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Why Did Our EcoVadis Score Go Down?

the answer Jul 17, 2025

Updated: July 6, 2026

Seeing your EcoVadis score go down after reassessment can be frustrating, especially if you expected your recent work to be recognised. Before you brief management or respond to a customer, compare the new scorecard with your previous one and identify what actually changed. If either result is difficult to interpret, use the guide on how to read your EcoVadis scorecard first.

A lower EcoVadis reassessment score can come from changed medal percentiles, updated methodology, different scope, weaker evidence, missing KPI results, or a 360° Watch finding. The drop may also come from more than one cause at the same time.

This guide helps you diagnose why your EcoVadis score dropped, why your medal may have changed, and what to do next once you understand the likely cause.

Quick answer: Why did your EcoVadis score go down?

Your percentile or medal position may have changed because EcoVadis medals are based on relative performance.
Your reassessment may have been reviewed under updated methodology, different activated criteria, or a changed company profile.
Your new submission may have had weaker evidence, missing KPIs, out-of-scope documents, or lower coverage than last time.
Your previous evidence may have expired, become less relevant, or no longer matched the assessed entity.
A 360° Watch finding may have affected one or more theme scores.
A factual error is possible, but check the evidence and scorecard details before using Scorecard Inquiry.

Are you in the right place?

You have the scorecards but are not sure how to interpret the scores, indicators or findings? Start with How to Read Your EcoVadis Scorecard.
Your EcoVadis score or medal went down compared with your previous scorecard? Stay on this page.
Your score was lower than expected and this is your first scorecard? Read what to do after an EcoVadis score lower than expected.
You think EcoVadis made a factual error? Read what to do if you disagree with your EcoVadis score.
You already know the gaps and need an improvement plan? Read how to improve your EcoVadis score.
You need practical improvement ideas after diagnosis? Use the 31-step EcoVadis improvement checklist.

Quick Navigation

1. Start with the scorecard comparison
2. Reason 1: Medal percentiles or methodology changed
3. Reason 2: Your company profile or scope changed
4. Reason 3: Your submission evidence was weaker
5. Reason 4: A 360° Watch finding affected the score
6. What to do after an EcoVadis score drop
7. Frequently Asked Questions

Start With the Scorecard Comparison

A score drop is easiest to understand when you compare the old and new scorecards side by side. Look first at the overall score, theme scores, medal status, Improvement Areas, rejected evidence, scope, and 360° Watch section.

The dedicated EcoVadis scorecard guide explains how to read theme and indicator scores, Strengths, Improvement Areas, Score Details, evidence status, benchmarking and 360° Watch before you compare the two results.

That comparison gives you the clues you need for the rest of the article:

If the numerical score barely changed but the medal dropped, look first at percentiles and medal eligibility.
If the questionnaire, scope, country, size band, or activity changed, look first at company profile and methodology factors.
If the same Improvement Areas repeated or new evidence was rejected, look first at submission quality.
If a new public finding appeared, look first at 360° Watch.

The sections below explain the main reasons an EcoVadis score can go down after reassessment. The action checklist at the end turns the diagnosis into a practical next-step plan.

Need a fast diagnosis? A professional Scorecard Review can help you compare both scorecards, identify the likely cause of the drop, and turn the findings into a reassessment plan.

Reason 1: Medal Percentiles or Methodology Changed

An EcoVadis medal drop can happen even when your underlying score changes only slightly. EcoVadis medals are based on percentile rank. That rank is calculated at scorecard publication and compares your company with all assessed companies in the EcoVadis database over the previous 12 months.

EcoVadis currently defines medals as follows: Platinum for the top 1%, Gold for the top 5%, Silver for the top 15%, and Bronze for the top 35%. EcoVadis also states that companies are not eligible for a medal if any of the four theme scores is below 30. For current percentile requirements, indicative medal scores, eligibility conditions, badge criteria, validity and sharing rules, see EcoVadis Medals and Badges. You can verify the current rules in EcoVadis' official medals and badges guidance.

This means a company can lose a medal because:

the wider EcoVadis network improved;
the percentile position changed at publication;
one theme dropped below the minimum medal requirement;
the scorecard was assessed under updated methodology or changed eligibility rules.

For a broader explanation of Policies, Actions, Results, activated criteria, and the seven management indicators, see the EcoVadis scoring methodology guide.

Example: Orbia's Gold to Silver Drop

Orbia provides a useful example of an EcoVadis score drop linked to methodology and risk-profile changes. Orbia reported that its 2024 score decreased from 70 to 67 and its medal changed from Gold to Silver. The company explained that EcoVadis' reclassification of Mexico as a high-risk country affected its Environment pillar score. You can read Orbia's explanation of the result on its EcoVadis recognition page.

Reason 2: Your Company Profile or Scope Changed

EcoVadis customises assessments based on company activity, size, and location. If your company profile changed between assessments, your questionnaire, activated criteria, weighting, or expectations may also have changed.

Check whether anything changed since the previous assessment:

legal entity or assessed scope;
company size band;
industry classification or activity;
country or operating location risk profile;
sites, subsidiaries, or business units included in the assessment;
customer request scope.

A scope change can make last year's evidence less useful. A parent-company policy, group report, or global certificate may need clearer proof that it applies to the assessed entity. EcoVadis explains the role of activity, size, location, Policies, Actions, Results, and the seven management indicators in its methodology overview.

Reason 3: Your Submission Evidence Was Weaker

A lower reassessment score often comes from controllable submission issues. EcoVadis measures the quality of a company's sustainability management system through Policies, Actions, and Results. If the new submission has weaker proof in one of those areas, the score can drop.

Gap Type	How It Can Lower the Score
Policy gap	A policy is missing, too generic, unsigned, undated, not approved, or unclear for the assessed entity.
Action gap	The process exists internally, while the evidence of implementation, training, audits, responsibilities, or coverage is weak.
Result gap	KPI data, targets, reporting boundaries, units, trend data, or performance results are missing or too old.
Evidence-quality gap	The document is hard to search, out of scope, incomplete, unclear, expired, or poorly matched to the question.

Compare the evidence used in the previous assessment with the evidence used in the new one. Many score drops come from evidence that expired, was removed, was replaced by weaker material, or no longer matched the scorecard questions.

📌 Related guide

If rejected or uncredited evidence was a major issue, read what to do when your EcoVadis documents are not accepted.

Reason 4: A 360° Watch Finding Affected the Score

EcoVadis uses 360° Watch findings as one of the seven management indicators in its assessment. EcoVadis says 360° Watch is based on input from external stakeholders and more than 100,000 sources, including media, governments, trade unions, NGOs, and business networks.

If a relevant negative item appeared since your previous assessment, it may affect the theme linked to the issue. EcoVadis says 360° Watch findings are assigned a score based on severity and can reduce a theme score depending on the impact level. EcoVadis explains the process in its 360° Watch guidance.

Check the 360° Watch section of your new scorecard for:

new negative findings;
the date of the finding;
the source and affected theme;
severity level and score impact;
whether the finding relates to the assessed entity.

If the 360° Watch item appears unrelated or factually incorrect, review the disagreement and Scorecard Inquiry route before deciding how to respond.

What to Do After an EcoVadis Score Drop

Once you understand the likely cause, turn the diagnosis into a practical next-step plan.

Score-drop action checklist

Compare both scorecards. Review the previous and current overall scores, theme scores, medal status, percentile position, Improvement Areas, rejected evidence, scope, and 360° Watch findings.
Identify the most likely cause. Decide whether the drop is mainly linked to medal percentiles, methodology, company profile, submission quality, or 360° Watch.
Check for factual-error or Scorecard Inquiry questions. Use this route only when you have a specific clarification question about methodology, a document, or how an answer was evaluated.
Build the reassessment plan. Map each important gap to an owner, action, deadline, and evidence output.
Brief management and customers clearly. Explain what changed, what you can control, what needs clarification, and what you will fix before the next reassessment.

If you believe EcoVadis made a factual error or overlooked valid submitted evidence, use the dedicated guide on what to do if you disagree with your EcoVadis score. If the issue is evidence quality, scope, coverage, or missing results, move into the main EcoVadis score improvement plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my EcoVadis score go down after reassessment?

Your EcoVadis score may have gone down because the reassessment used different or weaker evidence, your company profile or scope changed, key documents expired, 360° Watch findings changed, or EcoVadis methodology and medal eligibility rules affected the result.

Why did my EcoVadis medal go down if my score barely changed?

EcoVadis medals are based on percentile rank, not fixed score thresholds. If the assessed company database improves, your percentile position can change even when your numerical score changes only slightly. A theme score below 30 can also block medal eligibility.

Can EcoVadis methodology changes lower my score?

Yes. EcoVadis customises assessments according to activity, size, and location, and the methodology is updated over time. A change in activated criteria, location risk, company profile, or scoring expectations can affect a reassessment result.

Can 360° Watch make my EcoVadis score drop?

Yes. EcoVadis says 360° Watch findings are one of the seven management indicators and can affect theme scores based on severity. Check whether a new finding appeared, which theme it affected, and whether it relates to the assessed entity.

Should I submit a Scorecard Inquiry after a score drop?

Use Scorecard Inquiry when you have a specific clarification question about methodology, a document, or how an answer was evaluated. If the issue is weak evidence, missing KPIs, scope coverage, or expired documents, prepare better evidence for reassessment.

📝 Key Takeaways

Compare both scorecards first. Look at theme scores, Improvement Areas, medal status, percentile rank, rejected evidence, and 360° Watch changes.
A medal drop can happen without a major performance decline. Percentile rank, medal eligibility, and theme-score minimums can affect the result.
Submission quality matters. Expired documents, weak KPI reporting, scope gaps, and unclear evidence can lower a reassessment score.
360° Watch can affect theme scores. Check whether new public findings appeared and whether they relate to the assessed entity.
Choose the right route. Use Scorecard Inquiry for specific clarification questions and reassessment planning for evidence or management-system gaps.

Need Help Understanding Why Your EcoVadis Score Dropped?

A Scorecard Review helps you compare your old and new results, identify the likely cause of the drop, and build a practical plan for your next reassessment.

Learn More About Scorecard Reviews