What is an EcoVadis medal?
The role of medals in EcoVadis CSR assessment
EcoVadis medals are distinctions awarded to companies that have performed well in their CSR assessment. They don't replace the score — they translate it into a recognition level, allowing companies to benchmark themselves against others on a common, standardised basis.
For buyers, procurement teams and investors, the medal is an immediate, readable signal: it distils a level of CSR maturity — verified by an independent third party — into a single symbol.
What an EcoVadis medal actually rewards
An EcoVadis medal doesn't just reward a good score: it attests to a relative CSR performance, measured across 4 themes (Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, Sustainable Procurement) and compared against all companies assessed worldwide over the past 12 months.
EcoVadis assesses a total of 21 sub-themes, spread across these 4 themes. Their weighting varies according to the company's size, activity and sector.
What the medal concretely recognises:
- Formalised CSR policies covering the issues activated for the company
- Tangible actions implemented, documented and verifiable
- Measurable results across the themes assessed
- Overall consistency between stated commitments and actual practices
A medal doesn't reward a one-off effort — it validates a structured, sustained CSR approach.
EcoVadis medal vs EcoVadis score: what's the difference?
The two are often confused, but they don't measure the same thing.
The EcoVadis score is a numerical rating from 0 to 100, calculated from the assessment questionnaire, supporting documents provided, and the 360° Watch. It measures the company's absolute performance on the CSR themes applicable to it.
The EcoVadis medal is a relative recognition: it is awarded based on the company's percentile ranking among all companies assessed worldwide over the past 12 months. In other words, two companies with the same score can receive different medals — or no medal at all — depending on how the reference pool has evolved.
How are EcoVadis medals awarded?
The percentile ranking system
Medal attribution is based on a percentile system: each company is ranked against all companies assessed by EcoVadis over the past 12 months, across all sectors and countries.
This ranking is dynamic. The reference pool changes every year as new companies join EcoVadis and existing ones improve. That's why a medal is never permanently secured — it reflects a relative position at a given point in time.
Minimum conditions to obtain an EcoVadis medal
Beyond the percentile, EcoVadis applies strict eligibility conditions. Reaching the right percentile is not enough if these conditions are not met.
Minimum score per theme
To qualify for any medal, the company must score at least 30 points on each of the 4 themes activated in its assessment. A high score on some themes cannot compensate for insufficient performance on another.
Impact of the 360° Watch
EcoVadis's 360° Watch continuously monitors public sources (media, NGOs, governments, professional networks) to detect positive or negative signals about the assessed company.
A company cannot receive a medal if it scores 0 on at least one theme of the 360° Watch, or scores 25 or below on at least two themes. A serious media incident, conviction or public sanction can therefore block medal attribution — even if the questionnaire score is excellent.
Cases where no medal is awarded
A company may end up without a medal in several situations:
- Its percentile is below the Bronze threshold (65th percentile)
- It does not reach the minimum 30 points on one or more themes
- It receives a blocking score on the 360° Watch (0 on one theme, or ≤ 25 on two or more themes)
- It is a first-time assessment and the data is insufficient for reliable ranking
In these cases, the company may still obtain an EcoVadis badge — see the dedicated section below.
Why a medal can change from one year to the next
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood points. A medal earned this year does not guarantee the same medal the following year — even if the score remains identical.
The reason is straightforward: the reference pool evolves. If the general level of assessed companies rises, the same score may fall to a lower percentile. Conversely, a company that improves more slowly than its peers may drop a medal level.
That's why continuous improvement isn't optional — it's a necessity to maintain your medal level.
The different EcoVadis medal levels
EcoVadis Platinum medal: top 1%
The Platinum medal is the highest level awarded by EcoVadis. It is reserved for companies that rank in the top 1% of all companies assessed worldwide.
Profile of Platinum companies
Platinum companies don't stand out solely for their CSR policies — those are a baseline, not a differentiator. What sets them apart is the consistency between commitments, actions and results across all activated themes. They typically have:
- Formalised CSR governance with clearly defined responsibilities
- Quantified targets and regular monitoring of performance indicators
- A CSR approach integrated into business strategy, not treated in silos
- The ability to demonstrate concrete results, not just intentions
Examples of expected practices
To illustrate what sets a Platinum company apart from other levels, here are the types of practices typically expected:
- On Environment: carbon footprint completed and published, reduction targets defined (with trajectory), formalised climate action plan, documented energy policy
- On Labour & Human Rights: health & safety policy with monitoring indicators, documented training programme, diversity policy with concrete measures
- On Ethics: code of conduct deployed, operational whistleblowing mechanism, anti-corruption training for exposed employees
- On Sustainable Procurement: formalised responsible procurement policy, CSR evaluation of suppliers in place, CSR clauses in contracts
EcoVadis Gold medal: top 5%
The Gold medal is awarded to companies that rank in the top 5% of assessed companies.
Expected level of CSR maturity
Gold companies have a solid, documented CSR approach across most of their applicable themes. They have generally moved beyond basic policies and are starting to demonstrate measurable results. The quality of supporting documentation is one of the key differentiators between Silver and Gold.
Ditto supported Sammode in preparing for their first EcoVadis assessment. The result: Gold medal with 74/100 after 3.5 months of structured work with our experts.
Positioning relative to Platinum
The gap between Gold and Platinum is often less about major shortcomings than about depth: policies in place but not yet fully deployed, indicators tracked but not yet consolidated over several years, or themes covered solidly but not yet exemplary. To cross this threshold, it's often the completeness of documentation and the consistency between "policies", "actions" and "results" levels that make the difference.
EcoVadis Silver medal: top 15%
The Silver medal is awarded to companies ranking in the top 15% of assessed companies.
Companies structuring their CSR approach
Silver companies have begun structuring their CSR approach seriously. They have policies in place on the main themes, have taken concrete actions, and are able to provide relevant supporting documentation. This is often the level where companies engaging in structured CSR for the first time land after genuine preparation work.
Charvet Digital Media, supported by Ditto, achieved the Silver medal with a score of 77/100 — a performance all the more notable for demonstrating that serious structuring and a high score can go hand in hand.
EcoVadis Bronze medal: top 35%
The Bronze medal is awarded to companies ranking in the top 35% of assessed companies.
First recognition of CSR efforts
The Bronze medal recognises companies that have begun their CSR journey and are starting to structure it. It is often the first medal obtained by companies discovering EcoVadis that have made the effort to put basic policies and some concrete actions in place.
It represents a solid starting point, not an end goal. There is significant room for improvement — and that's precisely what makes it a driver of motivation to progress.
EcoVadis badges: an alternative to medals
Since 2024, EcoVadis has introduced badges to recognise companies that don't yet meet medal award criteria, but demonstrate commitment or meaningful progression.
EcoVadis Committed badge
The "Committed" badge is awarded to companies that have achieved a minimum score of 45 points, with a performance rated as "adequate" according to EcoVadis methodology. It recognises a CSR approach that is being structured, with policies and actions in place but not yet performing at Bronze level.
EcoVadis Fast Mover badge
The "Fast Mover" badge is awarded to companies with a score between 34 and 44 points, with a progression of at least 6 points compared to the previous assessment over an 18-month period. It rewards improvement momentum, regardless of the absolute level reached.
Why a company may receive a badge rather than a medal
A badge is awarded when a company meets badge score criteria but not medal criteria — either because its score is below the Bronze threshold, or because it doesn't satisfy medal eligibility conditions (minimum score per theme, 360° Watch).
Note: companies that have obtained a medal cannot receive a badge. The two systems are mutually exclusive.
Can a company be assessed by EcoVadis without receiving a medal?
The most common cases
Yes — and it's more common than you might think. Not receiving a medal from an EcoVadis assessment is not a failure — it's often the starting point for targeted improvement. The most frequent situations:
- First-time assessment: the company hasn't yet formalised its policies and actions sufficiently to rank in the top 35%
- Insufficient score on a theme: a single theme below 30 points can block medal attribution, even if all others are excellent
- 360° Watch incident: a recent negative event (sanction, conviction, unfavourable media coverage) can bring the watch score down to a blocking level
- Overall score close to the threshold: the company is just below the 65th percentile required for Bronze
In these cases, the company may still receive a Committed or Fast Mover badge if the corresponding criteria are met.
How to improve and aim for a medal
The EcoVadis assessment provides a detailed scorecard that precisely identifies strengths and areas for improvement by theme. This is the foundation of any serious improvement plan.
The most effective levers for progressing towards a first medal:
- Formalise missing policies: a written, validated and communicated CSR policy is essential to score on each theme
- Build a solid evidence file: documents count as much as the questionnaire — policies, procedures, quantified data, certifications
- Prioritise weak themes first: the 30-point minimum per theme is non-negotiable — a single insufficient theme blocks everything
- Anticipate the 360° Watch: identify any potential negative signals and document corrective actions taken
- Prepare over at least 2 to 3 months before the assessment to have time to implement actions and document them
How to interpret your EcoVadis medal
What the medal actually says about CSR maturity
An EcoVadis medal is far more than a badge to display. It says something specific about a company's CSR maturity: its level of structuring, its ability to demonstrate concrete actions, and its relative position against thousands of companies assessed using the same framework.
What each level actually reflects:
- Bronze: CSR journey underway, basic policies in place, first results to document
- Silver: serious structuring, concrete actions engaged, consistency between policy and practice
- Gold: solid performance across most issues, advanced maturity level, robust documentation
- Platinum: exemplary across all themes, full consistency between policies-actions-results, CSR leadership
The medal is also a benchmarking tool: it allows companies to compare their performance not against an abstract standard, but against thousands of real companies across all sectors and countries.
How companies use their EcoVadis medal
Client relationships and tenders
The EcoVadis medal has become a selection criterion in many tenders, particularly among large companies subject to CSRD that must assess their suppliers on CSR criteria. Having a medal — and especially a Gold or Platinum — is a direct competitive advantage in these contexts.
Some buyers impose a minimum medal level to access their supplier panel. In these cases, the medal is no longer optional: it conditions market access.
CSR communication
The EcoVadis medal is a credible communication tool: it is based on an independent third-party assessment, using a globally recognised methodology. It can be displayed on the company website, integrated into annual reports, used in commercial presentations and institutional communications.
It is one of the rare CSR communication assets that is simultaneously verifiable, comparable and recognised by all stakeholders — clients, investors, partners.
Continuous improvement
The EcoVadis scorecard that accompanies assessment results is a management tool in its own right. It precisely identifies strengths and areas for improvement by theme and sub-theme. Companies that use their medal intelligently don't stop at the result: they use the scorecard to define their action plan for the next CSR assessments.
The objective is not to "do EcoVadis" once — it's to embed a continuous improvement dynamic that shows up in successive scores and medals.
Obtaining an EcoVadis medal should not be an end in itself — it's the visible reflection of a structured CSR approach, managed over time. What matters is not the Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum level in itself, but the policies, actions and concrete results that make it possible. And that gets built.
EcoVadis medal summary table
Levels, award thresholds and eligibility conditions — everything you need to understand the EcoVadis medal system at a glance.
Medal percentiles
Indicative scores vary according to the annual evolution of the comparison framework.
Eligibility conditions
If any one of these conditions is not met, no medal can be awarded, regardless of the overall score.
EcoVadis badge positioning
Badges are exclusive to companies that have not obtained a medal. A company with a medal cannot receive a badge.
EcoVadis Medals – Key Takeaways
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