Supplier engagement: 5 key steps for mid-market and large organisations
May 01, 2025
“Selecting the right EcoVadis consultant isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about building a partnership that drives real, measurable impact for your business.”
EcoVadis ratings have become the global benchmark for sustainability performance and companies are under increasing pressure to improve their scores to win business and meet stakeholder expectations. However, navigating this process, and achieving top scores, is complex and requires specialised expertise. Therefore, choosing the right EcoVadis consultant is critical to your success.
Do it yourself or work with a consultant?
Some companies work on their assessments without the help of consultants which is possible with a dedicated team and significant institutional knowledge on EcoVadis. However, there are many benefits to working with consultants. For example:
Expert guidance: Navigate the EcoVadis assessment process efficiently.
- Score improvement: Identify and close gaps to achieve higher ratings (Gold/Platinum).
- Time savings: Streamline documentation and evidence collection.
- Competitive advantage: Stand out to customers and partners with strong sustainability credentials.
EcoVadis is a very useful tool, however, like all tools, it is must effective when utilised by experts (such as consultants).
How to choose the right consultant
Once you have made the decision to hire a consultant, the choices can be daunting. With more players in the field than before, picking the right consultancy is increasingly difficult. The first place to start is in the official directory of EcoVadis’s training partners. This is the most authoritative source for finding the right consultant for your needs. EcoVadis’ training partners are defined as ‘strategic’ and ‘approved’ with ‘strategic’ denoting partners that have followed a rigorous selection process that work collaboratively with EcoVadis.
We recommend examining the following criteria when selecting a consultant:
- Accreditation: Ensure the consultant is an Approved Partner (Strategic Partner is best).
- Track record: Look for proven success in helping clients achieve high EcoVadis scores (Gold/Platinum).
- Service offering: Match their services (gap analysis, implementation, training) to your company’s needs.
- Geographical expertise: Some partners have specific expertise in local regulations and supply chain requirements.
Top EcoVadis consultancies
Nexio Projects
EcoVadis accreditation: EcoVadis Global Strategic Partner since 2018, trusted to deliver up-to-date best practices, methodologies, and direct access to EcoVadis resources.
- Nexio Projects is the EcoVadis training partner that has completed the most assessments in 2024 compared to all other training partners.
Track record: Nexio Projects is the #1 EcoVadis consultancy worldwide by total number of clients, supporting over 600 companies across 30+ countries.
- 87% of clients improve their EcoVadis score after working with Nexio Projects, with an average score increase of 25%—and clients complete the assessment process more than five months faster than the global average.
- Consistent delivery of Gold and Platinum medals—including first-time successes for major clients like Coca-Cola HBC, Orion Engineered Carbons, and COUNT Energy Trading.
Service offering: Nexio Projects offers end-to-end, expert led support. This includes using a proven methodology with a structured approach.
- Full-service offering: From gap analysis and strategy development to documentation, training, and post-assessment plans and EcoVadis carbon action modules, Nexio Projects covers every stage of the EcoVadis journey.
- Tailored solutions: Services are customised to each client’s sector, geography, and sustainability maturity, ensuring relevance and effectiveness.
- Capacity building: Workshops, e-learning, and internal training empower your team for long-term sustainability success.
- Geographical expertise: Nexio Projects works with companies across the world from Japan to the United States.
- Nexio Projects operates fully in English, French and Dutch with a multitude of other languages being spoken by its international team.
- Nexio Projects was named a top 10 boutique ESG and sustainability consultancy worldwide by Verdantix.
Download our EcoVadis guide by our sustainability experts for more insights!
Good.Lab
EcoVadis accreditation: Approved Training Partner
Track record: Good.Lab has supported clients in improving their EcoVadis scores and holds a bronze medal for its own internal performance.
Service offering: With a strong focus on ESG data analytics and sustainability performance integration, Good.Lab’s services include assessment support, scorecard reviews, and training—mainly geared towards embedding ESG within corporate metrics frameworks.
Geographical expertise: Primarily focused on the U.S. and Europe, their team brings experience in regional and supply chain regulation contexts.
EthoWork
EcoVadis accreditation: Approved Training Partner
Track record: Recognised for projects with large North American corporates, EthoWork has achieved a platinum EcoVadis rating for its own organisation.
Service offering: EthoWork’s niche lies in sustainable procurement and supplier-related ESG programmes, including gap analysis and tailored support aligned with EcoVadis themes.
Geographical expertise: Strong North American presence, supporting clients in both Spanish and English.
Anthesis
EcoVadis accreditation: Strategic Training Partner
Track record: Widely recognised for high-impact ESG consultancy and EcoVadis-related projects, particularly within large-scale transformation programmes.
Service offering: Anthesis offers EcoVadis support within a much broader ESG and decarbonisation portfolio, including roadmap design and staff upskilling.
Geographical expertise: A global consultancy with operations spanning continents and diverse regulatory contexts.
CSRWorks International
EcoVadis accreditation: Strategic Training Partner
Track record: Known for long-standing client relationships and strong performance outcomes in the Asia-Pacific region, including high scores.
Service offering: CSRWorks provides targeted workshops, corrective action planning, and sustainability reporting with a focus on local market intricacies.
Geographical expertise: Deep specialisation in South and Southeast Asia’s regulatory and supply chain environments.
Real impact on the spotlight
Our impact is evident from the solutions that we provide our clients, and the relationships we build along the way. See below some client success examples.
“Nexio Projects delivers on time and on budget. I have no hesitation in recommending them and the next project is already in the pipeline.”
– Jochen Rother, Head of Corporate Sustainability at Orion Engineered Carbons
“Thanks to the expert training and hands-on support of Nexio Projects, the whole team was delighted with the final result, and we can now communicate our EcoVadis score to customers and suppliers and move forward on our EcoVadis journey with confidence.”
– Yana Yordanova, Sustainability Reporting Specialist at Coca-Cola HBC
“Nexio Projects provided comprehensive guidance on our EcoVadis assessment, helping us to continue making progress on our sustainability journey.”
– Ricardo Cordeiro de Sousa, Sustainability Officer at COUNT Energy Trading
“Nexio Projects added a layer of professionalisation to our sustainable practices, which has just taken us to the next level.”
– Robert-Jan Verboom, Operations & IT Manager at Compacon
Interested to hear more from our clients? See our case studies:
In summary
Nexio Projects stands out because it delivers measurable results, faster progress, and a holistic approach, backed by global recognition, client testimonials, and a Platinum EcoVadis certification. This is not just consultancy; it’s a partnership that transforms your sustainability ambitions into real, business-changing outcomes.
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Ready to boost your EcoVadis score and lead in sustainability? Contact Nexio Projects for a tailored strategy and discover how we can help you achieve Gold or Platinum ratings.
