EcoVadis behind the scenes: Real-world lessons from a Platinum Consultancy

“Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. The EcoVadis assessment provides a structured framework for that journey, pushing us to continually improve and to truly understand the challenges our clients face.”

At Nexio Projects, our commitment to sustainability extends beyond our consultancy services. Since 2019, we have participated in the annual assessment, achieving the EcoVadis certification for Platinum status since 2021.

This places us among the top 1% of companies assessed globally, a distinction we’re immensely proud of. However, this yearly process is about more than maintaining our rating. It’s about accountability, continuous learning, and refining our approach to guiding clients.

As sustainability consultants supporting organisations worldwide through their EcoVadis assessments, undergoing the process ourselves keeps us grounded in the realities of what success entails. It’s a humbling yet empowering exercise that strengthens our expertise and enhances our ability to empathise with our clients’ challenges.

Why we do it: A commitment to growth and transparency

The EcoVadis assessment is widely recognised as one of the world’s most comprehensive sustainability rating tools. For us, annual participation serves three key purposes:

Continuous improvement: The assessment guides organisations on their sustainability journey and pushes us to stay ahead of emerging standards and refine our practices year after year.
Walking the talk: Experiencing the process firsthand allows us to provide better guidance and tailored solutions to our clients.
Reinforcing accountability: It enables us to measure progress against our sustainability goals and ensure transparency in our operations.

Key lessons learned

Even with our years of experience and Platinum rating, each EcoVadis cycle brings new challenges and opportunities for growth. Over the years, we’ve refined our approach to improve efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration. Here are the key lessons we’ve learned, along with examples of the changes we’ve implemented:

Preparation is key:

Starting early has been a game-changer for us. A couple of years ago, we began preparing a few weeks before the assessment deadline. Now, we start at least four months in advance to review policies, KPIs, and documentation thoroughly. This extended timeline allows us to ensure that everything is updated and aligned with EcoVadis’ requirements.

Additionally, we’ve developed a centralised data repository where all relevant documents are stored year-on-year. This ensures consistency and reduces the time spent searching for past submissions or evidence.

Best Practice Example: We map out a detailed project plan with clear milestones for document preparation, internal reviews, and final submission. This structured approach has significantly streamlined our process.

Collaboration drives success:

The EcoVadis assessment requires input from multiple departments, from HR to procurement to leadership. We now assign specific roles to team members for tasks like data collection, document preparation, and submission reviews. Regular check-ins ensure alignment and accountability throughout the process.

Best Practice Example: We use a project management tool to track progress across departments and set internal deadlines for each task. This ensures that everyone knows their responsibilities and timelines.

Flexibility matters:

Real-world projects rarely go as planned, and overlapping priorities can create unexpected delays. For instance, our sustainability reporting projects often run parallel to the EcoVadis assessment, leading to tight schedules in the past. To mitigate this, we now build buffer time into our timelines to accommodate shifting priorities without compromising quality.

Best Practice Example: We allocate an additional two weeks in our project timeline specifically for addressing last-minute changes or delays in document preparation or approvals.

How this shapes our work with clients

Undergoing the EcoVadis assessment ourselves gives us a unique perspective when working with clients. We understand firsthand the complexities of the process, from understanding activated criteria to ensuring documentation meets EcoVadis standards — and this allows us to offer practical advice grounded in real-world experience. For Nexio Projects, achieving Platinum status is not the end goal, it’s part of an ongoing journey towards sustainability excellence. Each year’s assessment provides an opportunity to reflect on our progress and set new targets.

Looking ahead: Sustainability as an ongoing journey

By sharing our experiences openly, we hope to inspire other organisations to embrace the EcoVadis process as more than just a certification exercise, but as a meaningful step towards positive change.

Whether you’re embarking on your first EcoVadis assessment or striving for Platinum status like us, remember: progress is what matters most—and every step forward counts. We can help you in your EcoVadis journey through our services, as well as our wide content library. Our upcoming webinars include EcoVadis expert insights and data collection tips.

Additionally, read our new EcoVadis guide, where we share the latest updates about your questionnaire and scoring, along with actionable tips.

Ready to take your sustainability journey further by improving your EcoVadis rating? Let’s work together!