Best practices to accelerate your EcoVadis journey
August 21, 2024
“EcoVadis ratings serve as a strong baseline for those working to incorporate sustainability at the core of their policies, processes and procedures. Armed with a deep understanding of the EcoVadis methodology and improvement tools, Nexio Projects supports clients by embedding sustainability not only into their actions, results and reporting, but also into their DNA.”
The EcoVadis rating has become the global benchmark for sustainability ratings, with more than 130,000 companies worldwide leveraging its platform to demonstrate ESG performance, manage supply chain risks, and unlock new business opportunities. In a landscape where transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement are non-negotiable, a strong EcoVadis score is a powerful differentiator — often determining access to major procurement networks and industry sector initiatives.
Nexio Projects, a certified EcoVadis strategic partner since 2018, is uniquely positioned to help organisations navigate this process, maximise their scores, and embed sustainability into their business DNA (1).
What is the EcoVadis Assessment?
EcoVadis provides a standardised, internationally recognised sustainability assessment covering four pillars:
- Environment
- Labour & Human Rights
- Ethics
- Sustainable Procurement
The assessment process involves registering on the EcoVadis portal, completing a sector-specific questionnaire, and submitting supporting documentation. EcoVadis analysts review the submission and issue a scorecard, benchmarking your sustainability performance against industry peers. Scorecards are valid for 12 months and are easily shareable with customers and stakeholders.
A positive result enhances your reputation, increases stakeholder trust, and can make you a preferred supplier in global value chains.
How to prepare for the EcoVadis assessment?
The 5 key steps to EcoVadis success
1. Understand the four sustainability themes
Familiarise your team with EcoVadis’ four pillars and the international standards underpinning them (GRI, UNGC, ISO 26000).
Watch the introductory episode of our EcoVadis video series to understand the assessment from the basics.
2. Conduct a gap analysis
Assess your current sustainability management system. Nexio Projects provides a detailed EcoVadis Gap Analysis Report, pinpointing strengths, weaknesses, and actionable improvement areas.
3. Build your improvement roadmap
Develop a plan to close gaps — updating policies, implementing new processes, and collecting the right evidence. Nexio Projects’ consultants guide you through every step, ensuring alignment with EcoVadis certification criteria.
4. Submit supporting documentation
Carefully prepare and upload all required evidence—policies, certifications, training records, and performance data. Nexio Projects offers templates, checklists, and hands-on support to streamline this process.
Here, you can check out how to enhance your sustainability management system in line with EcoVadis
5. Monitor progress and drive continuous improvement
After receiving your scorecard, Nexio Projects helps you interpret results, prioritise improvements, and prepare for future assessments—ensuring sustainability becomes a core business driver.
Why work with an EcoVadis strategic partner like Nexio Projects?
What is a strategic partner?
Based on the official description shared by EcoVadis (2), partners are selected based on their experience and expertise on sustainability and corporate social responsibility with emphasis on their understanding of local environmental, ethical business practices, and human rights and labor regulations.
Nexio Projects’ credentials:
- Number 1 EcoVadis consultancy worldwide by total number of clients with more than 600 projects successfully completed
- Certified EcoVadis training partner since 2018
- We also walk the talk: Nexio Projects is EcoVadis Platinum since 2019
- In-house team of certified B Leaders and B Corp Way partner since 2019
- Recognised for impact-driven, transparency-focused sustainability consulting
- One of the ‘Best ESG Consulting Firms’ by Consultancy.nl
- Top 10 boutique sustainability strategy consultancies, recognised by Verdantix.
Benefits of working with a strategic partner:
- Up-to-date knowledge of methodology and scoring
- Proven frameworks for policy, process, and evidence improvement
- Faster, more efficient assessment process
- Higher probability of achieving Gold or Platinum status
“EcoVadis supports Nexio Projects’ belief that everyone has the power to shape a more sustainable future,”
said David McClintock, marketing director of EcoVadis.
“We look forward to expanding our partnership globally and supplying Nexio Projects and their clients with reliable scorecards that can be used to optimise sustainability strategies and outcomes.”
Nexio Projects’ full-service EcoVadis offering
A full execution partner like Nexio Projects supports companies throughout the entire EcoVadis journey — from strategy and documentation to submission and improvement. Unlike software tools, we offer a holistic, expert-led approach tailored to each company’s unique context and long-term sustainability goals.
Check out the full article by EcoVadis (3) to learn more about our partnership.
- EcoVadis gap analysis & strategy development
A comprehensive review of your current sustainability management system, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement.
- Assessment readiness & documentation review
Step-by-step guidance on preparing your submission, including document templates, best practice checklists, and mock assessments.
- Post-assessment action plan & support
Detailed feedback on your scorecard, prioritised action plans, and support for corrective actions and re-assessment.
- Training & internal capacity building
Workshops, e-learning, and tailored training to build sustainability knowledge and empower your teams.
- Supplier engagement & sector initiatives
Support for sector-wide sustainability initiatives and supplier engagement programs, ensuring your value chain is aligned and future-ready.
Read further about our collaboration in this EcoVadis article.
Client success stories: Real EcoVadis impact
Challenge: Orion Engineered Carbons needed to improve sustainability performance and meet customer requirements.
Solution: Nexio Projects delivered a gap analysis, policy updates, and training.
Result: Achieved a Gold EcoVadis medal, opening new business opportunities.
Read the full case study here.
Challenge: Having their first-time assessment. Count Energy Trading had limited internal expertise.
Solution: Nexio Projects provided end-to-end support, from readiness to submission.
Result: They achieved Gold status and significantly boosted internal sustainability confidence.
Read the full case study here.
Challenge: Coca-Cola HBC had to enhance their EcoVadis performance upon customer requests
Solution: Nexio Projects provided sustainability training, and worked on assessment completion and process improvement for the company.
Result: They were awarded a Gold EcoVadis medal, and now has increased transparency across stakeholders.
Read the full case study here.
Sector initiatives & industry partnerships
Nexio Projects is not only a strategic EcoVadis partner but also a leader in sector-wide sustainability initiatives. Sector initiatives permit companies from the same industry, sharing similar ESG challenges and values, commit and drive sustainability and transforming their value chain. (4)
Recent years have seen Nexio Projects support sector initiatives in manufacturing, FMCG, and logistics, helping clients and their suppliers achieve measurable improvements in EcoVadis scores and sustainability KPIs.
Why choose Nexio Projects for your EcoVadis journey?
- Proven track record: Hundreds of clients supported, with consistent score improvements and medal upgrades.
- Expert team: Accredited consultants, B Leaders, and sector specialists.
- End-to-end support: From strategy and gap analysis to training, supplier engagement, and continuous improvement.
- Global reach: Supporting clients in over 30 countries and across all major sectors.
- Recognised impact: Named a top 10 boutique ESG and sustainability consultancy worldwide.
Get started: Your EcoVadis success starts here
Ready to achieve your best EcoVadis score?
Contact Nexio Projects today for a tailored EcoVadis consultation, download our EcoVadis Assessment Toolkit, or book a free readiness review with our experts.
Curious about more insights based on our strategic partnership? Subscribe to our newsletter and enhance your sustainability strategy!
References
- EcoVadis and Nexio Projects (2020) EcoVadis and Nexio Projects Expand Partnership to Fuel Sustainability Initiatives Across Global Markets. Business Wire. Available at: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200910005135/en/EcoVadis-and-Nexio-Projects-Expand-Partnership-to-Fuel-Sustainability-Initiatives-Across-Global-Markets (Accessed: 4 July 2025).
- EcoVadis (n.d.) EcoVadis Academy Training Partners. Available at: https://ecovadis.com/training-partners/ (Accessed: 4 July 2025).
- EcoVadis and Nexio Projects (2020) EcoVadis and Nexio Projects Expand Partnership to Fuel Sustainability Initiatives Across Global Markets. EcoVadis Newsroom. Available at: https://resources.ecovadis.com/news-press/ecovadis-and-nexio-projects-expand-partnership-to-fuel-sustainability-initiatives-across-global-markets (Accessed: 4 July 2025).
- EcoVadis (n.d.) Sector Initiatives. Available at: https://ecovadis.com/sector-initiatives/ (Accessed: 4 July 2025).
