EcoVadis for small businesses: what it is and how to prepare
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EcoVadis is a sustainability rating platform that many large companies use to assess their suppliers. If a customer has asked you to "complete EcoVadis", they want you to answer an online questionnaire and upload evidence, which EcoVadis then scores.
It can feel daunting the first time. This guide explains how it works and how to get your evidence ready, so the assessment goes smoothly.
The short version
- EcoVadis scores you from 0 to 100 on four themes: Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement.
- It's based on documents you upload. If you can't show evidence, you usually don't get the points.
- Medals (Bronze to Platinum) go to the best-scoring companies compared with everyone assessed. Most small businesses start without one, and that's fine.
How EcoVadis works
- Your customer sends a request through EcoVadis, or asks you to register.
- You answer a questionnaire. EcoVadis tailors it to your size, sector and country, so a small office-based business gets different questions from a large manufacturer.
- You upload evidence: policies, certificates, reports and records that back up your answers.
- EcoVadis analysts score it and produce a scorecard showing your strengths and areas to improve.
- You share the scorecard with the customer (and anyone else who asks).
The four themes
| Theme | What it covers | Evidence that helps |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | Energy, carbon, waste, water, pollution, and your products' impact | A sustainability or environmental policy, a carbon footprint, waste records, targets |
| Labour & Human Rights | Health and safety, working conditions, pay, training, diversity | Health & safety policy, incident records, employee handbook, training records |
| Ethics | Anti-bribery and corruption, data protection, fair business practices | Anti-bribery policy, data protection policy, whistleblowing procedure |
| Sustainable Procurement | How you check your own suppliers | A supplier code of conduct and how you share it |
EcoVadis gives different weight to each theme depending on your industry, size and country.
How medals work
Medals compare your score with all the companies EcoVadis has assessed over the previous 12 months, across every industry and country. According to EcoVadis's published methodology:
| Medal | Awarded to |
|---|---|
| Platinum | The top 1% of rated companies |
| Gold | The top 5% |
| Silver | The top 15% |
| Bronze | The top 35% |
A very low score in any single theme can stop you getting a medal, even if your overall score is good. EcoVadis also gives badges for commitment and improvement below medal level.
How a small business can prepare
- Write the core policies first. A sustainability policy, health & safety, anti-bribery, data protection and a supplier code of conduct cover a lot of questions. Keep them short, signed and dated.
- Show you've put them into practice. Evidence of action scores better than a policy alone: an incident log, training records, your carbon footprint, waste tonnage reports.
- Get a carbon number. A Scope 1 & 2 estimate from your bills takes under an hour with the free carbon estimator.
- Answer honestly. If something doesn't apply to you, say so. Don't claim things you can't evidence.
- Read your scorecard. It lists your strengths and improvements. Turn them into your action plan for next year.
Granular's free check builds you an action plan covering the same ground as EcoVadis: environment, people, ethics and suppliers.
See exactly what applies to your business
Answer plain-English questions about your business and get the rules that apply, a tailored action plan and a carbon tracker. Free, no account needed.
Take the free check →Frequently asked questions
Is EcoVadis mandatory?
No law requires it. It's a commercial rating that some large customers ask their suppliers to complete, sometimes as part of the contract. Ask your customer whether it's essential or whether they'll accept your own documents.
What is a good EcoVadis score for a small business?
There isn't a single target. Medals go to the top 35% (Bronze) to top 1% (Platinum) of all rated companies. For a first assessment, focus on taking part, providing evidence for each theme, and improving next year.
How long is an EcoVadis scorecard valid?
Scorecards are generally treated as valid for 12 months, and many customers ask suppliers to be reassessed each year.
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Official sources
This guide is educational and not legal advice. Thresholds are simplified and rules change, so always confirm with the official source or an adviser.
Keep reading
- ESG4 min readA customer sent you a sustainability questionnaire. Here's how to answer itWhat large customers are really asking for, the five documents that answer most questions, and what to say if you're not there yet.
- G3 min readHow to write a sustainability policy for a small business (free template)What to include, what to avoid, and a free one-page template you can copy and adapt.
- E3 min readHow to calculate your small business's carbon footprint from your billsTurn a year of energy and fuel bills into a Scope 1 & 2 carbon figure, with a worked example.