Get Started
Frameworks
EcoVadis

Achieve top sustainability ratings

ISO 14001

Build a robust environmental management system

CDP

Lead in environmental transparency

CSRD / VSME

Simplify EU sustainability reporting

Other frameworks

Showcase your performance across all frameworks

Solutions
Management system

Centralize and streamline your CSR efforts

Compliance questionnaires

Respond to compliance requests in a flash

AI solutions

Your AI-powered CSR co-pilot

Supplier engagement

Engage your supply chain in sustainability

Customers
Resources
Webinars

Watch our past CSR & compliance webinars

EcoVadis

Access resources to succeed in your EcoVadis assessment

CDP

Master your CDP assessment with our dedicated resources.

VSME

Structure your ESG reporting with the VSME standard.

See all resources
Blog

Explore the latest CSR & compliance trends

Guides

Access our guides and tools to structure your compliance

News

Keep up to date with the latest Ditto news

Blog

Ditto becomes a CDP Accredited Solutions Provider

Ditto is now officially accredited as a Silver Software Solutions Provider by CDP. What this recognition means in practice for preparing and submitting your CDP 2026 questionnaire.

Blog

CSR: A Clear Definition and Scope

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) structures an organisation's contribution to sustainable and ethical development. Its scope, built on precise principles, connects strategic management, measurable performance and regulatory compliance.

About
Manifesto
Careers

English

Français

Log in
Get Started
Home
Resources
EcoVadis
How Does EcoVadis Work?

Introduction to EcoVadis

How Does EcoVadis Work?

Discover how EcoVadis works: assessment steps, criteria, scoring and best practices to succeed in your CSR evaluation and boost your sustainability performance.

Ugo Le Borgne

Head of ESG

EcoVadis is a global platform that evaluates corporate sustainability performance.

It measures the quality of a company’s sustainability management system through a standardized questionnaire and documented evidence.

The goal is simple: deliver a score that’s reliable, comparable, and globally recognized — used by more than 130,000 companies across 180 countries.

A methodology built on four pillars

EcoVadis assesses companies across four universal sustainability themes:

  1. Environment
  2. Labor & Human Rights
  3. Ethics
  4. Sustainable Procurement

Each theme is broken down into 21 criteria, aligned with major international standards such as ISO 26000, GRI, and the UN Global Compact.

The weighting of each criterion depends on the company’s industry, size, and geographic location.

Good to know: EcoVadis evaluates the quality of your CSR management system — not your direct impacts.

How the assessment process works

The EcoVadis assessment follows four main steps, from onboarding to scoring.

1. Registration & company profile

You create an account on the EcoVadis platform or respond to an invitation from one of your clients.

You complete your company profile: industry, workforce size, locations, legal structure…

These details allow EcoVadis to tailor the questionnaire to your context.

2. CSR questionnaire & document submission

You complete an online questionnaire. Its content varies depending on your profile.

Every answer must be supported by valid documentation (policies, action plans, KPIs, certifications, etc.).

A maximum of 55 documents can be uploaded per assessment.

Tip: Make sure your documents are dated, relevant, and cover your full operational scope (sites, subsidiaries, activities).

3. Review by EcoVadis analysts

Specialized analysts evaluate your policies, actions, and results based on seven management indicators:

  • Policies (POLI)
  • Endorsements (ENDO)
  • Actions (MESU)
  • Certifications (CERT)
  • Coverage (COVE)
  • Reporting (REPO)
  • 360° Watch (external checks)

The 360° Watch system automatically scans public sources for positive or negative information about your company (awards, incidents, sanctions…).

4. Score & medal award

Once the review is complete, EcoVadis assigns a score out of 100, along with a detailed scorecard.

Depending on your overall performance, you may receive a medal:

Médaille Niveau de performance Position
🥉 Bronze Foundation level Top 35%
🥈 Silver Solid performance Top 15%
🥇 Gold Strong CSR maturity Top 5%
💎 Platinum Outstanding CSR performance Top 1%
Good to know: Medals are valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually.

Who is EcoVadis for?

EcoVadis is used by all types of organizations:

  • SMBs and mid-sized companies looking to structure their CSR practices
  • Large corporations wishing to assess subsidiaries or partners
  • Suppliers responding to customer sustainability requirements
  • Buyers and investors integrating sustainability into procurement or risk evaluation

Many companies now require an EcoVadis score to select or retain their suppliers.

The benefits of an EcoVadis assessment

EcoVadis isn’t just a scoring system — it’s a continuous improvement tool that helps companies:

  • Identify strengths and improvement areas
  • Structure a credible and long-term CSR action plan
  • Increase transparency and trust with customers and investors
  • Access sector benchmarks to compare performance
  • Boost commercial visibility thanks to global recognition

EcoVadis in a nutshell — What to remember

Step Description
1. Registration Create your profile & receive a tailored questionnaire
2. Assessment Complete the CSR questionnaire + submit evidence
3. Review Analysts evaluate your policies, actions, results & 360° Watch
4. Results Score out of 100 + medal
5. Process duration 6–8 weeks on average
6. Validity 12 months, annual renewal required
7. Final objective Measure, structure, and elevate your CSR performance

Table of contents

A methodology built on four pillars
How the assessment process works
1. Registration & company profile
2. CSR questionnaire & document submission
3. Review by EcoVadis analysts
4. Score & medal award
Who is EcoVadis for?
The benefits of an EcoVadis assessment
EcoVadis in a nutshell — What to remember
EcoVadis

From carbon footprint to EcoVadis medal: the step-by-step guide

A step-by-step guide showing how to use your carbon data to meet the requirements of the main CSR frameworks — illustrated with the real journey of an industrial SME that went from 63 to 82/100 on EcoVadis in five months.

Download guide

Practical AI & CSR insights—tools, studies, and templates, in your inbox

Articles

Explore EcoVadis articles

Introduction to EcoVadis

What is the EcoVadis assessment?

How Does EcoVadis Work?

What Are the Benefits of an EcoVadis Assessment?

What Are the Main Criteria Assessed by EcoVadis?

What Does an EcoVadis Invitation Mean for a Supplier?

What Is the Cost of an EcoVadis Assessment?

What do companies think about EcoVadis?

Preparing for a EcoVadis audit

EcoVadis: group- or entity-level assessment?

What Is the Link Between Due Diligence and EcoVadis?

What Is EcoVadis 360 Watch?

How Long Does EcoVadis Assessment Preparation Take?

What Documents Are Required for the EcoVadis Questionnaire?

Why seek assistance with your EcoVadis assessment?

The 5-step guide to a successful EcoVadis preparation

Succeeding with EcoVadis

How Can Companies Improve Their EcoVadis Score?

EcoVadis Guide - 3 weeks to succeed in your CSR assessment

The guide for a coherent and effective environmental policy

What EcoVadis Assessors Check in Your Documents (and How to Miss Nothing)

EcoVadis submission checklist

The guide to writing your ethical charter

From carbon footprint to EcoVadis medal: the step-by-step guide

The guide to writing a sustainable procurement policy

The guide to writing an HR policy

17 essential documents to formalise your CSR approach

EcoVadis performance & results

What Does the EcoVadis Logo Mean?

EcoVadis Score: Understanding CSR Ratings and How to Improve Your Score

EcoVadis Medal: levels, criteria and how it works (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze)

Everything you need to know about the EcoVadis Platinum medal

Everything you need to know about the EcoVadis Gold medal

Everything you need to know about the EcoVadis Silver medal

Everything you need to know about the EcoVadis Bronze medal

How to Share Your EcoVadis Results with a Client

The Complete Action Plan to Succeed in Your CSR Assessments

EcoVadis compared to other frameworks

EcoVadis vs CSRD

EcoVadis vs CDP

EcoVadis vs ISO 14001

EcoVadis vs ISO 26000

EcoVadis vs GRI

EcoVadis vs B Corp

EcoVadis by company size and industry

SMEs: How to succeed with your EcoVadis assessment and build credibility

How Mid-Sized Companies Can Succeed in Their EcoVadis Assessment

Transport & Logistics: How to Succeed in Your EcoVadis Assessment

Cosmetics & Beauty: How to Succeed in Your EcoVadis Assessment

Distribution: How to Succeed in Your EcoVadis Assessment

Healthcare & Pharma: How to Succeed in Your EcoVadis Assessment

Construction & Infrastructure: How to Succeed in Your EcoVadis Assessment

Industry & Manufacturing: How to Succeed in Your EcoVadis Assessment

Additional EcoVadis resources

EcoVadis 2025: What CSR managers need to know

Where to Find the List of EcoVadis Certified Companies

EcoVadis in 2024: What you need to know

How Often Does an EcoVadis Assessment Need to Be Renewed?

How Long Is an EcoVadis Score Valid?

How to Know If a Company Is EcoVadis Certified?

The guide to successful environmental reporting

Ready to get compliant? Ditto.

Turn your CSR program into a strategic advantage with a compliance copilot that's with you every step of the way.

Get Started

Practical CSR insights—tools, studies, and templates, in your inbox

Your CSR and compliance copilot

4.6/5on Trustpilot
English
Français

© 2026 Ditto.

TermsPrivacyLegal notices

Frameworks

EcoVadisCDPCSRDISO 14001

Solutions

Management systemCompliance questionnairesAI solutionsSupplier engagement

Customers

SMELarge CompaniesAll Case Studies

Resources

AllBlogNewsGuidesEvents

About

ManifestoCareers

Blog

Ditto becomes a CDP Accredited Solutions ProviderCSR: A Clear Definition and ScopeWhat is CSR performance?What is Corporate Social Responsibility?

News

CSR News – February 13, 2026: Climate, Biodiversity and EnergyCSR News – February 6, 2026: PFAS, Green Deal and ESGCSR News – January 30, 2026: Climate Policy, Energy and GovernanceCSR News – January 9, 2026: Climate Policy, AI and Regulation