EcoVadis by company size and industry

How Mid-Sized Companies Can Succeed in Their EcoVadis Assessment

Mid-sized companies face growing ESG requirements from major clients and regulators. This article explains how EcoVadis works, what is expected, and how to prepare efficiently.

Ugo Le Borgne

Head of ESG

EcoVadis assessment for mid-sized companies and ESG performance
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Mid-sized companies play a central role in the value chains of large corporations and are facing increasingly stringent ESG requirements. The EcoVadis assessment has become a key standard for demonstrating sustainability performance, securing strategic partnerships, and preparing for upcoming regulatory obligations such as the CSRD.

Why Mid-Sized Companies Should Care About EcoVadis

Large organisations are increasingly integrating ESG criteria into their supplier selection processes. For mid-sized companies, undergoing an EcoVadis assessment makes it possible to:

  • Meet the expectations of key stakeholders (large corporate clients, public-sector buyers, investors).
  • Structure and formalise an ESG strategy that is often already partially in place.
  • Save time by responding once to a recognised ESG questionnaire instead of multiple client requests.
  • Showcase sustainability performance to customers, partners and employees.
  • Bonus: anticipate non-financial reporting requirements (CSRD, EU Taxonomy, duty of care).
Good to know: Mid-sized companies are the fastest-growing segment on EcoVadis. Each year, more of them are assessed—most often at the direct request of large corporate clients.

What EcoVadis Expects from Mid-Sized Companies

As with most company sizes (except very small organisations), EcoVadis assesses companies across four main pillars:

Pillar Objective Examples of Topics Assessed
Environment Reduce environmental impact and manage resources Energy, waste, GHG emissions, pollution
Labor & Human Rights Protect employees and stakeholders Health & safety, training, diversity, forced labour
Ethics Ensure responsible business practices Anti-corruption, fair competition, data protection
Sustainable Procurement Engage suppliers in ESG practices Supplier code of conduct, assessments, ESG questionnaires

For each pillar, EcoVadis evaluates three dimensions:

  1. Policies and commitments (action plans, charters, quantified objectives).
  2. Concrete actions (training programmes, procedures, certifications).
  3. Measured results (KPIs, reporting, audits).

How a Mid-Sized Company Can Prepare Effectively

1. Centralise Existing Documentation

Start by gathering all available evidence: policies, certifications and indicators.

Examples: environmental policy, code of ethics, energy reporting, training plan, ISO 14001 certificate.

2. Identify Weak Spots

Conduct an ESG maturity assessment to pinpoint areas that need strengthening, such as waste management, workplace safety or responsible purchasing.

3. Structure Policies and Action Plans

Documents must be formalised, dated, approved by management and communicated across the organisation.

4. Measure Performance

KPIs are essential to demonstrate results: energy consumption, training rates, CO₂ emissions, accident frequency rates, etc.

5. Update and Build on Results Over Time

After the initial assessment, companies should follow EcoVadis recommendations and improve their supporting evidence ahead of the next reassessment.

Good to know: Policies and action plans remain valid for 8 years, while reporting data is only valid for 2 years. Keeping data up to date is essential.

Tangible Benefits for Mid-Sized Companies

  • Easier access to tenders and contracts thanks to an internationally recognised assessment.
  • Reduced commercial risk through proven compliance with client requirements.
  • Better internal structuring of ESG initiatives.
  • Stronger employer branding and improved employee retention.
  • Regulatory readiness, particularly for CSRD and European ESG standards (ESRS).

How Ditto Helps Mid-Sized Companies Perform on EcoVadis

Ditto helps mid-sized companies succeed in their EcoVadis assessment through a comprehensive approach that combines maturity analysis, tailored action plans, human expertise and long-term ESG steering tools:

  • EcoVadis maturity assessment to objectively assess current performance and identify priority gaps.
  • Prioritisation of high-impact actions based on score, sector and client expectations.
  • Structuring of policies and evidence using templates aligned with EcoVadis standards.
  • Dedicated human support to secure decisions and accelerate ESG maturity.
  • Progress tracking and reporting to prepare confidently for reassessments.

EcoVadis for Mid-Sized Companies – Key Takeaways

Key Elements Description
Objective Help mid-sized companies structure and showcase their ESG performance through EcoVadis
Main challenges Regulatory compliance, competitiveness, attractiveness, risk reduction
Assessment pillars Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, Sustainable Procurement
Key documents ESG policies, codes of conduct, carbon reporting, ISO certifications
Validity period 8 years (policies/actions) – 2 years (reporting)
Benefits Market access, compliance, time savings, ESG credibility

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