Improve your EcoVadis rating: the 3 key levers for your score

EcoVadis? ‘Isn't that the questionnaire you fill out between two meetings and are then guaranteed a gold medal?’ Or rather: the moment when companies realise that real sustainability is not completed with three PDF files. The EcoVadis sustainability assessment not only evaluates whether actuons are being taken – but how they are implemented: planned, documented, managed, reviewed, and ideally certified. Sounds time-consuming? It is. But the effort pays off. Find out why – and how you can even benefit economically.

Why EcoVadis is more than just a questionnaire

If you think EcoVadis is simply digital paperwork then you are exactly the target audience for this article. Because between scorecard, medal and action report lies a small world of strategies, policies and process logic. Sounds dry? Perhaps. But if you do it right, you'll score twice – for the scorecard and for your business. Today, a good EcoVadis rating is far more than just a green tick in the supplier portal. It has become a strategic compass: for innovative ability, future security – and growing demands from politics, customer relations and the capital market.

However, many companies are not realising their full potential:

 Measures are in place, but not documented.
 Targets exist but are not measurable.
 And the link to profitability often remains untold.

In this article, we will show you three key tips on how to improve your EcoVadis rating in a targeted manner – and utilise economic advantages.

Tip 1: Implement and document measures in a traceable way

Why companies fail to score higher

• A measure is mentioned (‘We have an emergency management system’), but no document with a description, function and scope is provided.
• Measures are formulated too generally (‘We organise training courses’) without specific reference to a sustainability topic.
• Only some of the activated topics are covered by measures leaving valuable points unused.
  

How to improve your rating in this area

1. How many relevant sustainability topics are covered by measures
2. Whether there is robust evidence (e.g. process description, emergency plan, procedural policy)
3. Whether the measure fits the company level (company, group, organisation)
   
   

• Development of a systematic dossier of measures per sustainability topic (environment, HR, ethics, etc.)
• Use of existing procedural instructions or ISO documents related to sustainability (e.g. procedures for emergencies, audit reports)
• Measures should be specifically assigned to the activated sustainability topics of your EcoVadis industry profile and documented in a verifiable manner

ROI – Why documented measures drive business value

If you don't document it, it doesn't exist for EcoVadis – and often not for your customers either, whether internally or externally.

☑️ Transparency for everyone involved
If measures are documented, they can be controlled internally and easily verified if necessary.

☑️ Improving process efficiency
Well-documented processes with clear responsibilities reduce frictional losses and minimise the time required for enquiries.

☑️ Better standing with customers and auditors
Whether EcoVadis, customer evaluation or ISO audit – documented measures contribute directly to your evaluation.

Tip 2: Policies and goals – concrete, measurable, comprehensible

Why companies fail to score higher

Many companies have sustainability policies – but these do not fulfil the EcoVadis requirements.

• Only general declarations of intent, no concrete targets
• Lack of quantification
• No clear accountability or validity
• Not documented in accessible, formal company documents

Group companies also often overlook this: Group policies are recognised, but must match the assessment level (e.g. plant, subsidiary).

How to improve your rating in this area

1. The target type is decisive. General principles form the entry level. Qualitative targets – such as ‘We minimise waste’ – achieve a medium score. However, quantitative targets are required for the maximum number of points.
   
   
2. It is assessed how many of the activated sustainability criteria are covered by the policies. Which topics are particularly relevant in your case is determined by the EcoVadis industry risk profile – e.g. environment, human rights or ethics.
   
   
3. The formal quality of the policy plays a central role. EcoVadis expects
   • clearly defined responsibilities,
   • a planned regular review,
   • and a precisely defined scope of application, e.g. to which sites or companies the policy applies.

• Creation or revision of sustainability policies with
  • quantified targets (e.g. ‘30% less energy consumption by 2028’)
  • Documented review (e.g. via KPI or audit)
  • Formal anchoring (signature, validity period, target groups)
• Coverage of all activated sustainability criteria through a topic-specific policy

ROI – Why well-documented goals drive business value

Our bank doesn't want visions – it wants hard numbers.

☑️ Increase strategic capability
Clear, quantified targets enable systematic resource planning and improve internal controllability.

☑️ Ensure eligibility for funding
Many public funding programmes require formalised target systems – especially in the climate and transformation sector.

☑️ Boost confidence among investors and banks
Measurable ESG targets have a credible impact and reduce perceived business risks – a real advantage in financing discussions.

Tip 3: Professionalise reporting – structured, comparable, credible

Why companies fail to score higher

• Too little coverage: Only part of the company is reported – e.g. the head office instead of all locations.
• Meaningless figures: There is a lack of clear units and reference values – such as ‘kWh per product’ or ‘GHG emissions per tonne’.
• Outdated or non-transparent reports: The data is more than two years old or not accessible to stakeholders.
• No reference to standards: There is no methodological framework – e.g. according to GRI, SASB or ESRS – or external verification.

In short: without structure, standards and visibility, reporting quickly becomes hard work with little effect.

How to improve your rating in this area

1. Timeliness: The reported data must not be older than two calendar years.
2. Formal quality: EcoVadis expects clear information on metrics, reference values and the reporting year – e.g. ‘kWh per production unit in 2023’.
3. Transparency: The report should be publicly accessible or available to stakeholders on request.
4. Reliability: Maximum points are awarded for externally verified reports, e.g. with proof of audit or assurance.
5. Comparability: A presentation over several years makes it possible to track developments – and strengthens the informative value.
6. Coverage: The report must cover at least 80% of the organisation. For topics such as energy and greenhouse gases, 95% is a benchmark.
7. Standard compliance: GRI, SASB or ESRS reports perform better – and demonstrate methodological accuracy.
   
   

• Preparation of a formal ESG report, compliant with GRI/SASB/ESRS
• Introduction of a KPI monitoring system (e.g. for GHG emissions, energy, occupational health and safety)
• Publication of the report on the corporate website, possibly on request
• For SMEs: start with an internal report and gradually expand towards standard compliance

ROI – Why structured reporting drives business value

A well-founded sustainability report not only shows responsibility – it demonstrates management expertise.

☑️ Strengthen capital market capability
Investors and banks favour companies with robust ESG data – especially when granting loans, ratings and tenders.

☑️ Increase audit resilience
Whether LkSG, CSRD or customer requirements – good reporting reduces audit effort and protects against reputational risks.

☑️ Making sustainability controllable
Systematic reporting makes progress measurable – and enables targeted control instead of actionism.

Conclusion: EcoVadis – when sustainability boosts your ROI

• Companies that can prove their sustainability win customers and orders.
• Providing clear key figures reduces risks and convinces banks, funding bodies and auditors.
• Clear processes and responsibilities reduce effort and create implementation security.
• Transparent sustainability performance creates resilience and strengthens the competitive position.

How EurA can support you

Curious to find out how much future lies within your company?
Get your EcoVadis scorecard analysed and find out where the biggest levers lie – technically, organisationally and economically.

➤ Our sustainability experts support you in the sustainable transformation of your company with in-depth analyses, a clear strategy and practical implementation. Arrange your free initial consultation now.

• Individual initial consultation
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• Life cycle assessment (LCA)
• Critical reviews and EPDs
• Life cycle cost analysis (LCC)
• Sustainability strategy and reports
• Sustainable financing solutions
• Training courses and workshops

Text: Moritz Eger