Sustainability and ESG criteria remain important topics for the packaging industry. The pressure no longer comes from regulation alone. Customers, banks and investors also expect reliable information – and are once again increasingly requesting an EcoVadis assessment. We reveal why good measures do not automatically lead to a good rating, what good preparation looks like and which evidence makes the difference.
EcoVadis provides a recognised framework for assessing your own sustainability performance in a structured way and making it visible to business partners. At BP Consultants, we have extensive experience with EcoVadis. We are happy to share our most important insights with you here.
Choosing the right assessment scope
Even before the first assessment, it must be clarified whether the group, a single company or a site is to be assessed. This determines which policies, certificates and KPIs EcoVadis accepts.
- For companies without a scorecard, it is worth clarifying this question early on.
- For existing ratings, the assessment scope should be reviewed again, particularly after acquisitions, divestments or organisational changes.
Reporting is becoming more important
EcoVadis provides a recognised framework for assessing your own sustainability performance in a structured way and making it visible to business partners. At BP Consultants, we have extensive experience with EcoVadis. We are happy to share our most important insights with you here.
For small and medium-sized enterprises, the voluntary VSME standard is becoming relevant. Since 2026, EcoVadis has taken into account reports based on its Basic or Comprehensive Module.
Documentation remains a common weak point
Many companies miss out on the maximum possible score because, although they have valid measures in place, they do not document them properly. This is the case, for example, when the relevant documents are outdated, do not apply to the part of the company being assessed, or the EcoVadis question has not been answered clearly enough.
Especially before the first assessment, it is advisable to review existing documents systematically. Suitable processes and evidence often already exist and only need to be correctly assigned or supplemented. As only a limited number of documents can be submitted per questionnaire, a targeted selection is crucial.
Materiality is becoming more specific
In 2026, EcoVadis is continuing its pilot approach for the individual assessment of selected environmental topics. Companies in certain industries can justify why topics such as water, air emissions or product end-of-life are not material to their activities. The prerequisite is a comprehensible materiality analysis that is consistent with the rest of the company information.
This does not automatically result in a better rating; rather, the aim is to align the assessment more closely with the sustainability topics that are actually relevant.
Medals are becoming more demanding
Current benchmarks show rising requirements: at the beginning of 2026, around 72 points were required for silver and around 78 points for gold. In May 2026, the observed gold threshold was already around 80 points. These values are for guidance only and do not guarantee a medal.
This makes the medal a moving target.
- Companies with a scorecard must continuously develop their sustainability performance.
- Newcomers should see the assessment as an opportunity to review their existing structures and expand them in a targeted manner.
What companies should do now
- Companies preparing for their first assessment should check which processes, policies and KPIs are already in place. Building on this, missing evidence can be added and responsibilities defined.
- With an existing scorecard, it is advisable to correct formal errors first. This should be followed by measures with high impact and manageable effort. Strategic topics such as climate management, sustainability reporting or supply chain processes can be incorporated into a longer-term roadmap, depending on the company’s objective.
Our offer
BP Consultants supports companies in the packaging industry both with their first EcoVadis assessment and with improving or stabilising an existing rating.
- For newcomers, we structure the preparation, review existing evidence and support the assessment.
- For companies with a scorecard, we provide support with a compact gap analysis and a roadmap prioritised by impact and effort.
This way, you know where you stand and which measures are relevant for your EcoVadis rating.
Feel free to get in touch!
