EcoVadis: Why the Bar Keeps Rising (and How to Stay Ahead)

EcoVadis Sustainability Ratings: Why the Bar Keeps Rising (and How to Stay Ahead)

In today’s business environment, a company’s sustainability performance can be as important as its financial performance. EcoVadis – a globally recognised sustainability rating platform – has become a de facto standard for measuring and benchmarking corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. With over 150,000 businesses assessed across 185+ countries and supply chains worldwide, EcoVadis provides a scorecard that companies often share with customers, investors, and partners to demonstrate their commitment to responsible business.

One thing many businesses have noticed over the years: maintaining the same EcoVadis medal rating (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) becomes harder each year. Even as your company improves its sustainability efforts, EcoVadis’ rating percentiles are updated annually, effectively raising the bar for top performance. Why does this happen, and how can companies keep up? In this blog, we’ll break down:

• What EcoVadis is and how its sustainability ratings work

• When and why EcoVadis updates its rating benchmarks each year

• What companies should do to maintain or improve their EcoVadis scores over time (with real examples of success)

• Practical tips – including how transformacy can help your business boost its sustainability performance and EcoVadis results

Understanding EcoVadis: A Sustainability Scorecard for Business

EcoVadis is a platform that assesses companies’ sustainability performance across a broad range of ESG criteria. Think of it as a sustainability scoreboard for businesses. Just as credit ratings evaluate financial health, EcoVadis ratings evaluate how well a company manages its responsibilities towards the environment, its employees and communities, ethical business conduct, and its supply chain.

How EcoVadis Ratings Work: When a company signs up for an EcoVadis assessment, it completes a detailed online questionnaire about its sustainability practices. Importantly, evidence is required – companies must upload documents (policies, reports, certificates, etc.) to support their answers. EcoVadis analysts then review the submission and score the company on four key themes of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):

• Environment: Environmental management (energy use, carbon footprint, waste reduction, resource conservation, etc.).

• Labour & Human Rights: Employee working conditions, labour practices, diversity, health and safety, and respect for human rights across the operation.

• Ethics: Business integrity, including anti-corruption measures, fair business practices, data protection, and transparent governance.

• Sustainable Procurement: How the company manages ESG issues in its supply chain – for example, ensuring suppliers follow environmental and labour standards.

For each theme, companies receive a score on a scale from 0 to 100, indicating the maturity of their policies and practices in that area. EcoVadis places a strong emphasis on management systems and continuous improvement. Specifically, the evaluation looks for evidence in three categories:

• Policies (approximately 25% of the score) – formal commitments, policies, and targets set by the company.

• Actions (around 40%) – concrete measures, initiatives, and certifications that implement those policies.

• Results (about 35%) – measurable outcomes and KPIs, such as emissions data or diversity statistics, and how transparently the company reports its progress.

Each theme score is weighted based on the company’s industry and size to calculate an overall EcoVadis score out of 100 points. A higher score means stronger sustainability management. In addition to the numeric score, the company may earn a medal if it performs better than a certain percentage of all companies in the EcoVadis network:

• Bronze Medal – for companies scoring in approximately the top 35% of all EcoVadis-rated firms.

• Silver Medal – for companies in the top 15%.

• Gold Medal – for companies in the top 5%.

• Platinum Medal – for the top 1% (the elite leaders in sustainability).

These medals are highly regarded in the business community. Many large corporations (especially in Europe and the UK) now use EcoVadis scores to vet suppliers or partners – for instance, requiring key suppliers to have a minimum Silver or Gold rating to qualify for contracts. Achieving a medal can thus open up business opportunities and signal to stakeholders that your company is serious about sustainability.

Validity and Renewal: An EcoVadis rating is valid for 12 months, meaning companies must renew their assessment each year to keep a current score. This annual cycle ensures that sustainability efforts are kept up-to-date. When you receive your EcoVadis scorecard, it not only shows your scores in each area, but also includes feedback on strengths and weaknesses. Companies receive guidance on high-impact areas for improvement – essentially a roadmap of what to work on before the next assessment. This focus on continuous improvement is central to the EcoVadis philosophy.

When and Why EcoVadis Rating Percentiles Change Each Year

Every year, as thousands of companies are newly rated or re-assessed, EcoVadis recalibrates its percentile rankings and thresholds. Typically, annual updates to the rating methodology or medal criteria are rolled out at the beginning of the calendar year (around January). For example, EcoVadis introduced a significant change in January 2024, refining how medal thresholds are determined.

Originally, the medal levels were tied to fixed score ranges that were periodically adjusted – for instance, in earlier years a Bronze medal roughly meant you were in the top 50% of companies and Silver corresponded to the top 25%. However, starting in 2024 EcoVadis shifted to a purely percentile-based medal system and tightened the criteria for the lower medals to make them more exclusive. Under the updated scheme, only the top 35% of companies receive any medal at all (Bronze or above). Silver now represents the top 15%, while Gold and Platinum remain top 5% and top 1% respectively. This change immediately raised the performance bar for many companies; some that would have qualified for Bronze or Silver under the old system found that they needed to improve further to reach those same medals under the new percentile cut-offs.

Why does EcoVadis raise the bar each year? The primary reason is that sustainability performance across the business world is improving year-on-year, and EcoVadis’ ratings are designed to reflect relative performance. As more companies implement robust sustainability programmes and the overall average scores increase, the requirements to be among the top performers also rise. In other words, if your company’s sustainability practices stay the same while your peers improve theirs, your EcoVadis percentile rank will drop. The moving benchmarks ensure that an EcoVadis medal remains a meaningful distinction of leadership in sustainability.

Additionally, methodology updates play a role. EcoVadis periodically introduces enhancements to its assessment criteria to keep pace with emerging best practices and stakeholder expectations. For example, EcoVadis has added new criteria around issues like climate impact (e.g. carbon management) and circular economy practices in recent years. It also increased the stringency of existing criteria (for instance, expecting more companies to set science-based climate targets or conduct comprehensive due diligence on human rights). These changes can affect scoring and rankings. When a methodology update occurs, it is typically applied to all new assessments going forward and may cause a one-time shift in scores or medal distribution for companies renewing their ratings.

The result of these annual changes is a kind of healthy competition: companies are incentivised to continuously improve their sustainability performance not just to increase their score, but to keep up with a rising pack. EcoVadis itself has noted trends like the global average score steadily increasing over time. This reflects a positive story – more companies are taking action on sustainability – but it also means that what was considered “good” performance a few years ago might only be average today.

To illustrate the shifting landscape, here’s a look at EcoVadis medal thresholds before and after the 2024 update:

As shown above, from 2024 onward Silver and Bronze medals became significantly harder to obtain, shrinking the pool of medalists. Only about one-third of rated companies now get any medal, which helps preserve the prestige of being a medalled company. The timing of these adjustments – usually aligned with a new year – means companies often discover new requirements or higher benchmarks when they start their annual re-assessment. Understanding this cycle is important: you need to be aware that last year’s score might not achieve the same result this year unless you’ve made further progress.

Key reasons for year-to-year changes:

• Overall Performance Improvement: As industries adapt to sustainability challenges (like climate change, social responsibility, and ethical sourcing), the average EcoVadis scores improve each year. Thus, percentiles shift upward. For instance, if the average score moves from 45 to 50 over a couple of years, a score of 50 that once put you in the top half might now be merely average, lowering your percentile. EcoVadis adjusts percentile rankings to keep reflecting who the true leaders are.
  
  
• Raising the Bar for Excellence: EcoVadis wants its medals to represent exceptional sustainability management. If too many companies start achieving Gold or Silver, they may tighten the criteria to ensure these remain elite categories. This was a factor behind the 2024 changes, when Bronze and Silver thresholds were raised to reduce “medal inflation” and encourage further improvement.
  
  
• Methodology Changes and Industry Benchmarks: EcoVadis occasionally updates its scoring methodology or introduces new questions to address emerging issues and regulatory changes. For example, if new regulations make certain practices (like climate risk disclosure or supply chain due diligence) more common, EcoVadis might adjust how those are weighted in the score. Industry-specific benchmark data is also refreshed, so if your sector as a whole is doing better in, say, Labour & Human Rights, the benchmark moves and you’ll need to keep pace just to maintain your percentile.

In summary, EcoVadis rating percentiles are not static – they typically update on a yearly basis to mirror the evolving state of corporate sustainability. This dynamic system is meant to push companies toward continuous improvement and prevent complacency. Next, let’s look at how your company can stay ahead of the curve.

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Continuous Improvement: Maintaining and Boosting Your EcoVadis Score

Earning a strong EcoVadis score is not a one-off task – it’s an ongoing journey. To maintain (or improve) your rating in the face of rising benchmarks, your company needs to embrace a mindset of continuous improvement in sustainability. The good news is that this not only helps protect your EcoVadis medal status, but also drives real benefits for your business and stakeholders. Here are key steps and practical tips for improving your EcoVadis performance year after year:

• Understand Your Scorecard and Gaps: Start by doing a thorough review of your latest EcoVadis scorecard. Identify which of the four themes (Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, Sustainable Procurement) are relatively low for you. Within those areas, pinpoint specific criteria where you lost points – e.g., perhaps you lack a formal diversity policy or you haven’t set any carbon reduction targets. EcoVadis provides a list of Improvement Areas in your results; use these as a to-do list. This gap analysis is crucial for focusing your efforts where they’ll count most.

• Strengthen Policies and Governance: One common finding is that companies need more robust documented policies. If your company doesn’t have clear, written policies for key sustainability issues (energy management, anti-corruption, health & safety, etc.), now is the time to create them. Ensure your policies include concrete targets (for example, “reduce CO₂ emissions 30% by 2030” rather than just “we care about climate”) and are endorsed by senior management. A strong policy foundation (with leadership buy-in) sets the tone for action.

• Implement Concrete Actions and Initiatives: EcoVadis rewards companies that go from words to deeds. Translate your policies into real actions:

• • Obtain Relevant Certifications: Achieving globally recognised certifications (like ISO 14001 for environmental management, ISO 45001 for occupational health & safety, or ISO 37001 for anti-bribery) can significantly boost your scores. These certifications signal that your systems meet international standards and have been audited by third parties.

  • Employee Training and Engagement: Conduct regular training on ethics, compliance, safety, and sustainability for your employees. Document these training programmes – they serve as evidence of action. Engage employees in sustainability initiatives (e.g. energy-saving campaigns, volunteer days) to build a culture of responsibility.

  • Set Up Monitoring Systems: Put in place internal processes to monitor key ESG performance indicators – for instance, track your company’s carbon footprint, energy consumption, waste generation, accident rates, or supplier compliance statistics. Use tools or software to help gather data. These processes are actions that demonstrate you’re actively managing sustainability, not just passively measuring it.

  • Supply Chain Engagement: Don’t neglect your supply chain – if you source products or services, communicate your sustainability expectations to suppliers. Develop a Supplier Code of Conduct and incorporate sustainability criteria into supplier evaluations. Some companies conduct supplier audits or assist key suppliers in improving their practices. Because supply chain management is a distinct pillar (Sustainable Procurement), your efforts here have a direct impact on your EcoVadis score.

• Measure Results and Show Progress: Data is king in the EcoVadis assessment. Establish clear metrics for each sustainability area and track your progress annually. For example, measure your greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage, waste recycling rate, employee training hours, or diversity statistics – whatever is relevant to your business and the EcoVadis criteria. Then, importantly, improve those metrics over time and report the improvements. If you reduced electricity consumption by 10% this year, or increased the percentage of women in management by 5 points, make sure you document it in a report or internal memo. Regular sustainability reporting (even a simple annual sustainability update) can serve as evidence of results. This shows EcoVadis that your policies and actions are yielding tangible outcomes.

• Plan Ahead for Higher Goals: Use your EcoVadis feedback to set new targets and plan new initiatives. If you achieved Bronze this year, plan for how you’ll reach Silver next year. This could mean aiming for a certain score increase (remembering that to get from Bronze to Silver, you might need to improve by roughly 8-10 points or more). Develop an internal action plan with responsibilities and timelines for each improvement area – for example, “By Q3, develop a formal Code of Ethics and roll out an employee training on it,” or “By year-end, calculate our full carbon footprint and set a 3-year reduction target.” Breaking the work into specific tasks makes the improvement process manageable over the year.

• Stay Informed on EcoVadis Updates: Keep an eye on EcoVadis announcements or newsletters for any changes in methodology or new requirements each year. If EcoVadis introduces a new criterion (for example, a greater emphasis on climate action or diversity & inclusion), you’ll want to be prepared. Adjust your sustainability strategy to meet not just the current criteria, but the direction in which standards are moving. For instance, in recent years there’s been a clear trend toward expecting companies to address their carbon emissions in detail and manage their Scope 3 (supply chain) impacts. Anticipating such trends can give you a head start on meeting future criteria.

• Consider Expert Support: The EcoVadis process can be complex and time-consuming, especially for companies new to detailed sustainability assessments. This is where specialised guidance can make a big difference. transformacy, for example, is an approved EcoVadis consulting and training partner that helps businesses navigate the entire journey – from initial assessment to long-term improvement. Working with experts like transformacy’s team can accelerate your progress by providing clarity on what evidence is needed, best practices to meet each criterion, and structured support in implementing improvements. Many companies find that partnering with a consultancy for a baseline gap analysis and ongoing coaching not only helps them achieve a higher score on their next EcoVadis assessment, but also saves time by focusing efforts on the most impactful changes. transformacy’s consultants, for instance, offer packages ranging from quick diagnostic reviews (to identify exactly what you need to do to achieve a target medal) to full end-to-end support, including hands-on help in developing policies, action plans, and sustainability reports. Engaging with such external expertise can demystify the process and ensure you’re not leaving easy points on the table.

By following these steps and integrating sustainability into your regular business planning, you’ll be in a strong position to improve your EcoVadis score over time. Remember that because the EcoVadis rating is comparative, your aim should be not only absolute improvement, but improvement faster than the average of your peers. Persistence is key: companies that treat EcoVadis as a continuous improvement cycle often see steady score increases each year, whereas those who sit back may plateau or fall behind the ever-moving average.

Success Stories: Companies That Improved Their EcoVadis Ratings

Many businesses have managed to climb the EcoVadis rating ladder by embracing continuous improvement. Here are a few examples of successful EcoVadis improvement journeys:

• NORD Drivesystems (Manufacturing sector) – From Silver to Gold in One Year. NORD, a global industrial manufacturer, was initially rated Silver. Determined to improve, the company implemented a series of ambitious environmental initiatives and strengthened its sustainability governance. Within a year, NORD improved its EcoVadis score by 10 points, which propelled it to a Gold medal (top ~5%) in its next assessment. The company’s highest gains were in the Environment theme, where it scored an outstanding 85/100, thanks to actions like installing solar panels at multiple sites, recovering waste heat from operations, improving energy efficiency in manufacturing processes, and publishing detailed Scope 1-3 carbon reports. Notably, NORD’s cross-departmental CSR team – supported by top management – drove these initiatives. This case underlines how combining leadership support with concrete action plans across environment, people, and supply chain can yield rapid improvements.

• Siegwerk (Chemicals/Packaging sector) – Consistent Progress to Gold. Siegwerk, a printing inks manufacturer, started with a modest score and a goal to reach Gold within a few years. By systematically addressing each EcoVadis theme, Siegwerk boosted its overall score from the mid-60s (Silver range) to 78/100 (Gold) over about two years. This placed them in the 96th percentile (top 5%) globally. How did they do it? The company launched a comprehensive sustainability strategy (“HorizonNOW”) focusing on all four areas of EcoVadis. They secured ISO 14001 environmental certifications at their production sites, conducted thorough carbon footprint assessments and became active participants in the Carbon Disclosure Project (boosting their Environment score into the 80s). They introduced a new supplier sustainability programme including a Supplier Code of Conduct and joint improvement initiatives (raising their Sustainable Procurement score significantly). Additionally, Siegwerk adopted a global labour and human rights policy, carried out a company-wide living wage analysis, and improved ethics compliance and transparency. These efforts demonstrate that broad-based improvements – not just in one area, but across environmental, social, and ethical practices – are often required to reach the Gold level. Siegwerk’s leadership noted that the Gold medal validated their “consistency and dedication” and energised them to push further, proving that EcoVadis rewards a holistic and persistent approach.

• LEIPA (Paper & Packaging sector) – From Silver to Platinum. LEIPA Group, a paper manufacturing company, provides an inspiring example of how quick progress is possible with focus and commitment. In 2023, LEIPA earned a Silver medal, placing around the 91st percentile of all companies (just inside the top 10%). By the very next year, they leapt into the 99th percentile and achieved Platinum status – the highest EcoVadis distinction. This improvement came from a dedicated drive to strengthen areas that needed work: LEIPA significantly improved their practices in Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement, while maintaining an already high performance in the Environmental category. This illustrates that even if a company has one strong suit (in LEIPA’s case, Environment), it must raise all facets of sustainability to world-class levels to achieve Platinum. The company emphasised that the recognition was an incentive to continue refining their sustainability strategy – underscoring that sustainability is a continuous process, not a one-time goal.

These case studies share a common theme: a clear plan, year-on-year commitment, and often a willingness to seek input from experts or standards (like ISO certifications or consulting partners). Companies that dramatically improved their EcoVadis ratings didn’t do it by accident – they took a strategic approach, involving leadership and employees, investing in better systems and processes, and actively managing their progress.

How Transformacy Can Help Improve Your EcoVadis Performance

Improving an EcoVadis score can be a challenging project, especially for organisations that are new to formal sustainability management. This is where transformacy can become an invaluable partner in your journey. As a leading EcoVadis Approved Consulting and Training Partner, transformacy specialises in guiding companies to success with EcoVadis and broader sustainability goals. Here’s how Transformacy supports businesses throughout the process:

• Initial Strategy and Planning: transformacy helps you understand what the EcoVadis assessment will entail for your specific business. Our consultants can perform a baseline assessment or gap analysis of your current policies, practices, and documentation against EcoVadis criteria. This identifies exactly what you’re already doing well and what needs to be developed or improved before you even begin the formal questionnaire.

• Tailored Guidance During the Assessment: Filling out the EcoVadis questionnaire and compiling the right evidence can be time-consuming. transformacy’s experts provide hands-on guidance, ensuring you interpret each question correctly and select the most relevant documents to upload. We help you articulate your company’s story in the language EcoVadis expects – highlighting your strengths and making sure no key details are overlooked. This support can significantly streamline the submission process, so you can complete it in weeks rather than struggling for months.

• Improvement Roadmap and Implementation Support: Once you receive your scorecard and feedback, transformacy works with you to prioritise the highest-impact improvements. We translate EcoVadis’s recommendations into an actionable roadmap tailored to your business context. This might involve drafting new policies, setting up data tracking systems, preparing employees for new initiatives, or implementing best practices drawn from our experience with other clients. Transformacy offers flexible packages – from a light-touch advisory training programme (for companies that just need some guidance) to comprehensive support where we virtually become an extension of your team, helping drive your sustainability projects to completion.

• Long-Term Partnership: Sustainability and EcoVadis excellence are ongoing endeavours. transformacy doesn’t just help you get a good score once – we aim for long-term, embedded improvements. As your partner, we can assist in measuring and reporting your progress annually, ensuring that you continue to hit new milestones. We also keep you informed of any upcoming changes to EcoVadis methodology or expectations so that you’re always a step ahead. Our goal is to help your business not only achieve a high EcoVadis rating, but also realise the broader benefits of sustainability: from risk reduction and compliance to enhanced brand value and competitive advantage.

In essence, partnering with transformacy means you have an expert coach by your side on your sustainability journey – from the moment you decide to pursue an EcoVadis rating, through the assessment itself, and as you implement improvements year after year. We’ve helped companies secure their first Bronze medals, climb to Silver and Gold, and even reach for Platinum, by providing knowledge, structure, and support every step of the way.

Conclusion: Embracing the Journey of Sustainability Improvement

Achieving a strong EcoVadis rating is a commendable accomplishment, but the true value lies in what you do next. As EcoVadis raises the bar each year to reflect a world of ever-improving sustainable business practices, companies must be proactive and forward-thinking to keep up. Continuous improvement is not just a buzzword – it’s a necessity for any business that wants to remain at the forefront of sustainability performance. This means regularly updating your policies, innovating in your sustainability initiatives, measuring your impact, and fostering a culture that values ethical, responsible practices.

The companies that thrive in the EcoVadis system (and in sustainable business generally) are those that embrace this continuous improvement mindset. They plan, execute, measure, and iterate repeatedly – often with guidance from specialist partners or frameworks – to ensure they’re not only meeting today’s standards but also anticipating tomorrow’s.

For businesses just starting out or looking to step up their sustainability game, remember that you don’t have to go it alone. Expert partners like transformacy are available to help translate EcoVadis requirements into practical actions and to keep your company on track toward higher performance. With the right approach and support, an EcoVadis medal can become more than just a badge – it can be a roadmap for a more resilient, responsible, and successful business.

By understanding how EcoVadis works and why its benchmarks change over time, your company can stay agile and motivated in the face of rising expectations. The reward is not only a better score or shinier medal on your profile – it’s a stronger, more sustainable business that can confidently meet the future demands of customers, investors, and society.

Ready to elevate your sustainability performance? The journey may be challenging, but the benefits are well worth it. EcoVadis provides the map – and with commitment, continuous improvement, and a partnership with transformacy, your business can navigate the path to sustainability leadership.