EcoVadis
Supply chain-focused ESG rating. Evaluates policies, documentation, and processes across four key areas. Results: Scorecard & medals.
Glossary
EcoVadis is now the world’s leading platform for corporate sustainability ratings. More than 130,000 companies from over 180 countries—ranging from small and medium-sized businesses to global corporations—use the platform to be assessed. The results not only serve as a guide for investors and customers, but have also become an integral part of tenders, supply chain decisions, and ESG reporting.
This is particularly true for companies in German-speaking countries (DACH): An EcoVadis rating is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for entry into international supply chains. Companies that cannot provide one run the risk of being excluded from the pool of potential suppliers.
The importance of EcoVadis grows with every update to its methodology. On the one hand, large procurement organizations use the scorecard as a mandatory criterion to systematically compare their suppliers. On the other hand, the rating is becoming a key factor for many medium-sized companies in meeting growing supply chain requirements.
In addition, EcoVadis bridges the gap to the world of regulatory sustainability reporting. Many elements of the questionnaire—such as policies on environmental or social issues—overlap with the requirements of the CSRD and ESRS. Companies can therefore use their rating as a gap analysis to identify at an early stage which documents and processes are still missing for mandatory reporting.
You can find more information about our practical support here: EcoVadis consulting from Five Glaciers Consulting.
Legally, there is no obligation to participate in the EcoVadis rating. In practice, however, supply chain requirements create an indirect pressure to do so. More and more companies—from automakers to retail chains—require a valid rating.
Those who cannot provide it often miss out on business opportunities. While EcoVadis is not a legal requirement, it is certainly a market-driven necessity for many small and medium-sized businesses.
EcoVadis is a market-driven assessment tool that plays a key role, particularly in supply chains. The scorecard enables buyers to compare suppliers, thereby opening the door to new business relationships.
In contrast, the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) takes a regulatory approach through the ESRS standards. This is not about a scorecard, but rather the mandatory disclosure of sustainability information for certain companies in Europe. While EcoVadis focuses on supplier assessment, CSRD reporting is primarily aimed at investors, banks, and regulatory authorities.
Voluntary, sector-specific standards, such as the SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative), have a clearly defined objective: the SBTi, for example, assesses whether a company’s climate targets are compatible with the 1.5-degree pathway. While EcoVadis provides an overall assessment of ESG performance, the SBTi focuses exclusively on decarbonization and climate targets.
CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) complements these two approaches by requiring detailed disclosure of climate, water, and forest-related information for investors and rating agencies. Unlike the concise EcoVadis scorecard, CDP requires extensive quantitative data and strategies.
In practice, this means that EcoVadis serves as the first point of reference for business partners and ensures access to markets. CSRD ensures legal compliance, SBTi strengthens climate strategy through scientific validation, and CDP provides transparency for capital markets. Companies that integrate these elements enhance their strategic ESG resilience and improve their long-term positioning.
The rating process follows a standardized yet clearly structured procedure. First, companies register with EcoVadis and select a package tailored to their size and region. They then complete a comprehensive questionnaire covering all four ESG dimensions: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.
What matters is not just filling out the questionnaire, but above all the quality of the supporting documentation submitted. Policies, certificates, training materials, and sustainability reports are essential for achieving a good rating. A team of analysts then reviews the information and cross-checks it against external sources (known as a 360° review).
At the end, companies receive a scorecard that includes both the total score and detailed evaluations by topic. This transparency makes it possible to clearly communicate strengths and address weaknesses in a targeted manner.
The assessment is based on a scale of 0 to 100 points. The score achieved determines the medal awarded, which is internationally recognized and serves as an indicator of a company’s sustainability performance. A stricter medal system has been in effect since July 2025:
The medals range from bronze to platinum. Companies that do not receive a medal are, in effect, signaling a clear need for improvement—which can be a disadvantage in competitive bidding.
On July 4, 2025, EcoVadis released its latest comprehensive methodology update. Among the new features introduced were minimum scores for each topic area and a greater emphasis on the 360° Watch. Further adjustments have been announced for 2026, which will notably tighten the requirements for climate reporting and supply chain management.
Companies should therefore view their scorecard not merely as a one-time status report, but as a dynamic management tool for ESG compliance and risk management.
Whether a Bronze, Silver, or Gold rating is sufficient depends heavily on the industry. In the automotive industry, OEMs often expect at least a Silver rating—major players like VW or BMW now routinely assess suppliers through EcoVadis. In the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, the requirements are even higher: here, a Gold rating is often a prerequisite for being eligible to participate in tenders. In the retail and consumer goods sectors, Bronze is sufficient in many cases; however, experience shows that higher ratings significantly improve your chances in the competition for contracts.
These industry-specific benchmarks mean that companies must not view their EcoVadis strategy in isolation, but must always align it with the market environment and customer expectations.
Many small and medium-sized businesses underestimate the effort involved in obtaining an EcoVadis rating. However, even a few targeted measures can significantly improve the rating. A typical quick win is the implementation of a Code of Conduct that sets clear guidelines for both employees and suppliers on environmental and social issues. Providing proof of compliance and occupational safety training often yields additional points quickly as well.
Another key area is energy and emissions management. Even a simple, initial collection of consumption data can send a strong signal to EcoVadis that a company takes its climate impact seriously. Supply chain risk analyses that are documented but not yet fully implemented are also viewed positively by EcoVadis.
These practical steps are particularly useful for companies that want to earn a certification quickly in order to be considered for tenders.
ESYLUX is a good example of a successful start. Working with Five Glaciers Consulting, the company was able to achieve the EcoVadis Silver medal through targeted measures and structured documentation. This case demonstrates that even medium-sized companies can make significant improvements within a reasonable timeframe—provided they identify the right levers and implement them consistently.
The cost of an EcoVadis rating depends on the size of the company, the region, and the package selected. According to EcoVadis’s official pricing page, fees start at around €600 per year for small businesses with basic access.
The picture is clearer in the DACH region: SMEs with 50–250 employees typically invest between €1,500 and €3,000 annually . Companies with 250–1,000 employees should expect to spend €3,000–5,000, while internationally active companies with multiple locations and additional modules often have to spend five-figure sums.
Even though this may sound like a significant investment at first, the benefits clearly outweigh the costs. According to the latest EcoVadis Business Sustainability Risk & Performance Index (2025), 71% of the companies surveyed stated that their rating directly led to a stronger competitive position in tenders. At the same time, many companies use the scorecard as an internal roadmap to implement ESG measures in a structured manner and to be prepared for upcoming CSRD reporting.
Here you will find detailed information about EcoVadis plans and pricing.
In practice, there are a number of recurring obstacles: missing or unclear evidence, insufficient documentation of processes, or a lack of integration into the supply chain. Many companies start out with great enthusiasm, but then run into the challenge of unclear internal responsibilities or a lack of resources.
That is precisely why it makes sense to view EcoVadis not merely as a “questionnaire project,” but as part of a comprehensive sustainability strategy that integrates governance, reporting, and supply chain management.
Five Glaciers Consulting has been assisting companies with EcoVadis assessments for years. As an official EcoVadis training partner and a Gold-rated company ourselves, we have in-depth knowledge of the methodology and requirements.
"Five Glaciers Consulting impresses with its professional approach and ability to explain complex topics in an accessible way. (...) The combination of technical expertise and excellent communication skills makes Five Glaciers a reliable partner." - Jan Göger, ESYLUX
Contact us for all concerns and questions relating to sustainability. We are happy to make time for a personal meeting or a digital coffee.
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Tel.: +49 174 1305766
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