Many companies work seriously on their sustainability efforts – and still receive a disappointing EcoVadis score. The reason is usually not a lack of performance, but rather how the submission is structured. Here are the most common mistakes and what you can specifically do about them.
What EcoVadis really evaluates – and why that matters
One important principle upfront: EcoVadis does not evaluate the actual results – such as emission reductions – but rather the quality of the management systems underlying the collection of key figures.Fiveglaciers
The assessment follows the classic Plan-Do-Check-Act principle: EcoVadis reviews policies, actions, and results across four thematic areas – environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Those who understand the assessment logic can steer their score. Those who don't, leave points on the table.
Perhaps the most important shift in perspective: Your submission is evaluated by assessors – today with AI support, but with human judgment at the center. The easier you make it for these assessors to find the right evidence for the right question, the better your result. It sounds simple, but it is systematically underestimated. The submissions with the highest scores are not necessarily those with the best sustainability work – they are the ones where evidence can be matched the fastest.
The most common mistakes at a glance
- Confusing policy and action
Probably the most expensive mistake – and at the same time the easiest to fix. Many companies upload a policy when actions are requested, or vice versa. EcoVadis accepts neither. A policy answers the question: 'What do we want to do?' An action answers: 'What have we concretely done?' These are different levels, and they are evaluated at different points in the scoring. Anyone who confuses the two also signals to the assessor that their own management system is not cleanly structured – and that affects further assessments. - Actions without evidence
It is typical that an action is mentioned, but no document is provided with a description, function, and scope.Eura-ag EcoVadis only accepts what can be proven. Good intentions don't count. - Policies without substance
General declarations of intent without concrete goals lead to low ratings. Qualitative goals such as 'We minimize waste' fall in the middle range. For maximum points, quantitative goals are required.Eura-ag 'We are committed to sustainability' is not evidence. 'We are reducing our Scope 1 emissions by 20% by 2027 compared to the 2023 base year', however, is. - Documents that leave the assessor guessing
Anyone who uploads an 80-page policy without marking the relevant section forces the assessor into detective work – and relevant content is routinely overlooked. The basic rule: clear file names with an unambiguous reference to the question, company logo, version number, current date. The assessor should be able to recognize within seconds what the document proves. - Too few actions per question
EcoVadis expects at least four actions per question – in the area of sustainable procurement, even six or seven.Sustentio Anyone who responds with two or three entries cannot achieve the full score, no matter how good the quality is. - Submitting last year's submission without adjustments
The most common reason for surprising score drops: A submission that looks identical to the previous year's submission signals to the assessor that nothing has moved within the company. And in a system that benchmarks you against continuously improving competitors, standing still means falling behind.
Concretely, this often happens: The score drops by several points even though nothing has been changed in terms of content. 'We didn't change anything, how can the score drop?' – that is exactly the reason. EcoVadis regularly updates its methodology, adjusts thresholds, and the benchmark moves further upward with each assessment cycle. - Started too late
Companies often begin collecting evidence for the first time too late, especially when deadlines for submission are set due to specific customer requirements.Fiveglaciers Those who only start documenting when the invitation arrives have little room for improvement.
The scorecard is not a medal check – it is a strategy document
Most companies open their EcoVadis scorecard once, look at the medal, and put it aside. That is one of the most expensive mistakes of all. The scorecard not only shows where you score points, but very specifically where points were lost and what should be prioritized for the next round.
Those who read the scorecard as a roadmap rather than as a report card make the path from silver to gold – or from gold to platinum – significantly more plannable. The difference is then no longer 'we hope for a better result', but 'we know which three levers we will work on until the next submission'.
What concretely helps
- Think of every submission as an evolution. No copy-paste from the previous year. Even small updates make the difference: an updated policy date, an additional year of KPI data, a newly documented action. That is the signal to the assessor that EcoVadis rewards.
- Use one document for multiple criteria. Sustainability reports or a Code of Conduct can cover several criteria simultaneously.Sustentio This saves effort and increases consistency.
- Involve relevant departments early. ESG is not a one-person show. HR, procurement, the legal department, and management have documents and data you need. Anyone who only coordinates this shortly before submission ends up under pressure.
- Gap analysis before submission. A short check shows where you are leaving points on the table – before the questionnaire is submitted.
- Write for the assessor, not for yourself. Every submission is a communication task. Clear structure, unambiguous labeling, markings in long documents – this often determines several points.
Conclusion
A good EcoVadis score is no coincidence. It is the result of structured preparation, clean documentation, and a clear understanding of how EcoVadis works. Most lost points can be recovered with manageable effort – if you know where to start. And: every submission is an opportunity to become visibly better.
Want to know where your company is losing points in the EcoVadis rating? Glacier analyzes your current situation and shows you concrete levers for improving your score. Book an appointment with our EcoVadis experts.
