Article
Self-assessment or expert guidance — which is right for your EcoVadis journey?
In brief
Expert insight — François Dequenne: it is far better to focus on a selection of meaningful actions (measures) than to spend your time deciphering the EcoVadis labyrinth and writing documents no one will read anyway.
The assessment evaluates the four themes through policies, actions and results. The real question is not whether you can do it alone, but whether the time spent learning a complex, constantly evolving methodology is your best investment.
What does running EcoVadis in-house involve?
Reasons companies choose the in-house route: cost control (fewer external fees); leveraging existing knowledge (a confident sustainability team); building internal capacity (the assessment as a learning experience); maintaining control (sensitive information stays inside).
The challenges that come with it: understanding the nuances of a complex, evolving methodology; resource constraints (documentation gathering is time-consuming and pulls people from essential tasks); objectivity (internal biases cloud self-assessment); and staying the course as standards keep evolving.
What advice applies if you go it alone?
- Chart your course early: start 3-6 months before the deadline — time for documentation, new initiatives and gap-fixing.
- Assemble a cross-functional team covering every sustainability aspect.
- Set a clear bearing: ensure your policies address at least 67% of the key issues EcoVadis identifies for your industry.
- Log your actions: well-defined initiatives per key issue — concrete actions and outcomes carry significant weight.
- Stay on target: after the scorecard, build an action plan on high- and medium-priority improvement areas.
The 67% threshold, explained
Policy coverage is scored in bands: below 33% of key issues = low score; 33-65% = moderate; 66%+ (67% in practice) = higher score. But coverage alone is not enough: even 100% coverage caps at 50/100 if policies contain no quantitative targets, and below 67% coverage the maximum is 25/100.
| 0 — Insufficient | 25 — Partial | 50 — Good | 75 — Advanced | 100 — Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No formalised policy | Qualitative objectives or quantitative targets; less than 67% of key criteria covered | Objectives/targets; more than 67% covered | Objectives/targets; more than 67% covered; 1 of: governance & responsibilities, review mechanism, specific scope | Qualitative objectives for all key criteria; quantitative targets for at least 50% of them; 2 of: governance, review mechanism, specific scope |
When should you seek expert guidance?
For many organisations, partnering is the more strategic choice: navigating the labyrinth (in-depth methodology knowledge); an unbiased perspective on your practices; best-practice insights from diverse organisations; and a streamlined process that saves time while ensuring a thorough submission.
Choosing the right partner: favour EcoVadis' vetted strategic partners, selected for experience and expertise and trained on the methodology through the EcoVadis Academy. ESGIM, an EcoVadis strategic partner, provides expert guidance on the methodology and questionnaire, objective evaluation of practices, score-improvement strategies, documentation support on the platform, and preparation for third-party assurance audits.
Whichever route you choose, treat the process as an opportunity for growth: leveraged as more than a rating, the assessment drives real sustainability improvements.
Key takeaways
- In-house = cost control and learning, at the price of time, objectivity and methodology risk.
- The 67% policy-coverage threshold governs the Policies score — and quantitative targets decide the ceiling above it.
- Plan 2-4 months minimum, cross-functional team, policies before the platform opens.
- If you buy help, buy vetted expertise: EcoVadis strategic partners are trained on the methodology.
- Better a few meaningful actions than perfect paperwork nobody reads.