EcoVadis scores a company from 0 to 100 on how well it manages four themes: environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement, using seven management indicators from policies to external findings. Medals go to the top 35% (Bronze), 15% (Silver), 5% (Gold) and 1% (Platinum) of companies rated in the past 12 months, but not if any theme scores below 30. Scorecards and medals last 12 months.
What the score measures
An EcoVadis rating scores how well a company manages its sustainability, not how sustainable its products are. Analysts review your questionnaire answers and documents, together with public information about your company, and give a score from 0 to 100 for each of four themes: environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. The overall score is a weighted average of the four, with weights that depend on how much each theme matters in your industry, size and countries.
A scorecard is valid for 12 months. To keep a current score, you are reassessed every year, and the subscription fee recurs.
How each theme is scored
Within each theme, EcoVadis looks at your management system through seven indicators.
- Policies: your commitments and targets on the theme.
- Endorsements: public commitments to external initiatives.
- Measures: the actions that put the policies into practice.
- Certifications: valid certificates, labels and third-party audits.
- Coverage: how far actions reach across sites and staff, scored only for companies with 1,000 or more employees.
- Reporting: the figures you report, which must cover at least 80% of the business, and 95% for energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
- 360° Watch: what NGOs, unions, authorities and other external sources have published about you.
Score levels and medals
EcoVadis describes five score levels: Insufficient (0 to 24), Partial (25 to 44), Good (45 to 64), Advanced (65 to 84) and Outstanding (85 to 100).
Medals compare your score with all companies EcoVadis rated in the previous 12 months. Platinum goes to the top 1%, Gold to the top 5%, Silver to the top 15% and Bronze to the top 35%. Because medals follow percentiles, the score needed for a medal shifts over time and is not published in advance. A medal is valid for 12 months.
Why a medal can be refused
A company with a high overall score can still miss out on a medal. EcoVadis withholds medals when any one of the four theme scores is below 30, when the 360° Watch indicator shows serious negative findings, subject to exceptions, and for companies in some excluded industries. A weak theme therefore costs more than its weight in the average suggests.
Doing it in Greener Ahead
Greener Ahead does not provide EcoVadis ratings. Much of the evidence an assessment asks for, such as policies, energy and emissions figures, workforce data and ethics records, is the same as in a VSME report. Sustainability reporting in Greener Ahead prepares that report with the evidence beside every answer for €995 per year, and Carbon accounting calculates the emissions figures for €1,495 per year, both with unlimited users and a 14-day free trial without a card. Check the pricing page for current details.
What each indicator needs as evidence
Answers without documents score little. These are the kinds of evidence each indicator credits.
| Indicator | What it checks | Typical evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Policies | Commitments and targets per theme | Signed, dated policies with owners and targets |
| Endorsements | Public commitments to external initiatives | Membership or signatory confirmations |
| Measures | Actions that implement the policies | Procedures, training records, supplier assessments, investment records |
| Certifications | Third-party proof | Valid certificates such as ISO 14001 or ISO 45001, audit reports |
| Coverage | Reach across sites and staff (1,000+ employees only) | Share of sites or staff covered by each action |
| Reporting | Quality and scope of reported figures | Energy, emissions, safety and workforce figures for at least 80% of the business, 95% for energy and emissions |
| 360° Watch | External information about you | Nothing to upload: it comes from public sources |
Common reasons for a low score
These come up again and again in scorecards of smaller companies.
- Policies that exist but are unsigned, undated or have no targets.
- Actions described in answers but not backed by a document.
- No reported figures, or figures for only part of the business.
- One theme left almost empty, usually sustainable procurement, which also blocks a medal below 30.
- Documents older than EcoVadis accepts.
Sources and scope
- EcoVadis: Sustainability Rating methodology disclosure document (June 2026)
- EcoVadis: Medals methodology disclosure document (June 2026)
- EcoVadis: sustainability ratings
These resources explain a preparation workflow. Check your selected standard and recipient requirements before sharing your report.
Joost ThissenFounder
