In today’s increasingly conscious global marketplace, businesses are expected not just to talk about sustainability, but to prove it. That’s where EcoVadis comes in. But what exactly is EcoVadis, how does its rating system work, who uses it, and why does it matter? Let’s break it all down.
What Is EcoVadis?
EcoVadis is a sustainability rating platform designed to help organisations assess, manage, and improve their sustainability performance across their operations and value chains. Founded in 2007, EcoVadishas grown into one of the most recognised and trusted sustainability assessment frameworks in the world.
At its core, EcoVadis evaluates how effectively a company integrates environmental, social, ethical, and responsible procurement practices into its business and management systems, using international sustainability standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the UN Global Compact, and ISO 26000 as foundational benchmarks.
How Big Is the EcoVadis Network?
EcoVadis isn’t a niche tool; it is hugely widespread. Today, more than 150,000 organisations across 180 countries and 205 industries have been rated through the EcoVadis platform.
It is used by organisations of all sizes, from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to multinational corporations. Many large buyers require their suppliers to undergo EcoVadis assessments as part of responsible procurement and supply-chain risk management practices.
Some of the biggest multinational companies use EcoVadis assessments as part of their sustainability strategies:
- Unilever — A long-time user of EcoVadis ratings to drive responsible sourcing and supplier engagement.
- L’Oréal — One of the few consumer goods giants to publicly share its EcoVadis results, L’Oréal has achieved Platinum status (2026), scoring 89/100, placing it in the top 1% of all companies evaluated worldwide.
- PwC UK is a standout example in the services sector. The firm received a Platinum sustainability rating from EcoVadis, for the last 5 years, placing it again in the top 1% globally. Its 2025 scorecard reflects exceptionally strong performances across all 4 core themes.
However, EcoVadis is not just designed for large, global organisations. Many smaller, UK-based companies within the logistics sector have successfully achieved an EcoVadis rating. By doing so, they are able to clearly demonstrate their commitment to ESG principles, strengthen their sustainability credentials, and position themselves as more attractive and credible partners for larger organisations seeking responsible suppliers.
- EcoVadis Gold: SEKO logistics, Whistl
- EcoVadis Silver: Ascendia
- EcoVadis Bronze: Yusen, Pickfords, Killick Martin
What Does EcoVadis Assess?
EcoVadis assesses sustainability performance across four core themes:
- Environment
- Labour & Human Rights
- Ethics
- Sustainable Procurement
Within these themes, EcoVadis looks at 21 specific criteria, such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water use, working conditions, anti-corruption practices, and supplier sustainability programmes.
This broad approach ensures that companies are evaluated not just on what they say they do, but on how their systems reflect real-world practices and outcomes.
How Does the EcoVadis Scoring System Work?
EcoVadis uses a detailed, evidence-based scoring methodology that produces a scorecard for each assessed company. Here’s how it works:
Policies, Actions & Results: The assessment focuses on three management pillars; the company’s sustainability policies, the actions they implement, and the tangible results achieved.
Tailored Questionnaire: Companies receive a customised questionnaire based on their industry, size, and geographic risk profile, ensuring relevance and fairness.
Supporting Documentation: Scoring is evidence-driven; only documented and verifiable practices count toward points.
Analyst Review: A team of trained sustainability analysts review submissions and additional external sources (e.g., NGOs or public reports) before assigning scores.
Scores range from 0 to 100, and performance is categorised to help companies understand where they stand. EcoVadis awards medals (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) based on percentile performance, with Platinum representing the top 1 % of companies rated globally.
What Does an EcoVadis Rating Reflect?
An EcoVadis grade is a measure of sustainable management maturity rather than a proof-point certification like ISO standards. It reflects how well a company has embedded sustainability into its governance, operations, supply-chain relationships, and reporting systems.
This means EcoVadis scores tell stakeholders about:
- The strength of procedures and policies
- The level of execution and performance
- The company’s capacity for continuous improvement
Rather than a static achievement, a strong EcoVadis score shows a company’s ability to manage risk, drive sustainability performance, and demonstrate accountability to customers, and investors.
Why EcoVadis Matters for Businesses Today
EcoVadis ratings have grown into a key part of how organisations manage sustainability across supply chains:
Supplier Engagement & Risk Management: Buyers use EcoVadis scores to monitor and compare supplier performance, helping reduce environmental and social risks.
Benchmarking & Improvement: Rated companies gain detailed insight into strengths and improvement areas, enabling targeted strategy and action planning.
Stakeholder Confidence: Sharing an EcoVadis scorecard can build trust with customers, investors, and business partners who increasingly demand transparency in ESG performance.
Market Differentiation: High-performing companies that achieve Gold or Platinum status can differentiate themselves in competitive markets.
EcoVadis serves as a global lens on corporate sustainability performance. It provides organisations with a structured, credible, evidence-based way to assess ESG management, benchmark progress, and engage meaningfully with supply chains and stakeholders on sustainability goals.
Whether you are a large buyer looking to measure supplier risk or an SME aiming to enhance your sustainability credibility, EcoVadis offers a globally recognised sustainability rating system emphasisingcontinuous improvement.
For more information about how our experts at Shape Tomorrow can support your Ecovadis submission contact – hello@shapetomorrow.co.uk