EcoVadis Scoring Methodology: Practical Guide & Tips (2025)
Jun 26, 2025
Updated: June 26, 2025
Think of your EcoVadis assessment not as a test, but as a courtroom: every sustainability claim you make requires clear, compelling proof.
The EcoVadis scoring methodology evaluates your sustainability management system through the lens of Policies, Actions, and Results (P-A-R). This evidence-based assessment uses a questionnaire customised to your company's industry, size, and location. Understanding this P-A-R logic is the key to providing the right documents, achieving a higher score, and creating a clear roadmap for continuous improvement.
Quick Nav
- 1. The EcoVadis Big Picture: Why It Matters & Key Themes
- 2. How EcoVadis Scoring Really Works: The P-A-R Model & 7 Indicators
- 3. EcoVadis Assessment Explained: Understanding Activated Criteria
- 4. What EcoVadis Assessors Look For: Providing Compelling Evidence
- 5. Understanding Your Score & Medal Eligibility (2025 Update)
- 6. EcoVadis in Reverse: What Strong Evidence Looks Like
- 7. Key Takeaways to Empower Your EcoVadis Submission
- 8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- 9. Navigate EcoVadis with Confidence
The EcoVadis Big Picture: Why It Matters & Key Themes
EcoVadis provides a globally recognised assessment of a company's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. It's used by over 1300 multinational organisations to evaluate their supply chains, making a good score increasingly vital for business relationships and market access.
The assessment framework is built on four key themes:
- Environment: Covers operational impacts (energy, GHG, water, waste, pollution) and product stewardship.
- Labour & Human Rights (L&HR): Focuses on human resources (H&S, working conditions, training) and broader human rights (child/forced labour, diversity, non-discrimination).
- Ethics: Assesses anti-corruption measures, anti-competitive practices, and responsible information management.
- Sustainable Procurement: Evaluates how a company integrates ESG criteria into its own purchasing and manages supplier sustainability.
These themes are broken down into 21 specific sustainability criteria, aligned with international standards like GRI, ISO 26000, and the UN Global Compact.
How EcoVadis Scoring Really Works: The P-A-R Model & 7 Indicators
EcoVadis evaluates your sustainability management system using a three-pillar framework, which I'll refer to as the P-A-R framework: Policies, Actions, and Results. This framework is weighted as follows:
| Management Layer | Score Weighting |
|---|---|
| Policies | 25% |
| Actions | 40% |
| Results | 35% |
These layers are assessed through Seven Management Indicators:
What is the 'Policies' (POLI) indicator?
This indicator assesses the formal policies, objectives, and governance structures your company has in place. Assessors look for official, documented policies (like an Environmental Policy or Code of Conduct) that have clear objectives and are endorsed by top management.
What is the 'Endorsements' (ENDO) indicator?
ENDO evaluates your company's public commitment to external CSR initiatives, such as the UN Global Compact or the SBTi. EcoVadis looks for verifiable proof of active participation and commitment to these recognised frameworks.
What is the 'Measures' (MESU) indicator?
This heavily weighted indicator looks at the concrete actions, procedures, and training you have implemented to support your policies. This is where you provide evidence of your sustainability programs in action, such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), risk assessments, and training records.
What are 'Certifications' (CERT)?
This indicator credits relevant third-party certifications that validate your management systems. This includes recognised standards like ISO 14001 for environmental management, ISO 45001 for health and safety, or SA8000 for social accountability.
What is the 'Coverage' (COVE) indicator?
The COVE indicator assesses the extent to which your actions and certifications are deployed throughout the assessed scope (e.g., across all relevant sites or departments). It acts as a multiplier for your Measures and Certifications scores, meaning widespread, consistent implementation is rewarded more heavily than isolated efforts.
What is the 'Reporting' (REPO) indicator?
This assesses the quality and transparency of your reporting on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Assessors look for sustainability reports, ESG data in annual reports, or internal dashboards that track metrics like GHG emissions, water usage, and safety incidents over time.
What are '360° Watch Findings' (360)?
This indicator incorporates external stakeholder feedback, including news media reports and information from NGOs or trade unions. EcoVadis analyses both positive and negative external information related to your ESG performance, which can significantly impact your theme scores and medal eligibility.
The high weighting on "Actions" (Measures, Certifications, Coverage) and "Results" (Reporting, 360° Watch) underscores that EcoVadis prioritises practical implementation and demonstrable impact over mere intentions.
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Start with the EcoVadis Comprehensive Guide — packed with practical advice and supporting resources.
EcoVadis Assessment Explained: Understanding Activated Criteria
A key principle of the EcoVadis methodology is that the questionnaire is customised for each company. This tailoring is based on your:
- Industry (ISIC Code): A chemical manufacturer will face different material environmental questions than a software company.
- Size (Number of Employees): Larger companies are generally expected to have more formalised systems.
- Location(s) of Operations: Considers regional regulations, social norms, and specific environmental or human rights risks.
Based on this profile, EcoVadis "activates" a subset of its 21 universal sustainability criteria for your assessment. This means you are only evaluated on issues deemed most material to your business. Understanding your ecovadis activated criteria is key to focusing your preparation. You can see these in your "Industry Risk Profile" on the EcoVadis platform. If a question seems irrelevant, EcoVadis offers "I do not know" or "Not applicable" options, but use these judiciously, especially for activated criteria.
This customisation ensures the assessment is relevant. For example, "Biodiversity" might be a highly weighted criterion for a large agricultural company but deactivated for a small office-based consultancy. Similarly, "Child Labour & Forced Labour" might be more intensely scrutinised for companies sourcing from high-risk countries.
📌 Quick Tip: Use "Not Applicable" Wisely
If a question relates to an activated criterion but feels irrelevant, use the "Not Applicable" or "I Do Not Know" options with caution. It's often better to provide a comment explaining why it doesn't apply to your specific operations rather than leaving it blank. This shows you've engaged with the question, not ignored it.
What EcoVadis Assessors Look For: Providing Compelling Evidence
The EcoVadis assessment is evidence-based. Your answers are only credited if backed by appropriate supporting documentation. Assessors look for:
- Credibility & Authenticity: Documents must be official, pre-existing (not created solely for EcoVadis), company-branded, and dated. Forged or plagiarised documents will be rejected.
- Relevance: Evidence must directly address the question and the activated criterion. If using a long report, specify page numbers.
📌 Quick Tip: Guide the Assessor
If you upload a long document like a Sustainability Report or Employee Handbook, always specify the exact page number(s) relevant to your answer in the comment box. This makes the assessor's job easier and ensures your evidence is found and credited.
- Recency: Policies and actions are generally valid for 8 years from the last review (but let's be honest, if you want to excel and create momentum, you should be reviewing and updating your policies every 1-2 years). KPI data should be from the last 2 calendar years (covering at least one full year).
- Scope: Documentation must clearly apply to the specific legal entity or site being assessed. Group-level documents need to show applicability to your assessed scope.
- Format: PDF, PNG, JPG are preferred (<30MB). Non-English documents should have selectable text.
The 55-document limit for new uploads per assessment means you must be strategic. Prioritise comprehensive documents (like a good Sustainability Report) that can cover multiple points. Documents from previous valid assessments can often be reused without counting against this limit.
Understanding Your Score & Medal Eligibility (2025 Update)
EcoVadis provides an overall score (0-100) and theme scores. These translate into performance levels:
- Insufficient (0-24)
- Partial (25-44)
- Good (45-64)
- Advanced (65-84)
- Outstanding (85-100)
For scorecards published from January 1, 2025, medal eligibility (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) is primarily based on your percentile rank against all companies rated globally in the past 12 months.
| Medal | Percentile Requirement (for scorecards from 1 Jan 2025) |
|---|---|
| Platinum | Top 1% |
| Gold | Top 5% |
| Silver | Top 15% |
| Bronze | Top 35% |
Crucially, to get any medal, no theme score can be below 30, and there are restrictions based on 360° Watch findings. For companies not yet at medal level, the "Committed" (score ≥45) and "Fast Mover" (score 34-44 with ≥6-point improvement) badges offer recognition.
EcoVadis in Reverse: What Strong Evidence Looks Like
Theory is helpful, but seeing what high-scoring companies actually submit is better. Let's move from concepts to concrete examples, using evidence from real companies to illustrate what a strong Policy, Action, and Result look like to an EcoVadis assessor. These companies were awarded Gold medals for their work.
Policy (P) Strength: A Clear and Specific Commitment
A strong policy is a public, detailed, and unambiguous statement of intent. It goes beyond vague promises and sets a clear direction.
- Real-World Example: Scott Bader, a UK-based chemical SME with an EcoVadis Gold medal, provides an excellent example with their publicly available Scott Bader Group Environmental Policy. This document is strong evidence because it:
- States clear, quantified targets (e.g., "achieve net-zero carbon emissions from all manufacturing facilities by 2028").
- Defines responsibilities, assigning the CEO with overall accountability.
- Is supported by a robust Environmental Management System, which is validated externally through ISO 14001 certifications at many of its manufacturing sites.
Action (A) Strength: Verifiable System Implementation
A strong action demonstrates you have a system to deliver on your policy promises. Third-party certifications are the most powerful evidence of this.
- Real-World Example: Automotive supplier Autoneum holds a Gold EcoVadis medal. In their Corporate Responsibility Report 2024 (see page 39), they report that 82.1% of their plants are certified to ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety. They report the same coverage (82.1%) for ISO 50001 Energy Management certification. These are powerful "Actions" because it's not just a statement; it's verifiable proof that they have implemented robust, internationally recognised management systems across the vast majority of their global operations. Although I could not find downloadable certificates on their website, their certification coverage was reported on in their KPMG-assured Corporate Responsibility Report 2024.
Result (R) Strength: Assured, Data-Rich Reporting
The best "Result" evidence comes from transparent, data-rich reporting that is verified by a credible third party.
- Real-World Example: Gerresheimer, a global manufacturing partner for the pharma and biotech industries, achieved a Gold medal with a score of 76/100. Their 2024 Separate Non-financial Report, which has a limited assurance statement from KPMG, provides an example of what EcoVadis considers a strength. On page 14 of the PDF, they detail progress towards their climate targets, reporting a 28.3% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions by FY24 against their 2019 baseline, on the way to a 50% reduction target by 2030. Further on in the Environment chapter, the company provides more granular reporting related to Emissions and Energy, and discusses various actions it implements to make progress. This is strong evidence because it's specific, shows progress against a clear target, includes baseline data, the underlying granular data, and is validated by an independent assurance provider, making it highly credible.
Learning: A winning submission tells a coherent story from Policy (what you promise), to Action (how you do it), to Results (the data that proves it). Grounding your submission in credible, verifiable, and specific evidence like this is what separates top performers from the rest.
Before you can show Actions and Results, you need a credible foundation. Nail the 'Policies' part of the P-A-R model with our Starter Kit templates.
Get The EcoVadis Starter Kit Includes 6 essential policy & supplier code templates📝 Key Takeaways to Empower Your EcoVadis Submission
- P-A-R is Fundamental: Structure your thinking and evidence around Policies, Actions, and Results for each theme.
- Activated Criteria Drive Focus: Understand which of the 21 criteria are most material for your business.
- Evidence is King: Your claims are only as strong as the documents you provide. Focus on credible, relevant, recent, and properly scoped evidence.
- Coverage Matters: Demonstrate that your sustainability initiatives are deployed widely across your operations.
- 360° Watch is a Reality Check: Your public ESG profile and response to controversies can impact your score.
- Medals are Competitive: The 2025 percentile-based system means continuous improvement is vital.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a good EcoVadis score?
While any score above 45 is considered "Good" by EcoVadis, most companies aim for 65 or higher to be in the "Advanced" performance level and eligible for Silver, Gold, or Platinum medals. However, starting in 2025, medals are awarded based on your percentile rank, not just your score. For example, Gold is now for the top 5% of all companies assessed globally. This means the definition of a "good" score needed for a medal is constantly getting more competitive.
What are the most important documents to start with?
For a first-timer, the goal is to establish a foundation. Focus on providing credible evidence for each of the three management layers (P-A-R). A great starting point includes:
- A core Policy: Your official, signed, and dated Environmental Policy or a comprehensive Code of Conduct.
- A key Action: Evidence of a critical process, like your most recent Employee Health & Safety risk assessment and the actions taken from it.
- A core Result: A simple spreadsheet showing 1-2 years of data for a key KPI, like energy consumption or total waste generated.
For a complete list of what to upload and what to avoid across all four themes, download our free "EcoVadis Upload Checklist - 4-Theme Quick Guide".
What's the real difference between Policies, Actions, and Results?
This is the core of the EcoVadis methodology. A simple way to remember it is:
* Policy (P): This is what you say you will do. It's your formal, written commitment, like an official company policy on Human Rights.
* Action (A): This is what you do to bring that policy to life. It includes your procedures, employee training, certifications, and risk assessments.
* Result (R): This is how you prove your actions are working. It's your performance data and KPIs, like showing a year-over-year reduction in workplace accidents.
A low score often comes from having a Policy but no evidence of corresponding Actions or Results.
Why was my document rejected even though it was the right topic?
This is a common frustration and usually happens for a few key reasons. The most frequent are:
* It wasn't credible: The document was not official, wasn't dated, or didn't have your company name/logo.
* It was out of date: Policies and Actions are valid for 8 years, but KPI/Results data must be from the last 2 years.
* It was out of scope: You uploaded a document from your parent company that didn't explicitly state it applied to the specific entity being assessed.
Assessors are trained to reject any evidence that doesn't meet these strict criteria to ensure fairness and prevent greenwashing.
We have a low score. Where should we focus first to improve?
The most effective way to improve a low score is to be strategic. Instead of trying to fix everything at once, follow this three-step approach:
- Analyse your scorecard to find the theme with the lowest score (e.g., "Environment"). This is your area of biggest opportunity.
- Diagnose the weakness within that theme using the P-A-R model. Did you fail on Policies, Actions, or Results? For example, you may have a great Environmental Policy (P) but failed to provide KPI reporting (R).
- Focus your effort on closing that specific gap. If you are missing "Actions," gather evidence of relevant procedures and training. If you are missing "Results," build a simple dashboard to track the most critical KPIs for that theme.
For a personalised review of your scorecard and a clear roadmap, the fastest path is often to discuss it with an expert.
Navigate EcoVadis with Confidence
Understanding the ecovadis scoring methodology and how ecovadis works transforms the assessment from a daunting task into a manageable process for improvement. By focusing on building a mature sustainability management system and providing strong, credible evidence, you can confidently navigate your EcoVadis journey.
Ready to Turn This Guide Into an Action Plan?
Reading this guide is the first step, but applying it to your unique situation is what drives real improvement. If you're unsure how to translate these P-A-R principles and evidence requirements into a winning submission for your company, a personalized strategy call can connect the dots.
We'll use the call to build a clear, no-obligation path to the score you want.
About the Author
Rutger founded Double Your Sustainability to answer one key question: how can companies navigate the complexities of the EcoVadis assessment with confidence? He draws on 15 years of corporate sustainability experience and the direct lessons learned from achieving EcoVadis Platinum medals and supporting companies to provide clear, actionable roadmaps that demystify the process.
As a certified EcoVadis Solutions Practitioner with an MSc. in Strategic Sustainable Development, his focus is on turning your sustainability efforts into a scorecard you can be proud of.