EcoVadis

Overview

Introduced: 2007
Effective from: Ongoing
Region(s): Global

About

EcoVadis provides sustainability ratings and performance improvement tools for global supply chains. Their methodology evaluates companies’ CSR management systems based on policies, actions, and results across 21 sustainability criteria. These criteria cover environmental, labor and human rights, ethical, and sustainable procurement practices, aligning with international standards like the UN Global Compact, ISO 26000, and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

Used by over 125,000 companies worldwide—including many global brands and procurement teams—EcoVadis ratings help organizations monitor supplier ESG performance, reduce risk, and strengthen transparency across the value chain.

Criteria for compliance

EcoVadis is a voluntary program but widely adopted by:

• Companies participating in global procurement and supply chains

• Organizations with large enterprise buyers requesting assessments

• Suppliers seeking to differentiate themselves with credible ESG performance

Assessments are tailored to company size, industry, and geographic risk exposure, making it applicable to companies of all types.

Assessment structure

EcoVadis evaluates sustainability management systems using 21 criteria across four pillars:

• Environment: Emissions, energy, water, circularity, certifications (e.g., ISO 14001)

• Labor & human rights: Workplace conditions, training, DEI, labor practices

• Ethics: Corruption prevention, whistleblower protection, information security

• Sustainable procurement: Supplier audits, responsible sourcing, human rights in the value chain

Each theme is rated across three performance dimensions:

• Policies – Corporate-level commitments and public-facing ESG policies

• Actions – Certifications, trainings, procedures, and system implementation

• Results – Metrics, reporting outcomes, stakeholder engagement, and third-party feedback

Evaluation process & timeline

• Initial assessment includes a self-report with supporting documentation

• Scorecard issued within ~6 weeks, valid for 12 months

• Annual renewal is encouraged for continuous improvement

• Medal eligibility (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) reflects top-tier ESG performance

Companies can respond to feedback and submit new documentation at any time to improve scores.

Disclosure requirements

Companies must provide documentation such as:

• CSR policies and internal controls

• GHG inventories and certifications

• Employee training logs, DEI initiatives

• Supplier code of conduct and audits

• ESG reports, corrective actions, or KPIs

Scorecards are confidential by default, but many companies share their scores with customers and partners as part of supplier onboarding or sustainability disclosures.

Third-party validation

While EcoVadis does not conduct onsite audits, its methodology is:

• Evidence-based – Each score must be supported by documentation

• Externally sourced – Scores may be adjusted using data from CDP, NGO reports, and sanction/watchlists

• Audit-friendly – Companies can include independent audit findings in their evidence packages

Penalties for non-compliance

There are no formal penalties, but:

• A low or expired score may prevent you from working with ESG-focused buyers

• A poor assessment may damage brand reputation or trigger supply chain reviews

• Many buyers use EcoVadis as a vendor prequalification tool, tying performance to ongoing business