What to Do if You Disagree With Your EcoVadis Score?
Jul 09, 2025
The Answer is a series that provides no-fluff answers and solutions to your most pressing EcoVadis questions, tackling one topic head-on. The goal is to give you the clarity you need to move forward. This week's question is: What to Do if You Disagree With Your EcoVadis Score?
Feeling that your EcoVadis score is wrong or unfair is a frustrating, but common, experience. If you believe the analyst has made a factual error by overlooking evidence that you already submitted, the correct and official action is to submit a free Scorecard Inquiry request. This is a formal, evidence-based process designed specifically to identify potential discrepancies in your assessment. Please note that this is not a general appeal, and you cannot use it to submit new documents or information.
Quick Navigation
- 1. First, Understand the Rules of the Game
- 2. A Step-by-Step Blueprint for a Successful Scorecard Inquiry
First, Understand the Rules of the Game
Before you act, remember that an EcoVadis score isn't a subjective judgement of your company's sustainability efforts; it's a grade based on a strict audit of your documented sustainability management system. Analysts must follow rigid guidelines and can only award points for claims substantiated by credible, verifiable documentation.
A score that feels "unfair" is often the result of very specific documentation pitfalls. We cover these reasons in-depth in our guide, Why Was My EcoVadis Proof Rejected?. Your evidence may have been perfectly valid in the real world, but may have been rejected by the analyst for the following reasons:
| Documentation Pitfall | Why It Gets Rejected |
|---|---|
| Outdated | Evidence based on results, like KPI reporting, is only considered valid for two years. Policies and actions have a validity period of eight years (but please do better than 8-year-old documentation...). |
| Lacking Credibility | Analysts are trained to reject informal proof, such as non-formalised draft policies, plain Excel files without context, or documents that appear to have been created solely for the assessment. |
| A Scope Mismatch | The evidence must apply to the specific legal entity being assessed. A global policy from a parent company is insufficient unless there is clear proof of its formal adoption at the subsidiary level. |
| Unclear | The analyst's job is to review, not investigate. If your proof is buried on page 80 of a 150-page non-searchable PDF, it was likely dismissed. |
Challenging a score is not about arguing for fairness. It is about tactically proving that a piece of valid, submitted evidence was overlooked during the assessment. The channel EcoVadis provides to do this is the Scorecard Inquiry.
The Scorecard Inquiry (To Correct Errors)
This is your primary tool if you believe a factual error has been made.
- Purpose: To request clarification or contest a specific "Improvement Area" where you believe the analyst overlooked evidence that was already submitted with your questionnaire.
- Cost: Free of charge.
- Key Limitation: You cannot submit any new documents or additional information. The inquiry is strictly limited to the evidence provided in your original assessment. The score is final unless a clear analytical error can be proven.
A Step-by-Step Blueprint for a Successful Scorecard Inquiry
To lodge a successful inquiry, you must be methodical and precise. Emotion will not change the outcome; clear evidence might.
Step 1: Analyse Your Scorecard Forensically
Go beyond your overall score. Drill down into the details of each theme (e.g., Environment, Labour & Human Rights) and find the specific "Improvement Areas" identified by the analyst. Your goal is to find a direct, factual contradiction.
Example: The scorecard lists "Lack of emissions reduction targets" as an improvement area, but you are certain you submitted a formal, board-approved policy containing those exact targets. This is the specific discrepancy you will focus on.
Step 2: Audit Your Submitted Evidence with a Critical Eye
Locate the exact document in your original submission that refutes the "Improvement Area." Now, review it with the cold, impartial eye of an analyst.
- Is it credible? Does it have the company name, a logo, and a publication date?
- Is it recent enough? Is the KPI data from the last two years?
- Is the scope correct? Does the company name on the document perfectly match the entity being assessed?
- Is it clear? Is the evidence easy to find, or is it hidden within a lengthy report?
If your evidence fails any of these checks, an inquiry is unlikely to succeed. If it passes, you can proceed with confidence.
Step 3: Craft Your Questions with Precision
It is now time to prepare for your Scorecard Inquiry. You can submit up to 15 questions. Don't insert complaints into the question and remain non-adversarial. Make your questions laser-focused requests for clarification. Use this template for maximum impact:
"Regarding the Improvement Area identified as '
[Insert Improvement Area Name],' we believe evidence for this was provided in our submission. In the document titled '[Insert Document Name],' on page[Page Number], the following section demonstrates[the policy/action/result in question]. Could you please clarify how this evidence was evaluated against the relevant criterion?"
This formula works because it is precise, non-confrontational, and makes it easy for the analyst to review the specific point of contention.
Step 4: Submit Through the Official Portal
The final step is submitting your inquiry.
- Navigate to the EcoVadis support portal at getsupport.ecovadis.com.
- Select the option for "Understanding scorecard results".
- Complete the form with your company details.
- In the "Description" field, paste your carefully structured questions.
- Submit the form. A customer care specialist will acknowledge your request and act as the liaison with the analyst team.
EcoVadis has a useful post on how to get help with understanding your scorecard results.
📝 Key Takeaways
- If you believe an analyst overlooked your evidence, the official process is to submit a free Scorecard Inquiry.
- Disappointing scores often result from specific documentation failures, such as outdated proof, a scope mismatch, or lack of credibility, not general unfairness.
- A successful inquiry must be precise and non-confrontational, pointing the analyst to the exact document and page number where your evidence can be found.
Your Expert Roadmap to a Higher EcoVadis Score
Don't just wonder what to do next. Our Scorecard Review service provides quick, expert insight into your results. We deliver a customised report with actionable recommendations tailored to your company—giving you a targeted plan to address gaps and significantly boost your score in your next assessment.
The Final Word: From Reaction to Strategy
Challenging an EcoVadis score requires shifting from frustration to a cool-headed strategy. By understanding the evidence-based rules, analysing your scorecard forensically, and using the official Scorecard Inquiry process with precision, you can turn a feeling of powerlessness into empowered, professional action.
Ultimately, the best way to challenge a disappointing score is to make sure you don't get one in the first place. Use the feedback from your current scorecard as a strategic roadmap for your next assessment. Begin preparing as soon as you receive your results, creating a continuous, manageable process that builds a robust and undeniable portfolio of evidence.
A great way to build stronger evidence from the start is with the EcoVadis Starter Kit, which provides credible templates for your foundational policies.
Need an Answer?
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