Standards & schemes
EcoVadis
In brief
EcoVadis is the dominant supplier-sustainability rating for B2B procurement. Companies submit evidence across 21 criteria in four themes — environment, labour and human rights, ethics, sustainable procurement — and receive a 0–100 score plus medal tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) against percentile thresholds, recalibrated under EcoVadis's quarterly-updated methodology. Ratings are requested by buying organisations and shared through the EcoVadis network; over a hundred thousand companies are rated. Its strength is scale and comparability in supply-chain screening; its known limitation is that scoring is evidence-based — it assesses documented management systems and reported actions rather than auditing actual site conditions. A rating is valid for twelve months and tied to the evidence submitted, and EcoVadis publishes its methodology and medal-percentile thresholds openly. Buyers typically set minimum-score requirements in contracts, which is where the rating acquires commercial force. A rating or validation does not by itself certify every product or substantiate claims beyond the assessed scope.
Conditional relationships
A relationship does not mean that the standard proves or validates every use of a claim.
Recognition & legal context
No reviewed law references are published.
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