EcoVadis is a supplier ESG scoring platform with over 1.1 million registered companies across 120 countries. It has been adopted for supplier evaluation by major Western companies including Renault, Nestlé, L'Oréal, and Sanofi, and an increasing number of Japanese companies are being asked to obtain scores to maintain or grow business with European customers. Assessment covers four domains — Environment (E), Labor and Human Rights (S), Ethics (G), and Sustainable Procurement — on a 100-point scale.
What Is EcoVadis — The Full Framework Overview
EcoVadis is a SaaS-based supplier ESG scoring service founded in 2007 that has expanded rapidly as demand for supplier ESG evaluation has grown in the context of compliance with EU regulations such as CSRD and CSDDD. As of 2024, over 1.1 million companies worldwide are registered, and a key benefit for suppliers is that once evaluated, they can respond simultaneously to requests from multiple trading partners (via the score-sharing function).
The evaluation process works as follows: 1. Suppliers complete a detailed online questionnaire across the four domains (environment, labor, ethics, procurement) 2. Supporting documents — policy documents, certifications, performance data — are attached as evidence 3. EcoVadis analysts review the documents and calculate a score 4. Results are shared with trading partners (purchasing companies) as a scorecard
Weightings in the evaluation vary by sector, company size, and location. For manufacturing companies, the environment domain carries the highest weight, making CO2 emissions management and environmental target-setting the key to high scores.
What Each Medal Band Means — What Trading Partners Are Looking For
EcoVadis scores range from 0 to 100 and are classified into the following medals:
Bronze (45–49 points)
Early stage of ESG engagement. Basic policies exist but performance data and supporting documents are insufficient. Some Western companies will accept this level, but companies with stringent supplier standards (food, pharmaceutical, luxury goods, etc.) will treat this as requiring improvement. Companies may be asked to submit a score improvement plan as a condition of continued business.
Silver (50–64 points) — The Primary Qualification Threshold
The threshold line that many major Western companies set as the minimum requirement for supplier selection is this Silver band. Companies including Renault, AXA, and Reckitt Benckiser explicitly require Silver or above as a procurement condition. Falling below this level increasingly means exclusion even from initial consideration for new business discussions.
Gold (65–74 points)
ESG infrastructure is systematically well established, with performance data, third-party verification, and target-setting all in place. ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications are contributing factors to higher scores. Trading partners requiring Gold or above are still a minority, but requirements are expected to escalate from 2027–2028 onward.
Platinum (75+ points)
Positioned as an ESG best-practice company — equivalent to the global top 1%, with few Japanese companies achieving this level. While sometimes set as long-term targets by CSSOs (Chief Sustainability Officers) at large enterprises, reaching Silver to Gold is the realistic near-term goal for mid-cap manufacturers.
EcoVadis's Four Domains and How Evaluation Works
EcoVadis evaluates using a combination of questionnaire responses and supporting document submissions. Domain weightings vary by sector, company size, and location, but the environment domain tends to carry the highest weighting for manufacturing companies.
Environment (E) — The Most Critical Domain
CO2 emissions, energy consumption, water use, waste, and ecosystem impact are assessed. Establishing an environmental policy, setting targets, and disclosing performance data are essential. ISO 14001 certification and third-party verified data lead to higher evaluations. This domain carries the highest weighting for manufacturers, so improvements here have the greatest impact on overall scores. Scope 1 and 2 emissions calculation and setting reduction targets are baseline requirements.
Labor and Human Rights (S)
Occupational health and safety, labor conditions, harassment prevention, prohibition of child labor, and freedom of association are covered. OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001 certifications serve as evidence. Documentation of human rights policies and the existence of grievance mechanisms are assessed. For manufacturers employing many foreign workers, policies for technical intern trainees and specified skilled workers are an additional evaluation factor.
Ethics (G)
Anti-bribery, anti-corruption, conflicts of interest, and whistleblower protection are assessed. A documented Code of Conduct and records of employee training implementation serve as evidence. ISO 37001 (Anti-bribery Management) certification is a strong indicator for higher scores. Having an English-language Code of Conduct is particularly important as a demonstration to Western trading partners.
Sustainable Procurement
Whether ESG standards are set and applied to one's own suppliers is a key question. The existence of a supplier code of conduct, implementation of ESG questionnaires with suppliers, and processes for identifying high-risk suppliers are assessed. The importance of this domain is growing in the context of CSRD and CSDDD compliance, as one's own supplier ESG evaluation infrastructure is under scrutiny.
Priority Actions for Reaching Silver
Document environmental policies and targets
Create CO2 reduction targets, energy use reduction targets, and waste reduction targets as documents approved by senior management. Submitting these together with Scope 1 and 2 emissions calculation data compliant with the GHG Protocol will substantially improve scores in the environment domain. An English-language environmental policy document is required and will be checked in the questionnaire.
Establish a Code of Conduct and grievance channel
Creating an English-language Code of Conduct covering anti-bribery and harassment prevention, and setting up an internal whistleblower channel, will raise scores in the ethics and labor domains. Retaining training records (participant lists, dates, content) serves as evidence. Codes of Conduct approved by the board of directors lead to higher scores.
Prepare supporting documents systematically
EcoVadis requires not only questionnaire responses but also supporting documents (policy documents, certifications, performance data). The quantity and quality of evidence submitted directly affects scores. Before a first submission, list all available evidence and design a schedule for creating what is missing. ISO certifications, annual securities reports, and CSR reports are typical supporting documents.
Use previous evaluation feedback
EcoVadis provides a scorecard and detailed feedback after each evaluation. The feedback indicates 'items requiring improvement' and 'additional evidence that would add points,' and can be used as an improvement roadmap for the next evaluation. Even with a low initial score, improvements of 10–15 points in the next evaluation using the feedback are achievable in many cases.
Score-Band Improvement Strategy — Next Steps from Your Current Position
30–44 points (improvement needed): Policy documents do not exist or supporting documents are insufficient. The top priority is to create basic environmental, ethics, and labor policies in English and build out Scope 1 and 2 emissions data. Develop a plan to build an environmental management system toward ISO 14001 certification.
45–49 points (Bronze): Policies exist but supporting documents and performance data are insufficient. The next step is to align policy documents with evidence of actual activities (training records, energy efficiency results, waste data, etc.). Beginning renewable energy procurement for Scope 2 (non-FIT non-fossil certificates, etc.) is effective for score improvement at this band.
50–64 points (Silver): Basic infrastructure is established. To reach Gold, third-party verification of Scope 1 and 2 (external assurance), SBTi commitment, and additional ISO certifications are effective. Building a system for conducting ESG questionnaires with one's own suppliers will improve scores in the sustainable procurement domain.
EcoVadis conducts re-evaluations annually or every two years. Even with a low initial score, there are many cases where scores improve substantially in the next evaluation following improvements to supporting documents and infrastructure. Demonstrating a posture of continuous improvement is also an important message for maintaining trust with trading partners.