The Answer, is a series that provides no-fluff answers and solutions to your most pressing EcoVadis questions. We tackle one topic head-on. The goal is to give you the clarity you need to move forward. This week's question is:

How do you actually improve an EcoVadis score?

The most effective way to improve your EcoVadis score is to adopt a strategic framework, not just a simple checklist. This involves a deeper analysis of your scorecard—diagnosing P-A-R weaknesses, investigating rejected documents, and identifying strengths to build upon—and using that intelligence to fuel a continuous improvement engine like the PDCA cycle, to build a robust and evidence-based sustainability management system.

This framework moves you beyond simply reacting to a score and towards building a system that consistently delivers better results.

Quick Navigation

• 1. A Strategic Framework for Improving Your Score
• 2. Real-World Example: How Thomas Kneale Did It
• 3. Key Takeaways

A Strategic Framework for Improving Your Score

Instead of getting overwhelmed, focus on this structured framework.

Step 1: Strategically Analyse Your Scorecard

Your scorecard is more than just a grade; it is a diagnostic tool that provides a clear roadmap for improvement.

1. Start with the "Improvement Areas"

This is the most valuable part of your scorecard for strategic planning. The EcoVadis analysts provide a detailed, prioritised list of where you fell short. Treat this as your expert-validated "to-do" list.

2. Diagnose the P-A-R Weakness

For your lowest-scoring themes, determine if the gap is in your Policies, Actions, or Results. This prevents wasted effort and focuses your response. Here is how to decipher it:

• If an improvement area is to "Formalise a sustainable procurement policy," your weakness is in Policies.
• If you have a policy but need to "Provide evidence of training on anti-corruption," your weakness is in Actions.
• If you have policies and actions but need to "Provide quantitative information on waste generation," your weakness is in Results.

3. Review Why Evidence Was Rejected

Sometimes, a low score isn't due to a lack of action, but because the evidence you submitted was rejected. Document rejection is a common and entirely avoidable cause of poor scores. Before planning new initiatives, check if your rejected documents failed for one of these reasons:

• Poor Quality: All evidence must meet three core standards. It must be Credible (e.g., official, not a draft), Relevant (e.g., applies to the exact legal entity being assessed), and Timely (e.g., performance data must be from the last 2 years).
• Didn't Substantiate the Claim: The evidence provided must directly address the specific question being asked. A valid document can still be rejected for a particular question if it doesn't contain the specific proof the analyst was looking for. Interpreting this feedback can be challenging, as the analyst's reasoning isn't always explicit.

4. Analyse Your Strengths

While it's crucial to fix weaknesses, a complementary strategy is to double down on an area of existing strength. Not all "strengths" are equal. A score of 45 is good, but there is still significant room to get to an outstanding 85+. By turning a strong area into an industry-leading one, you can create a powerful branding and talent attraction tool.

Step 2: Build Your Corrective Action Plan and Improvement Engine (The PDCA Cycle)

To achieve sustained success, you must move beyond ad-hoc projects. The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, a proven management methodology, provides an ideal structure for this.

Step 3: Master Your Evidence

The EcoVadis assessment is entirely evidence-based; claims without proof are not credited. You are limited to 55 new documents per assessment, so quality and strategy are essential.

Consolidate Intelligently

A single, comprehensive Sustainability or ESG Report can provide evidence for numerous initiatives across all four themes, making it a highly efficient use of a single document slot.

Meet the Quality Standards

Every document must be:

• Credible: Official and company-branded, not a draft.
• Relevant: It must apply to the exact legal entity being assessed. A parent company document is often rejected unless it explicitly names your entity.
• Timely: Policies can be up to 8 years old, but KPI reporting and other results-based evidence must be from the last 2 years.

Use the Comment Box

When uploading a document, use the comment box to guide the analyst. State what the document is and direct them to the specific page number where the evidence can be found. This simple step increases the chance your evidence will be credited correctly.

Bonus Tips to Boost Your Score Fast

While the framework above is essential for long-term success, some strategic actions can act as "force multipliers."

Real-World Example: How Thomas Kneale Did It

Textile supplier Thomas Kneale demonstrates the power of continuous improvement.

This small company (<25 employees) proves that size is not a barrier to excellence. Thomas Kneale has consistently achieved and maintained a Gold medal since their first assessment in 2019. In 2025 they achieved Platinum. Their success is attributed to integrating sustainability into their strategy early, strategically using the scorecard feedback to drive improvements—such as increasing their Ethics rating by 50% in 2023 by introducing third-party factory audits—and making long-term investments in areas like sustainable packaging and renewable energy.

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