EcoVadis has become an important player in sustainability assessments in today’s packaging industry. Increasingly, customers are demanding proof of sustainability performance from their suppliers. EcoVadis has emerged as a real factor in the value chain. It is therefore important for companies today to develop a thorough understanding of the EcoVadis rating and validation process. We look at your experience with the latest methodological changes that EcoVadis has implemented from 2024/2025. And we show you the way to a good rating.
Why is EcoVadis important?
EcoVadis is a globally recognised platform that conducts sustainability assessments for companies by analysing their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. An EcoVadis rating can have a significant impact on your supplier relationship with corporate customers, as evidence of sustainability performance in the value chain is increasingly required.
Your business customers may request the results of your EcoVadis rating,
- to qualify you as a new supplier in the context of a tender procedure (RFP/RFQ),
- to measure business risks in connection with their value chain or
- to assess its own sustainability performance as part of an annual review.
New rating guidelines
A thorough understanding of the process, the basis of the EcoVadis rating and certification, is crucial to optimising your sustainability performance. EcoVadis has implemented methodological changes to this process for 2024 / 2025.
- From the beginning of 2024, EcoVadis medals have only been awarded to companies that are in the top 35 per cent of all companies assessed by EcoVadis.
- The medals were awarded solely on the basis of the percentage, which is calculated by comparing your business with all companies analysed in EcoVadis at that time.
- The dynamic thresholds for July 2024 were 84% (platinum), 73% (gold), 66% (silver) and 58% (bronze). These percentages indicate the extent to which a company’s sustainability performance has been achieved compared to the maximum possible value and thus enable categorisation.
- As of 1 January 2025, the score values for each area will no longer be displayed as rounded figures, but as unrounded figures in the scorecard. Paying close attention to the decimal places can have a corresponding influence on the company’s overall score.
Our track record
After a year with the new award criteria, we can draw a very positive conclusion for our work and thus for our customers. BP Consultants has always managed to at least maintain the medal achieved in 2023, often improve it and once even leading to gold. The bottom line is that the fundamental improvement we have been able to achieve for our clients has always been at least 10 per cent.
The path to a good EcoVadis rating
There are fundamental and specific developments that influence the EcoVadis rating today. We summarise the most important ones for you.
Fundamental
EcoVadis is increasingly focussing on consistency. This means:
- Does the policy cover all relevant topics?
- Are there quantifiable targets?
- Is a risk or materiality analysis carried out to determine these objectives and measures?
- Do these policies and objectives appear in training materials?
- Are there procedural instructions, communication materials and the others that provide evidence of implementation?
- Does the company report transparently and publicly on its own targets and the extent to which they have been achieved in accordance with a recognised reporting standard?
Specific
- Third-party certification is becoming increasingly important. This applies in particular to the environment (ISO 14001) and labour and human rights (ISO 45001).
- In the area of climate, a complete GHG inventory including Scope 3 has become a must.
- SBTi goals and a transformation plan are helpful if you want to achieve silver.
- The issue of securing a living wage is becoming increasingly important. It is particularly relevant for companies with global activities.
Even though the scope of regulatory requirements around “sustainable supply chain” is currently being debated anew, it is a crucial topic for EcoVadis. So, work actively with your suppliers to promote sustainable practices along the entire value chain.
And now?
Make a virtue of necessity. EcoVadis will continue to accompany our industry in 2025 and beyond. We are happy to help you improve your results and thus maintain your rating in the face of increasing requirements or improve it wherever possible. The fact is that your company can only progress with continuous improvement at EcoVadis.
What do we offer you specifically?
- Our team analyses your EcoVadis responses and looks for discrepancies and areas for improvement.
- Based on the gap analysis, we provide you with a prioritised list of improvement opportunities and specific, implementable recommendations.
- We help you prepare the right documentation and make sure it is ready for assessment. We also assist you in completing the EcoVadis questionnaires so that your submission accurately reflects your sustainability efforts and compliance.
Get in touch with us!
