Article
EcoVadis medal threshold trends: prospective analysis with a focus on Belgian packaging and pharma-equipment markets
In brief
EcoVadis rates more than 150,000 companies across 185 countries and 250 sectors; in Belgium — an open economy embedded in European value chains — the rating has become a passport to international tenders and sustainable finance. Since 1 January 2024, medals no longer depend on fixed point thresholds but exclusively on percentile over the trailing 12 months. The "Rising Bar" consequence: with unchanged practices, your percentile mechanically falls because everyone else improves — and the medal can drop despite a stable score.
What did the 2024 percentile revolution change?
| Recognition | Percentile threshold (since 2024) | Pre-2024 (estimated selectivity) |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum | Top 1% | Unchanged |
| Gold | Top 5% | Unchanged |
| Silver | Top 15% | Previously top 25% |
| Bronze | Top 35% | Previously top 50% |
The global average keeps rising: ~40 points in 2011, 44 in 2016, past 50 in 2022, 53.4 in 2024 (+1.7 points between 2023 and 2024). A company at 53 points, in the top 50%, held Bronze in 2023; in 2024 it is unmedalled or Committed, since Bronze now requires the top third worldwide.
How far have point equivalents inflated?
| Medal | Indicative score (July 2024) | Expected evolution (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum | ~86 | > 85 |
| Gold | ~73 | ~75 |
| Silver | ~66 | ~72 |
| Bronze | ~58 | ~65 |
The indicative Silver threshold moved from about 68 to 72 points between July 2025 and January 2026 — a brutal acceleration. Historically 65 points were often enough for Silver; today they place a company around the 65th percentile, barely Bronze. The point "price" of excellence rises every year, driven by the professionalisation of CSR functions, specialised software and CSRD regulatory pressure. (These point equivalents vary by publication window — see the Rising Bar article for the most recently observed values.)
What are the Committed and Fast Mover badges for?
Committed: overall score of at least 45 points — the threshold of "good" performance: basic policies and concrete actions in place, without the quantifiable results medals require. Fast Mover: score of 34 to 44 points with an improvement of at least 6 points within a maximum of 18 months — strategic for Belgian SMEs at the start of their journey: it showcases a strong upward trajectory. A medal-eligible company cannot receive a badge; badges also serve those who reach 45+ but miss the top 35% or fail an eligibility criterion (a theme score below 30).
How do the P-A-R model and the 360° Watch fit together?
The theme score is a weighted average: Policies 25% (formal commitments, charters, quantified targets), Actions 40% (implementation, training, audits, certifications), Results 35% (KPI reporting, 360° Watch). To cross 70 points, you need multi-year quantitative results proving the actions had real impact.
The 360° Watch is the final arbiter: even at 90 points, a Watch score of 0 on one theme — or 25 on two themes — makes a company ineligible for medals. EcoVadis scans more than 100,000 sources (media, NGOs, government sites) with AI and human experts. Grid: 0 = immediate ineligibility; 25 = ineligibility risk; 50 = neutral; 75-100 = positive.
What challenges does size create for Belgian SMEs?
Four sizes: XS (1-25), S (26-99), M (100-999), L (1000+), counted in FTEs (hours worked / full-time hours). SMEs are penalised by lack of formalisation, not by their practices: for EcoVadis, no document means no practice. The "Coverage" indicator of large groups is simplified for a single-site SME, but the results requirement stays high.
Where does food packaging in Belgium stand?
A heavily scrutinised sector (plastic pollution, resources), above the cross-sector average (48.9 as early as 2020, including 52.5 on Environment). Public benchmarks: SIG (global carton-packaging leader) — 99/100 in 2025, seventh consecutive Platinum; deSter (Hoogstraten, Belgium) — Platinum 2025, −63% GHG vs 2019, 64% of revenue from reusable/compostable products; ANL Packaging (Belgium) — formerly Silver, structured around the circular economy (closed water circuits, photovoltaics). Key sector criteria: eco-design (recycled, bio-based, FSC, lightweighting), end-of-life (100% recyclability, PFAS-free barriers), decarbonisation (energy-intensive extrusion and thermoforming, renewables).
Where does machinery and equipment for pharma stand?
Belgium is a major biopharma hub (Pfizer, GSK, Janssen): equipment makers face strong indirect pressure. Through EcoVadis, the industry launched the Responsible Health Initiative (RHI) — GSK, Teva and Takeda use it to harmonise supplier sustainability standards: a good score is no longer an advantage but a condition for staying on the approved-supplier panel. Benchmarks: Hosokawa Micron (Benelux) — Silver at 68/100 in 2024, top 15% of its industry (a 68 once close to Gold); Aguettant — Silver, above the sector average on all four themes; Omnia Group — "circularity by design" 2024-2025. Assessment specifics: ethics and compliance (anti-corruption, patents), health & safety (assembly shops and on-site installation, ISO 45001), hazardous substances (REACH, RoHS — avoiding any contamination of final pharmaceutical products).
What should you expect in 2025-2026?
Since 1 January 2025, unrounded scores reward fine-grained progress (60 → 62.3). From 2026: GRI alignment becomes stricter (a mere "reference to GRI" is no longer enough — substantial use of the indicators is required), and EcoVadis puts more value on public KPI disclosure (website, annual report) than on internal documents. For SMEs outside CSRD scope, the VSME standard is integrated: Basic module → maximum score 75/100, Comprehensive module → up to 100/100.
What are the three strategic axes?
- Systematic formalisation — every practice turned into a written, signed, dated policy: the fastest, cheapest lever for an SME.
- Investing in Sustainable Procurement — the weakest theme everywhere (averages of 40-45), hence the largest headroom: a supplier code of conduct and assessing your own suppliers can earn the decisive points between Silver and Gold.
- Moving to public reporting — publishing KPIs on your website to secure the Results pillar from 2026.
Key takeaways
- Since 2024, a medal is a percentile, not a score: with unchanged practices, it slips.
- Point equivalents are drifting: Bronze towards ~65, Silver towards ~72 (early-2026 estimates, to cross-check).
- Committed (45+) and Fast Mover (34-44, +6 pts/18 months) recognise the foundation and the momentum.
- The 360° Watch can cancel eligibility regardless of score; VSME caps at 75 (Basic) or opens 100 (Comprehensive).
- Belgian packaging and pharma equipment: historically excellent sectors, so the bar sits even higher — and the RHI makes the score a condition of pharma panel access.