Leveraging your EcoVadis rating for market advantage 

“EcoVadis ratings provide verified proof of credible sustainability practices, making you stand out in competitive markets.”

Unpacking the why 

Sustainability is increasingly recognised as a key driver of business value and competitive advantage. Research shows 72% of companies experience improved shareholder value through better ESG performance, with nearly 60% confirming a positive correlation between ESG excellence and stronger financial returns over time (1). 

The EcoVadis rating acts as externally verified proof of an organisation’s sustainability management system. Today, 90% of global companies require their suppliers to undergo an EcoVadis assessment, making this rating essential for market participation (2).  

Furthermore, organisations achieving higher medal statuses such as EcoVadis Platinum or Gold enjoy substantive business benefits, including a 30% higher likelihood of winning new contracts compared to their uncertified competitors (3). 

Leveraging Ecovadis raring: Benefits

Market differentiation and brand reputation 

• Communicating verified sustainability credentials enhances credibility of ESG leadership in the market and helps you stand out from competitors.

Meeting customer expectations 

• Many customers demand EcoVadis certification as proof of credible sustainability performance.
• Some contracts require maintaining or achieving a specific EcoVadis medal to stay eligible as a supplier.

Investor recognition 

• Enables access to sustainability-linked loans or discounted financing based on medal level.
• Demonstrates progress against green finance and ESG investment criteria. 

Supply chain engagement 

• You can benchmark and audit suppliers across key ESG themes.
• This helps to work with suppliers to address improvement areas, sharing best practices on ESG. performance and use the EcoVadis platform as a supplier data management tool.

Industry benchmarking and peer comparisons 

• EcoVadis identifies key trends and challenges in the industry to guide strategic focus. 
• EcoVadis provides industry and pillar-level benchmarks, showing how performance compares to that of peers.

Using EcoVadis to drive improvements on sustainability and risk mitigation 

• EcoVadis scorecards highlight a company’s “Improvement Areas”, pinpointing gaps in policies, actions and results.
• Use the Corrective Action Plan tool to prioritise, track, and communicate improvements internally and externally. 
• The EcoVadis methodology provides inspiration and best practices for what constitutes an excellent Sustainable Management System.

Fostering an (ongoing) ESG culture 

• Starting point of a promising sustainability journey 
• The assessment itself promotes cross-departmental collaboration, fostering a shared responsibility for sustainability. 
• Companies can only improve their score by enhancing the quality of their Sustainability Management System. 
• As the scoring methodology evolves, maintaining a medal becomes increasingly challenging — encouraging ongoing progress and long-term sustainability leadership from companies. 

Watch our EcoVadis video series to know more about the advantage.

Case study 

Innovative Beauty Group (IBG), a multinational retail beauty company, used the EcoVadis assessment as a catalyst for embedding sustainability throughout their global operations. Faced with challenges in coordinating sustainability practices and data collection, IBG worked with Nexio Projects to identify gaps against EcoVadis standards, create a structured sustainability framework, and set measurable targets. This led to an EcoVadis Gold rating, boosting competitive positioning, enhancing visibility with clients, and fostering internal collaboration and motivation. 

“Partnering with Nexio Projects did more than prepare us for the EcoVadis assessment. It embedded sustainability into every part of our organisation and value chain.”

– Hans Elzinga, QA/QC Manager at IBG

Practical tips 

According to the learnings from IBG, here is how you can go beyond building a strong EcoVadis submission and leverage your ratings throughout your entire organisation:  

• Start with a thorough gap analysis to prioritise efforts effectively. 

• Invest in data management tools and appoint sustainability champions across departments. 

• Leverage expert partners: Consultants like Nexio Projects bring experience that accelerates timelines and reduces internal burden.

• Use the EcoVadis Scorecard and corrective action plans to identify improvement areas and track progress. 

• Communicate wins and lessons learned transparently to stakeholders. 

• Embed sustainability in daily business processes 

Showcasing your EcoVadis rating for market advantage

Effective communication of EcoVadis certification builds brand trust and credibility. The importance of authentic storytelling that highlights milestones and ongoing improvement rather than overstated claims is now more crucial than ever. Recommended practices include: 

• Equipping sales teams with ESG credential sheets
• Using your rating to enhance procurement in terms of better pricing and replacing compliance audits.
• Showcasing EcoVadis medals and scores prominently on websites, social media, and marketing materials. 
• Tailoring messaging to different internal and external audiences. 
• Incorporating sustainability achievements into ongoing campaigns and sales tools to reinforce market differentiation. 

Quick wins

Live Q&A 

How should organisations communicate if their EcoVadis medal drops? 

Openly acknowledge the evolving nature of EcoVadis scoring methodology, explaining that continuous improvement remains the focus rather than medals alone. Reassure stakeholders by emphasizing sustained commitment and plans for further progress. 

Do companies need to publish sustainability policies publicly for EcoVadis? 

While beneficial, public disclosure depends on a company’s strategy and EcoVadis guidelines. Transparency and robust reporting typically enhance scoring but vary by assessment context. 

Is EcoVadis assessment mandatory for suppliers? 

Increasingly, yes. Many buyers require supplier EcoVadis ratings as a minimum threshold for collaboration, making supplier engagement and clear communication crucial. 

Why work with Nexio Projects? 

Nexio Projects is a certified strategic partner of EcoVadis and a leading global boutique sustainability consultancy, recognised by Verdantix as one of the top 10 worldwide.  

Our dedicated EcoVadis experts support organisations in building strong submissions, integrating sustainability KPIs, engaging suppliers, and translating EcoVadis ratings into real business advantage. 

Download our EcoVadis guide to understand the raring more.

We offer tailored guidance throughout the EcoVadis assessment and certification journey, helping your organisation stand out as a sustainable leader.

Contact Nexio Projects today for a free consultation and accelerate your sustainability success. 

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References

1. EY (2023). Why ESG performance is growing in importance for investors. Available at: https://www.ey.com/en_nl/insights/assurance/why-esg-performance-is-growing-in-importance-for-investors [Accessed 22 Oct. 2025].
2. EcoVadis & Ivalua (2021). 2021 Procurement and Supply Chain Predictions from the Market. Available at: https://resources.ecovadis.com/news-press/2021-procurement-and-supply-chain-predictions-from-the-market-ecovadis-and-ivalua [Accessed 22 Oct. 2025].
3. EcoVadis (2025). Unlocking the ROI of Sustainable Procurement: 9 Metrics Every Business Leader Should Track. Available at: https://ecovadis.com/blog/unlocking-the-roi-of-sustainable-procurement-9-metrics-every-business-leader-should-track/ [Accessed 22 Oct. 2025].