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.

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:

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.

1. Navigate to the EcoVadis support portal at getsupport.ecovadis.com.
2. Select the option for "Understanding scorecard results".
3. Complete the form with your company details.
4. In the "Description" field, paste your carefully structured questions.
5. 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.

Need an Answer?
Is there a part of the EcoVadis process you're stuck on? Click here to submit your question, and it could be featured in a future edition of The Answer.