EcoVadis scores are receiving increasing focus as major brands compete to demonstrate leadership in supplier engagement. This enhanced attention to EcoVadis results leaves many companies struggling to identify cost-effective score improvement solutions. From our front-line experience in supporting clients through their sustainability journeys, we have generated the following 5 tips to boost your EcoVadis score and achieve business-partner expectations.
1. Join the UNGC
Joining the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)[1] represents one of the most effective “quick wins” a company can implement to boost its sustainability rating with relatively minimal effort. EcoVadis data conclusively demonstrates that UNGC signatories significantly outperform non-signatories in sustainability assessments. Companies that have committed to the UNGC’s Ten Principles[2] score an average of 12 points (or higher) on EcoVadis assessments compared to non-signatories. This represents a substantial scoring advantage that can potentially elevate a company from receiving no medal directly to “Silver Level” in some cases.[3]
2. Leverage the Corrective Action Plan Feature
The Corrective Action Plan (CAP) feature on the EcoVadis platform is a powerful tool that many companies underutilize. For Premium, Corporate, and Select subscribers, updates made in the CAP are automatically transferred to the corresponding sections in your reassessment questionnaire. This means you can effectively “pre-fill” parts of your next assessment by documenting improvements through this feature, saving significant time and effort during reassessment.
3. Prioritize Low-Scoring Themes with High Weights
Not all sustainability themes are weighed equally in your final score. EcoVadis customizes the importance of each sustainability theme based on your industry. For example, a heavier weight is typically placed on the Environment theme for manufacturing companies, while a heavier weight may be placed on the Labor and Human Rights theme for service firms.
4. Create Formal Policies First (Even before Implementation, if necessary)
Focus on creating policies that address the specific “key issues” EcoVadis has identified for your industry. Ensure each policy follows EcoVadis’ preferred structure: overview, scope, ownership, review processes, and main issues. Include both qualitative commitments and quantitative targets for each key issue.
5. Strengthen Sustainable Procurement Practices
Sustainable procurement accounts for roughly one-fifth of your total EcoVadis score (this can vary depending on your sector) and is often an area where companies can make substantial improvements. This pillar evaluates how you integrate social, ethical, and environmental factors into your purchasing decisions. Examples of how companies can boost this score include the following action items:
- Develop a supplier code of conduct that outlines your company’s sustainability expectations
- Implement a supplier assessment process to evaluate the sustainability performance of your suppliers
- Engage suppliers through training and resources to help them improve their own sustainability practices
- Incorporate sustainability criteria into contracts and purchasing decisions
By improving your EcoVadis score, your company is actively working to build successful business-partner relationships that drive sustainable practices across internal and supplier operations. EHS Support is ready to join you. For help managing the improvement of your EcoVadis score or for other questions you may have during your sustainability journey, please get in touch with Bruce Martin or schedule your free consultation today.
[1] https://unglobalcompact.org/participation
[2] https://unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/mission/principles
[3] https://resources.ecovadis.com/ecovadis-solution-materials/ecovadis-medals-and-badges
