#EcoVadis Assessment Process

[4c-consulting]

How EcoVadis Rating Enhances Your Company’s Sustainability and Supply Chain Credibility

In today’s competitive and environmentally conscious world, sustainability is no longer optional — it’s a core business priority. Companies across industries are seeking to measure, report, and improve their sustainability practices. That’s where EcoVadis comes in — a globally recognized platform that assesses environmental, social, and ethical performance across the supply chain.

This blog explores the importance of EcoVadis ratings, how they benefit your business, and how you can leverage expert support to improve your score and reputation.

What is an EcoVadis Rating?

An EcoVadis rating is an independent assessment of your organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) performance. It evaluates your policies, actions, and results across four key pillars:

Environment

Labor & Human Rights

Ethics

Sustainable Procurement

Companies are scored on a scale from 0 to 100 and awarded a medal rating (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) based on their overall performance.

Why EcoVadis Matters to Your Business

More than 100,000 companies across 175 countries use EcoVadis to evaluate sustainability. Here’s why it matters:

✅ 1. Boosts Supplier Credibility

Buyers prefer working with suppliers who have strong sustainability credentials. An EcoVadis rating helps your business stand out as a trusted and responsible partner.

✅ 2. Opens New Business Opportunities

Global companies like Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and Johnson & Johnson require or prefer EcoVadis-rated suppliers. Your rating can help you qualify for high-value contracts.

✅ 3. Enhances Transparency and Accountability

EcoVadis promotes responsible business practices and provides a structured framework for improving them.

✅ 4. Supports ESG & Compliance Goals

As Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards become regulatory priorities, an EcoVadis rating ensures you’re ahead of compliance requirements.

✅ 5. Drives Continuous Improvement

The EcoVadis platform provides detailed feedback and benchmarking, guiding your company to continuously improve its sustainability performance.

How the EcoVadis Assessment Process Works

Here’s a simplified breakdown of the EcoVadis journey:

1. Registration & Questionnaire  You register on the platform and receive a tailored questionnaire based on your business size, location, and industry.

2. Document Submission  You upload supporting evidence like policies, reports, certifications, and audit results.

3. Evaluation  EcoVadis analysts assess your submissions using their methodology aligned with global standards such as ISO 26000, GRI, and UNGC.

4. Scoring & Medal Awarding  You receive a scorecard showing your overall score and medal (if applicable), plus feedback and improvement areas.

5. Improvement & Reassessment  Based on the insights provided, you work on identified gaps and apply for a reassessment to improve your score.

EcoVadis Rating Levels Explained

Reaching higher medal levels means better business credibility and increased visibility in the global supply chain network.

How 4C Helps You Achieve EcoVadis Success

At 4C Consulting, we specialize in guiding organizations like yours through the EcoVadis assessment and improvement process. With experience across 2500+ clients and 15,000+ hours of sustainability and ISO training, we offer:

✅ EcoVadis Readiness Assessment

We evaluate your current CSR practices, identify gaps, and help you prepare comprehensive documentation for the EcoVadis assessment.

✅ Policy & Procedure Development

Our experts assist in drafting and enhancing sustainability policies that align with EcoVadis requirements and global best practices.

✅ Sustainability Training & Awareness

We deliver customized training for your teams to help them understand sustainability goals, reporting methods, and performance indicators.

✅ Documentation Support

From HR policies to supplier code of conduct and environmental data, we guide you in preparing evidence that adds weight to your assessment.

✅ Score Improvement Strategy

If you’ve already received an EcoVadis score and want to improve it, we design a corrective action plan to help you climb from Bronze to Silver or Gold.

✅ Ongoing Compliance Monitoring

We offer continuous support to keep your sustainability documentation up to date for future assessments or client audits.

With 4C’s expert guidance, achieving and improving your EcoVadis rating becomes a smooth and strategic journey.

Final Thoughts

EcoVadis is more than just a sustainability rating — it’s a business enabler. It validates your ESG efforts, builds supplier trust, and opens doors to global opportunities. Whether you are a first-time applicant or aiming for a higher medal, 4C Consulting provides the roadmap and expertise to support you every step of the way.

[tsasocial]

Milliken & company receives 2024 EcoVadis gold rating

Milliken & Company Receives 2024 EcoVadis Gold RatingGlobal diversified manufacturer Milliken & Company today announced that it earned a gold rating on its 2024 EcoVadis assessment. EcoVadis provides trusted business sustainability ratings for more than 130,000 organizations representing more than 220 industries. Milliken’s 2024 EcoVadis score, assessed across its chemical, textile, flooring and healthcare operations, again places the company in the top 5% of organizations rated. This is the third consecutive year that Milliken has earned a gold rating from EcoVadis.

“We are honored to receive a gold rating from EcoVadis once again,” said Halsey Cook, president and CEO at Milliken. “This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainability and the significant strides we have made on our journey. Our dedication to promoting transparency and innovation is what drives us to continually improve and reach new heights in our sustainability efforts.”

Earlier this year, Milliken released its sixth annual sustainability report disclosing performance against its 2025 Sustainability Goals and 2050 science-based net-zero targets. The report details the company’s key impacts across its people, product, planet, and net-zero measures and provides an understanding of Milliken”s governance processes, controls, and procedures to monitor and manage sustainability matters.

“Our sustainability journey is all about making a positive impact on everyone connected to Milliken,” said Kasel Knight, Chief Legal Officer and head of sustainability at Milliken. “Third-party assessments keep us accountable, help us track our progress, and show us where we”re doing well and where we need to improve.”

To learn more about Milliken’s sustainability initiatives and read the company”s most recent corporate sustainability report, visit sustainability.milliken.com.

[techtrends-today]

What is ESG Risk Management?

In recent years, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have become crucial in the decision-making processes of businesses and investors. ESG risk management refers to the strategies and tools used by companies to identify, assess, and manage risks associated with these factors. These risks can range from environmental disasters and climate change impacts to social issues like labor rights and governance concerns such as corporate transparency and ethical leadership.

IT Solutions for Managing ESG and Climate Risks

With the increasing complexity of ESG risks, businesses are turning to advanced IT tools to manage these challenges effectively. These tools help companies not only to comply with regulatory requirements but also to build resilience and sustainability into their operations.

Key IT Tools for ESG Risk Management

Various digital tools, such as Tableau and Power BI, assist in visualizing ESG performance and decision-making. Platforms like MetricStream and Enablon focus on ESG risk management, while Sphera and EcoVadis ensure compliance and transparent reporting of ESG efforts. Advanced tools like CLIMADA and Jupiter Intelligence offer insights into climate risks, helping companies strategize to mitigate potential impacts.

Statistics and Insights

According to a report by the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, sustainable investment now represents 36% of all professionally managed assets globally, amounting to $30.7 trillion. This underscores the growing importance of ESG factors in the financial world. Another study by McKinsey found that strong ESG propositions can lead to higher equity returns, reduced downside risk, and improved long-term sustainability.

For more detailed statistics and insights, you can refer to the World ESG and Climate Summit.

Case Studies

Case Study 1

Company: Unilever 

Challenge: Managing supply chain sustainability.

Solution: Unilever adopted a comprehensive ESG risk management framework, integrating IT tools to monitor and improve supply chain practices. The company uses data analytics and risk management software to ensure compliance with environmental and social standards across its supply chain.

Outcome: Unilever has been recognized as a leader in sustainability, improving its brand reputation and reducing operational risks.

Case Study 2

Company: Microsoft 

Challenge: Addressing climate risks and achieving carbon neutrality.

Solution: Microsoft implemented climate risk modeling tools to assess the impacts of climate change on its operations. The company invested in renewable energy and carbon offset projects to reduce its carbon footprint.

Outcome: Microsoft achieved carbon neutrality in 2012 and continues to lead in corporate sustainability initiatives.

FAQs on ESG Risk Management

Q1. What are ESG risks? 

A. ESG risks refer to potential negative impacts on a company's financial performance due to environmental, social, and governance factors. These can include environmental disasters, social issues like labor rights, and governance concerns such as corporate transparency.

Q2. Why is ESG risk management important? 

A. ESG risk management is crucial for identifying and mitigating potential risks that can harm a company's reputation, financial performance, and long-term sustainability. It also helps companies comply with regulatory requirements and meet stakeholder expectations.

Q3. How can IT tools help in ESG risk management? 

A. IT tools can process large amounts of data to identify trends and risks, provide insights through data visualization, enable comprehensive risk management, and ensure transparent reporting on ESG performance.

Q4. What are some common IT tools used in ESG risk management? 

A. Common IT tools include data analytics platforms like Tableau, risk management software like MetricStream, sustainability reporting tools like Sphera, and climate risk modeling tools like CLIMADA.

Q5. Can ESG practices improve financial performance? 

A. Yes, research shows that strong ESG propositions can lead to higher equity returns, reduced downside risk, and improved long-term sustainability.

Conclusion

ESG risk management is no longer a nice-to-have but a must-have for businesses aiming for long-term success and sustainability. By leveraging advanced IT tools and adopting comprehensive risk management strategies, companies can effectively address ESG risks and capitalize on the opportunities they present.

[blueskyindia]

Ecovadis Certification

What is Ecovadis 

Ecovadis is a Sustainability Assessment Rating agency known as EcoVadis SAS

Ecovadis is evaluating Sustainability Management System of an organization based on Environment Assessment Criteria, Labor Standards Assessment Criteria, Ethics Assessment Criteria & Sustainable Procurement Criteria.

Based on Evaluation of Sustainability Management System, Ecovadis publishes a score card indicating Score in each theme amongst Environment, Labor Standards, Ethics & Sustainable Procurement.

Considering Score obtained, if eligible, Ecovadis also issues a medal like Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum for organization’s sustainability / CSR performance.

What is Ecovadis Certification Process

Understanding Ecovadis Assessment Themes – Environment, Labor Standards, Ethics & Sustainable Procurement

Understanding Ecovadis Assessment Criterias under respective themes

Defining Sustainability Management System to meet Ecovadis Assessment Criteria & Theme requirements.

Establishing Policies, Procedures, Measures, Actions , Evidences

Establishing reporting mechanism for Sustainability Management System Performance

Undergoing through registration on Ecovadis SAS platform

Completing Ecovadis Assessment

Getting Ecovadis assessment results in terms of Ecovadis score card in 4 – 6 weeks of Assessment

Getting Bronze / Silver / Gold / Platinum medal as eligible.

Understanding Ecovadis score card and Improvement areas

Taking necessary corrective actions for improving score during next Ecovadis assessment

What are benefits of Ecovadis Certification

Ecovadis Score Card & Assessment Methodology is Acceptable to Most of Global Buyers

Gives an overview about organization’s commitment towards Sustainability & ESG

Helps buyers in evaluation of Supply Chain Risks

Improves ESG performance of an organization that helps in reducing cost related to Energy, waste management, loss time due to accidents, attrition, legal issues etc.

Improves working conditions and Employee satisfaction

Improves organization’s brand image & credebility

How Blue Sky can help in Ecovadis Certifications

Understanding Ecovadis CSR assessment criteria requirements.

Guiding about Sustainability Management System practices to be implemented and Evidences to be maintained in order to comply with Ecovadis CSR Assessment Criteria.

Identifying key Material issues for Sustainability Report preparations

Identifying monitoring & measuring mechanism for Sustainability indicators

Guiding for preparation of Policies to meet Ecovadis Assessment criterias

Guiding for implementing measures & actions to meet Ecovadis CSR assessment criterias

Registration on Ecovadis portal

Understanding methodology for Ecovadis assessment

Guiding for going through Ecovadis assessment

Understanding Ecovadis Score Card & Improvement area

Please visit more information on 

Ecovadis certification   & Ecovadis Certification Consultants 

[don-lichterman]

New Vision Packaging achieves EcoVadis Bronze rating

New Vision Packaging achieves EcoVadis Bronze rating

New Vision Packaging has been recognized for its commitment to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards with a bronze sustainability rating from EcoVadis. France-based EcoVadis has provided ratings on more than 90,000 companies since it was established in 2007. During the assessment process, EcoVardis considers four key themes, including carbon emissions, human rights and labor…

[questlation]

Sims Lifecycle Services Achieves Gold Status in Annual EcoVadis Sustainability Assessment

Sims Lifecycle Services Achieves Gold Status in Annual EcoVadis Sustainability Assessment

– The comprehensive assessment process rates performance against 21 sustainability criteria and enables clients to easily view and monitor SLS’s ESG scorecard – WEST CHICAGO, Ill., Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Sims Lifecycle Services (SLS), a global leader providing circular solutions for IT hardware, is pleased to have achieved gold level status in its 2022 EcoVadis assessment. The 69/100 score…

[ippnoida]

Xsys achieves EcoVadis 2022 silver medal rating

Xsys Germany has been rated in the top 10% of manufacturing facilities in the paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics industry category, receiving a silver medal rating for its sustainability performance from EcoVadis. 

“This rating reflects the commendable achievements of the Xsys team and all the hard work that goes into our mission to bring brilliance to the printing industry with our flexographic and letterpress plates,” said Dagmar Schmidt, CEO of Xsys. “Furthermore, it goes beyond our commitment to protecting the environment by evaluating our dedication to social responsibility, diversity, and human rights.”

With sustainability increasingly viewed as a core demand from customers and a source of competitive advantage, there is an increasing demand for more scrutiny and transparency around products and practices. Companies are more than ever adopting and integrating corporate social responsibility principles into their procurement processes and decisions to respond to new demands and future-proof their businesses.

“The EcoVadis Silver Medal rating gives our customers a clear picture of where we as a company stand in our sustainability performance compared to our peers in the industry and above all also gives us a clear guidance where there is improvement potential,” explains Friedrich von Rechteren, global commercial vice president at Xsys. “We believe our active engagement with the rating process guides and accelerates Xsys’s sustainability journey. Furthermore, it continues to create a strong platform to drive performance improvement for the benefit of our customers.”

He adds, “However, at Xsys, we never rest on our laurels and will continue to improve across all categories ahead of the next EcoVadis assessment later this year. This endeavor is about being completely transparent in everything we do, and the ultimate goal is, of course, to secure a gold medal.”

Xsys Germany received the award for four themes 

The EcoVadis assessment results from Xsys’s strong commitment to the environment and ethical operation. Data shows that companies that have been assessed by EcoVadis at least three times have grown their sustainability management practices at an above-average rate and shown year-on-year improvement across sustainability themes. 

As part of the process, Xsys Germany was rated across four themes – Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. It received an overall high score of 61 out of 100, which puts the site in the 91st percentile in its industry. The strongest scores (70/100) were given in the ethics category (which looks at elements such as corruption, anti-competitive practices, reliable information, and management) and in the environment category, where operations and products are analyzed in detail.

EcoVadis is the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence, and collaborative performance improvement tools for global supply chains. Rating companies’ sustainability performance across 21 criteria is a collaborative platform that allows companies to focus on performance and find a clear direction of continuous improvement. Its methodology is based on international sustainability standards (Global Reporting Initiative, United Nations Global Compact, ISO 26000) and supervised by a scientific committee of sustainability and supply chain experts to ensure reliable third-party sustainability assessments.

[csrgood]

Schneider Sustainability Impact 2018 - 2020

For the fifth year, Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, announces its financial and non-financial results together for 2019 annual results. Each quarter, Schneider Electric publishes 21 indicators from the Schneider Sustainability Impact, measuring progress towards its ambitious sustainability commitments for 2018 to 2020, in line with its COP 21 commitments and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Following thorough verification by an external independent auditor, Schneider Sustainability Impact reached a 7.77 out of 10 score for Q4 2019, ahead of its 7 out of 10 targets for the end of 2019. 

Gilles Vermot Desroches, Sustainability Senior VP at Schneider Electric, commented: "We are now harvesting the fruits of the commitments we made two years ago. The Schneider Sustainability Impact demonstrates that rapid and disruptive changes for a more sustainable world are possible across diverse and complex topics such as Climate, Circular Economy, Health and Equity, Ethics and Development. I am amazed by the commitment of our teams and partners worldwide to contribute to our common goals and I am confident we are on the right path as these collective efforts have been particularly validated by external experts. This year will be a pivotal one for us as we push ourselves to reach an ambitious target and invite stakeholders to help us define new programs for Schneider Sustainability Impact 2021-2025, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Quarter highlights

Climate:

The ambition to reduce CO2 intensity of transportation by 10% in 2020 compared to 2017 is on the right path, with 4.13% achieved end 2019. The program, renewed for the third time since 2012 with respective performance of 16% and 10.3% efficiency achieved in 2012-2014 and 2015-2017, is becoming ever more challenging. 2019 performance has notably been achieved through a better ocean container loading factor, and more significantly by reductions in Air Freight and Express versus 2017 in the same period. In Q4 2019, a new reporting platform has been launched, requiring Transport Providers to supply accurate reporting each month on the freight carried for Schneider Electric. The collaborative work to reduce CO2 emissions with the Group’s forwarders will continue, mainly by optimization of the transport footprint and piloting advanced low carbon transportation technologies such as electric and hybrid vehicles. In Brazil for instance, a partnership with DHL has been deployed to use electric vehicles to deliver customer 100 km around the Cajamar distribution center. 

Circular economy

End 2019, Schneider Electric confirms that 55.2% of sales were realized under the new Green PremiumTM program. In 2019, the main objectives for the Green Premium™ program were to keep products compliant to regulations, extend the scope to include services and solutions, make available the additional environmental attributes in the online product data sheet, develop customer stories that demonstrate the value that Green Premium™ brings to the Group’s customers and to continue identifying the environmental claims for products. A remarkable addition to the Greem PremiumTM portfolio on circular performance is Schneider Electric’s ECOFIT™ service, which helps customers to implement cost effective and environmentally friendly methodologies to modernize and retrofit their existing electrical equipment with minimal impact to their day-to-day operations. 

Health & Equity

Schneider Electric has made significant progress in systematically identifying and addressing pay gaps. By the end of 2019, 99% of employees worldwide are working in a country with commitment and processes in place to achieve gender pay equity. Over the past two years several countries were covered notably those in the Middle East, Africa and South America. Today, the pay equity adjustment process is fully integrated into the annual global salary review. A range of communications and education materials have been developed with over 1,000 leaders and the HR community being trained to make fair and equitable compensation decisions in hiring, promotion and salary review. 

Ethics

Schneider Electric’s ISO26000 assessments for its strategic suppliers remain one of the key aspects of the Group’s Supply Chain and Procurement led sustainable development strategy. The average score for 1,000+ strategic suppliers in this rating is 54.8/100, up 3.7 points vs 2017, and one of the top performing supply chains measured by the third-party evaluation (Ecovadis). For reference, the average score of companies in Ecovadis database is 43/100, and Schneider’s own score is 80/100. This achievement is due to continued prioritization in the strategic sourcing process and supplier vigilance strategy to continually improve the environmental, labor & human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement aspects of Schneider Electric’s world-class upstream supply chain. 

Read more about Schneider Electric 2018 - 2020 sustainability impacts 

source: https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/43777-Schneider-Sustainability-Impact-2018-2020?tracking_source=rss

[4c-consulting]

What Is Ecovadis and Why Your Business Needs It

Ecovadis is one of the platforms to rate business sustainability and improvement. Today, businesses are judged based on their ethical practices and environmental impacts. Different than most other platforms, Ecovadis provides the opportunity to modern manufacturers, suppliers and exporters to grow and maintain compliance in international market.

🌍 What is Ecovadis? 

Ecovadis is an international platform that assesses a company’s sustainability performance on the four following themes: 

1. Environment 

2. Labor & Human Rights 

3. Ethics 

4. Sustainable Procurement 

It gives out scorecards as well as providing a rating (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) reflecting the company’s CSR policies, practices and outcomes. Over 100,000+ companies worldwide are already part of the Ecovadis network.

📌 How Ecovadis Can Impact Your Business

1. Fostering Trust All Over The World

Ecovadis ratings are now used by international buyers to assess and choose responsible suppliers. Having a strong rating increases the chances of working with the best global clients.

2. Continuous Improvement

Sustainability systems enhance over time and improve due to the detailed scorecard’s identification of strengths and weaknesses.

3. Competitive Advantage

Having responsible rated companies gives buyers an edge by eliminating supply chains of unresponsible companies.

4. Improvement of Brand Reputation

Your business can now be ranked as an ethical and transparent business leader because of having high ecovadis scores.

5. Compliance is Guaranteed

Ecovadis helps companies adhere to rising global legislations concerning ethics, human rights, environmental protection, and sourcing by ensuring proper practices.

 

What Does Ecovadis Evaluate? 

For businesses applying for Ecovadis, the assessment is done according to the following four categories: 

1. Environment

Energy consuming reporting

Waste and water management systems

Reduction of emissions

Policy, reporting and compliance of environment management systems

2. Labor & Human Rights

Employment relations

Occupational health and safety

Workforce equity and non-discrimination

Policies on children and forced labor

3. Ethics

Anti-corruption policies

Data privacy and protection

Business ethics

4. Sustainable Procurement

Conduct of suppliers

Social and environmental audits of suppliers

Procurement risk management

📝 Steps to Achieve an Ecovadis Certification

Step 1: Registration and Profile Completion

Sign up on Ecovadis, and create an organizational profile by providing the requisite details.

Step 2: Upload Relevant Documents

Upload all files related to policies, procedures, audits, training sessions, and supplier management.

Step 3: Evaluation by Ecovadis

Ecovadis evaluates your submissions with experts and scores them based on the evidence provided.

Step 4: Issuance of Scorecard and Rating

You’ll be issued a digital scorecard which highlights your evaluated strengths, areas of improvement, and rating.

Step 5: Maintain and Improve

In the subsequent cycles, strive to receive feedback and implement changes while maintaining document accuracy.

💼 How 4C Consulting Can Help You Attain Ecovadis Success

Achieving global sustainability standards is a challenge most businesses face. We understand these concerns at 4C Consulting and extend end-to-end support on the Ecovadis journey backed by experience with over 2500 clients and 15,000 hours of training provided.

🔍 Supported Services Offered by Ecovadis

⬤ Gap Analysis – We assess your processes and compare them with Ecovadis requirements.

⬤ Documentation Support – We assist in the collection and preparation of policies, SOPs, reports, and supplier information needed.

⬤ Training & Awareness – Train your employees on CSR, ethics, and sustainability.

⬤ Implementation Assistance – Establish processes, controls, and procurement frameworks.

⬤ Scorecard Improvement Strategy – Customized action plans designed for each client's specific needs to increase their Ecovadis rating.

⬤ Audit Support – Conduct mock audits and provide expert feedback to prepare for the Ecovadis assessment.

With a defined strategy, industry insights, and a dedicated team, 4C Consulting guides you towards achieving the Ecovadis certification in the most efficient manner.

📢 Ready To Begin The Ecovadis Journey?

Let sustainability be the cornerstone of your business. Work with 4C Consulting to enhance your Ecovadis rating and surpass client expectations while strengthening your stance as a responsible market leader.