EcoVadis for industrial companies – what is it, how does it work, and how to earn a medal?

EcoVadis is a global platform that evaluates companies' sustainability practices – including environment, human rights, business ethics, and responsible procurement. The evaluation model is based on international standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), ISO 26000, and the UN Global Compact Principles. Since its founding in 2007, EcoVadis has assessed over 130,000 companies from 180 countries and more than 220 industries.

The goal of the evaluation is to transparently and comparably present a company’s performance in ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), enabling the development of responsible businesses and supply chains. Additionally, when considering a company from abroad or outside the EU, the investor can be confident that the EcoVadis standard is consistent for all assessed companies, regardless of regional procedures and regulations.

The EcoVadis evaluation system is a structured process for verifying a company’s ESG performance, conducted digitally and adapted to the company’s industry and size. After registering on the EcoVadis platform, the company receives a tailored questionnaire based on several factors: industry sector, operating country, and number of employees. This allows for reliable and comparable assessments between companies with similar profiles.

The questionnaire consists of questions across four areas:

• environment – emissions management, energy consumption, waste management, environmental certifications,
• labour & human rights – working conditions, equal opportunities, occupational health and safety, anti-discrimination,
• ethics – anti-corruption, legal compliance, transparency of actions,
• sustainable procurement – procurement policies, supplier assessments, supply chain responsibility.

Companies must provide source documents for each area to confirm the implementation of described practices – such as policies, procedures, annual reports, certifications (e.g., ISO 14001), codes of ethics, training records, or even screenshots from internal systems.

After submitting the documentation, the EcoVadis analyst team conducts a detailed review – each piece of information is verified for quality, credibility, and relevance. The company then receives a scorecard with a numerical score from 0 to 100 and a detailed report outlining strengths and areas for improvement. The scorecard also includes a percentile ranking, indicating the company’s position relative to others.

The EcoVadis score is valid for 12 months and can be shared with clients and business partners without the need for multiple separate audits in each area. Companies can also implement corrective actions and later request a reassessment to improve their score. This makes EcoVadis not only a rating system but also a continuous improvement platform for ESG.

EcoVadis is available to companies of all sizes and industries, operating locally or globally. Both corporations and SMEs are eligible for evaluation. This makes EcoVadis a useful tool for manufacturers, service providers, suppliers, or distributors who want to verify the quality of their ESG practices. It is worth noting that an increasing number of global corporations expect their partners to have a valid EcoVadis assessment. This means that earning a medal may be a prerequisite for joining large companies’ supply chains.

At DB Energy, we have earned the EcoVadis medal four times – the latest, gold, in February 2025. We have received two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze. As a small enterprise, just like any other assessed company, we had to provide documentation confirming our performance in each of the four areas. These included ISO certifications, training records, management standards, or occupational health and safety procedures.

Although the EcoVadis assessment system is open to companies of all sizes and sectors, earning a medal is not guaranteed even after completing the evaluation. EcoVadis has introduced clear exclusion criteria that prevent awarding a distinction, even if the overall score is high.

A company cannot receive an EcoVadis medal if it:

• fails to meet the minimum score in one of the assessment pillars. Even if the total score exceeds the medal threshold, a score below 30/100 in any of the four areas (environment, human rights, ethics, sustainable procurement) disqualifies the company;
• is assessed as a high-risk company. Companies in sensitive sectors (e.g., raw material and fuel extraction, weapons or tobacco production) may be excluded from the medal system regardless of their score;
• is undergoing serious legal or regulatory proceedings, or has been penalized for violations of law – especially in environmental protection, human rights, fair competition, or anti-corruption.

Thanks to these strict criteria, the EcoVadis medal system remains a credible confirmation of ESG performance, and distinctions are awarded only to companies that genuinely implement sustainable practices – not just declare them.

Effective preparation for an EcoVadis assessment requires involvement across multiple departments and a structured approach. The most important factor is a comprehensive and well-documented ESG strategy. Below are several steps that may increase your chances of earning a high score:

Current state analysis

Start with diagnosing existing policies, procedures, and practices related to environment, ethics, human rights, and sustainable procurement. Identify any gaps and define corrective actions.

Develop and implement policies

Prepare and adopt formal documents such as environmental policy, code of ethics, human rights policy, and responsible sourcing guidelines. These should be genuinely implemented and tailored to the organization.

Collect documentation

EcoVadis requires evidence of implemented practices. Gather relevant documentation such as environmental reports, ISO certificates (e.g., ISO 14001, ISO 45001), audit results, safety instructions, training records, whistleblower procedures, or supplier evaluations.

Ensure consistency and transparency

Documents are evaluated not only for their existence but also for their relevance, coherence, and actual application. All materials should logically support the company’s ESG strategy.

Engage different departments

The preparation process should include collaboration among HR, procurement, quality, HSE, CSR, and the Management Board. EcoVadis assesses the entire organization – not just individual departments – so internal communication and engagement at all levels are essential.

While the EcoVadis system offers many benefits, it's important to be aware of potential difficulties:

• gathering documents and completing the questionnaire requires effort and time, especially during the first assessment,
• participation involves a subscription fee (ranging from several hundred to several thousand euros annually, depending on the package),
• EcoVadis primarily evaluates documentation, which may not fully reflect actual actions – especially in smaller companies.

The EcoVadis assessment is not only a chance to earn a prestigious distinction but also a tool for building a company’s image in the ESG context. For companies from various industries – including industrial firms – it is a real opportunity to demonstrate responsible operations aligned with international standards and the expectations of global business partners. Although preparing for the assessment takes time and effort, the results can significantly support business development – by increasing client trust and improving internal processes. Therefore, EcoVadis should be seen as an investment in the organization's future and a gateway to participate in tenders, especially with large companies that emphasize ESG.