In the last few years, EcoVadis has evolved from being a “nice-to-have sustainability platform” into a serious business requirement for companies operating in global supply chains.
Today, customers, multinational buyers, procurement teams, and investors increasingly expect suppliers to demonstrate ESG maturity through recognized platforms like EcoVadis.
Yet, despite investing time, effort, and resources, many companies continue to remain stuck in the 30–45 EcoVadis score range.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.
Across manufacturing, chemicals, metals, engineering, pharma, IT services, logistics, and industrial sectors, we often see organizations struggling to move beyond basic compliance levels into Badge or Medal territory.
So why does this happen?
More importantly — what actually helps improve an EcoVadis score?
Let’s break it down.
The Biggest Misconception About EcoVadis
One of the most common misconceptions is:
“We already have ISO certifications and policies, so our EcoVadis score should naturally improve.”
Unfortunately, that is rarely enough.
Many companies have:
- ISO 9001
- ISO 14001
- ISO 45001
- HR policies
- Code of Conduct documents
…but still receive scores below 45.
Why?
Because EcoVadis does not only evaluate whether policies exist.
It evaluates:
- implementation,
- measurable actions,
- performance indicators,
- supplier engagement,
- sustainability disclosures,
- governance maturity,
- and evidence quality.
This is where most organizations fall behind.
Why Companies Commonly Get Stuck Below 45 in EcoVadis
- Policies Exist — But Evidence Is Weak
This is probably the single biggest issue.
A company may upload:
- Environmental Policy
- Anti-Bribery Policy
- Human Rights Policy
- Supplier Code of Conduct
…but there is little supporting evidence showing:
- implementation,
- monitoring,
- training,
- reviews,
- targets,
- or results.
EcoVadis places significant weight on implementation maturity.
For example:
- A Health & Safety Policy alone is weak.
- Safety KPIs, training records, incident tracking, toolbox talks, audits, and improvement plans carry much higher value.
Similarly:
- A Climate Policy alone is insufficient.
- GHG emission inventory, reduction targets, energy tracking, and sustainability disclosures strengthen scoring considerably.
- No ESG or Sustainability Reporting
Many companies underestimate the importance of sustainability disclosure.
This is now one of the strongest differentiators between:
- companies scoring 35–45,
and - companies achieving 55+, Badges, or Medals.
Organizations often have internal systems but fail to publicly communicate them.
EcoVadis increasingly rewards:
- transparency,
- KPI disclosure,
- ESG reporting,
- public commitments,
- governance structures,
- and measurable performance communication.
A structured ESG or Sustainability Report can significantly improve evidence maturity because it consolidates:
- environmental metrics,
- labor practices,
- ethics programs,
- supplier due diligence,
- governance systems,
- and sustainability targets.
This is particularly important because EcoVadis has upload limitations — meaning evidence optimization becomes critical.
- Supplier Due Diligence Is Missing
This is another major scoring gap.
Many organizations focus internally but ignore supply chain sustainability.
However, EcoVadis now strongly emphasizes:
- responsible sourcing,
- supplier ESG evaluation,
- supplier code of conduct,
- due diligence processes,
- and sustainable procurement practices.
Companies without:
- supplier assessments,
- ESG supplier questionnaires,
- supplier risk categorization,
- or OECD-aligned due diligence mechanisms
often struggle to move beyond mid-level scores.
This is especially relevant for sectors like:
- metals,
- mining,
- chemicals,
- engineering,
- automotive,
- electronics,
- packaging,
- and infrastructure.
- Lack of Measurable KPIs and Targets
Many organizations upload generic statements but fail to demonstrate measurable ESG performance.
For example:
- no energy reduction targets,
- no water consumption trends,
- no waste recycling data,
- no employee training metrics,
- no gender diversity indicators,
- no ethics training records.
EcoVadis prefers evidence-based maturity.
Companies that demonstrate:
- year-on-year improvements,
- management reviews,
- quantified targets,
- corrective actions,
- and tracking mechanisms
typically perform much better.
- Over-Reliance on ISO Certifications
ISO certifications absolutely help.
But certifications alone do not guarantee a strong EcoVadis score.
This is where many companies become frustrated.
ISO systems demonstrate management system maturity.
EcoVadis, however, evaluates broader ESG integration including:
- external communication,
- disclosure maturity,
- stakeholder engagement,
- ethical governance,
- supply chain sustainability,
- and performance outcomes.
For example:
A company with ISO 14001 but no:
- GHG accounting,
- sustainability reporting,
- ESG disclosures,
- energy tracking,
- or climate targets
may still remain below 45.
- Poor Evidence Strategy During Submission
This is surprisingly common.
Many companies upload:
- repetitive documents,
- incomplete records,
- outdated policies,
- unsigned procedures,
- or weak evidence combinations.
Some upload 40–50 files without strategic alignment to EcoVadis themes.
The result:
- scoring dilution,
- weak evidence mapping,
- and missed opportunities.
A strong EcoVadis submission is not about quantity alone.
It is about:
- relevance,
- maturity,
- structure,
- and evidence optimization.
What Actually Helps Improve EcoVadis Scores?
Based on industry experience, companies moving toward Badge or Medal levels typically invest in:
Environmental Maturity
- GHG inventory (Scope 1 & 2)
- Energy and water tracking
- Waste management systems
- Climate commitments
- ISO 50001 integration
Labor & Human Rights
- Diversity & Inclusion programs
- Training systems
- Worker engagement
- Grievance mechanisms
- Health & Safety KPIs
Ethics & Governance
- Anti-corruption controls
- Whistleblower systems
- Data privacy governance
- Conflict-of-interest declarations
Sustainable Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Supplier ESG questionnaires
- Responsible sourcing policies
- Due diligence frameworks
Sustainability Disclosure
- ESG reports
- Sustainability reports
- Website disclosures
- KPI transparency
EcoVadis Is No Longer Just Compliance
The reality is:
EcoVadis is increasingly becoming a reflection of an organization’s overall ESG maturity.
Companies that treat it as:
- “just another questionnaire”
or - “a documentation exercise”
often remain stuck.
Organizations that approach it strategically — with system upgrades, measurable implementation, ESG reporting, and supply chain engagement — usually see far stronger outcomes over time.
Final Thoughts
Improving an EcoVadis score from below 45 to Badge or Medal level is absolutely achievable — but it typically requires more than policies and certifications alone.
It requires:
- structured ESG systems,
- measurable implementation,
- maturity in disclosures,
- stronger evidence alignment,
- and strategic sustainability communication.
Over the years, Prisstine Systems has supported companies across India, the Middle East, and South East Asia in strengthening their ESG systems, improving EcoVadis readiness, developing sustainability disclosures, implementing supplier due diligence frameworks, and building evidence-backed ESG maturity programs aligned with global expectations.