If you’ve been asked to get your company assessed by EcoVadis, you’re not alone. Over 130,000 organisations worldwide now use this platform to measure and compare corporate sustainability performance. But what exactly is EcoVadis? And how can you use it to improve your ESG benchmarking? This guide explains how the platform works and what it measures, whether you’re facing your first assessment or want to push your score higher.
What is EcoVadis and why companies use it for sustainability benchmarking
EcoVadis is a sustainability rating platform that evaluates how well companies perform across environmental, social, and governance areas. Think of it as a diagnostic tool for your corporate sustainability efforts, letting you compare your performance against thousands of other organisations in your industry.
The platform has become the top choice for supplier sustainability assessments because it offers crucial third-party validation. When an independent rating confirms your sustainability commitment, that carries real weight. This is why major corporations now require their suppliers to complete EcoVadis assessments—it’s about supply chain transparency and managing risk well.
Companies use EcoVadis for several strategic reasons:
- Supplier requirements – Many large corporations now mandate EcoVadis assessments for their supply chain partners, making completion essential for maintaining business relationships
- Competitive positioning – A Gold or Platinum medal can differentiate your company in tender processes and open doors to new business opportunities
- Industry benchmarking – The platform compares your performance against relevant peers in your sector, providing meaningful context rather than abstract standards
- Risk management – Independent validation helps identify and address sustainability risks before they become reputational or operational issues
These benefits explain why EcoVadis has become the global standard for sustainability assessments, creating a common language for measuring and communicating ESG performance across industries and countries.
How the EcoVadis assessment process works
The EcoVadis assessment evaluates your organisation across four key themes: Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. Each theme carries different weight depending on your industry.
You’ll receive a customised questionnaire based on your company size, location, and sector. The questions ask about your policies, actions, and results in each theme area. But here’s the important bit: EcoVadis doesn’t just take your word for it. You need to submit supporting documents—policies, audit reports, and performance data—that back up your claims.
Understanding how scoring and medals work is essential:
- Score range – Assessments use a 0 to 100 point scale, with your final score reflecting both what you’re doing and how well you can prove it through documentation
- Bronze medal (45+ points) – Demonstrates basic sustainability management systems are in place
- Silver medal (55+ points) – Shows more comprehensive programmes with measurable actions and monitoring systems
- Gold medal (65+ points) – Indicates advanced sustainability practices with strong evidence of results and continuous improvement
- Platinum medal (75+ points) – Represents outstanding performance, placing your company in the top 1% of all assessed organisations
- Industry benchmarking – Your scorecard includes comparison data showing how you rank against other companies in your sector
These scoring tiers create clear targets for improvement whilst the benchmarking helps you understand your competitive position. The assessment identifies specific strengths and weaknesses within each theme, giving you actionable insights rather than just a number. This detailed feedback makes the platform valuable beyond simple compliance—it becomes a diagnostic tool that shows exactly where to focus your sustainability efforts.
Using EcoVadis scores to drive sustainability improvements
Getting your scorecard back is just the beginning. The real value comes from using that feedback to make real improvements. Your EcoVadis results will highlight specific areas where you’re performing well and where you have room to grow.
Smart companies treat their scorecards as roadmaps. Look at the sections where you scored lowest and ask: what policies or processes are missing? What documents do we need to gather? What actions should we prioritise first?
Practical steps to improve your performance include:
- Gap analysis – Review your scorecard systematically to identify missing policies, insufficient documentation, or areas where actions don’t match stated commitments
- Quick wins – Address simple documentation gaps first, such as formalising existing practices into written policies or gathering documents you already hold but didn’t submit
- Strategic initiatives – Develop longer-term programmes for areas requiring substantive change, such as implementing supplier screening processes or establishing environmental monitoring systems
- Year-on-year tracking – Use each assessment cycle to implement new initiatives and strengthen existing ones, creating a continuous improvement loop
- Cross-framework integration – Align your EcoVadis preparation with other reporting requirements like CSRD, CDP, or B Corp, since these frameworks often request similar information
This systematic approach transforms EcoVadis from a compliance exercise into a genuine driver of sustainability performance. Many organisations successfully improve their medal tier year after year by treating each assessment as an opportunity to embed better practices.
Get expert support for your sustainability journey
Managing sustainability assessments like EcoVadis whilst handling day-to-day operations isn’t easy. Between gathering documents, understanding requirements, and implementing improvements, the workload can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where expert help makes a real difference.
At Dazzle, we connect you with pre-screened sustainability experts who understand ESG ratings inside and out. Our network includes specialists in sustainability reporting, ESG strategy development, and assessment preparation. They can start supporting your team within 48 hours.
The flexibility matters too. You might need intensive support during assessment season, then lighter guidance throughout the year. Or perhaps you’re looking for interim sustainability management whilst building internal capacity. Whatever your situation, we can match you with the right expertise for exactly as long as you need it. Reach out to our team to discover how quickly we can get you the support that moves your sustainability performance forward.
