisely where the greatest improvement potential lies.
Participating for the first time? A baseline assessment is essential. Inventory which policies, certifications and data you already have. Benchmark your organization against the industry average using the EcoVadis database.
A common mistake: companies that are genuinely committed to sustainability but cannot demonstrate it with documents. EcoVadis assesses what you can prove, not what you do without documentation.
Per theme, you will need at minimum the following documents:
Environment:
Labor & Human Rights:
Ethics:
Sustainable Procurement:
Tip: certifications are worth their weight in gold on EcoVadis. An ISO 14001 certificate directly proves that you have an environmental management system, including policies, actions and results. Don't have any certifications yet? Consider starting in the short term.
After the inventory, you know which documents are missing. In our experience, these are the most common gaps among companies:
Drafting these documents does not need to be complex. A solid policy document contains: (1) the purpose of the policy, (2) the scope, (3) responsibilities, (4) concrete measures and (5) a review or revision mechanism. Kroll SR helps organizations pragmatically draft missing policy documents that meet the EcoVadis criteria.
EcoVadis rewards companies that not only have policies but also set measurable targets and can demonstrate results. Defining Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) per theme is therefore essential.
Effective KPIs for EcoVadis include:
Environment:
Social:
Ethics:
Sustainable Procurement:
Important: set realistic targets. EcoVadis values honesty and a clear improvement trajectory more than unrealistically ambitious targets you cannot deliver on. If your CO2 emissions this year are 500 tonnes, a reduction target of 5-10% per year is more credible than a promise to be carbon neutral next year.
Don't have a CO2 footprint yet? This is an excellent foundation for your environmental KPIs and is increasingly expected by EcoVadis.
The EcoVadis questionnaire is the heart of the assessment. The questions are tailored to your sector and company size, but the format is comparable for everyone. Here are some tips for completing it:
The most common mistake we encounter: companies that perform well on actual sustainability but score poorly on the questionnaire because they fail to link their answers to supporting evidence.
You can upload supporting documents with each question. This is where many companies leave points on the table. Pay attention to the following:
Organize your documents in advance by theme, so you can quickly find and upload the right document during the process.
After completing the questionnaire and uploading all supporting documents, you submit your assessment. The assessment turnaround time averages 4 to 8 weeks, depending on EcoVadis's workload.
After the assessment, you receive your scorecard with:
What if the score is disappointing? EcoVadis offers the option to submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAP). This allows you to demonstrate which improvements you will implement. Although a CAP does not directly increase your current score, it shows your clients that you are actively working on improvement.
Additionally, you can request a new assessment after 12 months. This is the opportunity to have the improvements you have made in the interim reassessed.
An EcoVadis scorecard is valid for 12 months. Annual re-registration is required to keep your score current and to demonstrate improvement to your clients.
Our recommendation for continuous improvement:
By maintaining this cyclical process, you build on the previous assessment each year. Companies we guide typically see an increase of 10-15 points on their second assessment.
An added benefit: the documentation you prepare for EcoVadis is largely reusable for your ESG report under the CSRD. Two birds with one stone.
Kroll SR has extensive experience guiding companies through the EcoVadis process, from the initial score analysis to annual re-registration. Our approach:
Want to learn more about our EcoVadis guidance? Contact us for an initial consultation. We would be happy to discuss what we can do for your organization.
Want to learn more? Get in touch with Kroll SR.
