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If you’d like to find out more about EcoVadis, we recommend you read this article: EcoVadis: beyond the questionnaire, continuous improvement.
Filling in a questionnaire may seem like a simple formality, but filling in an EcoVadis questionnaire is an entirely different matter.
Because the aim of these questions is to obtain EcoVadis certification.
This certification is valuable for at least two fundamental reasons.
Firstly, it highlights your efforts in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR); and secondly, it strengthens your company’s brand image.
Follow our tips below to prepare your team for the EcoVadis assessment and win your EcoVadis label with flying colors.
What is EcoVadis?
Let’s start by deciphering what lies behind this Latin term. EcoVadis is a CSR evaluation platform assessment platform whose aim is to analyze companies’ sustainable development performance. The assessment process covers several key dimensions: environmental, social, ethical and responsible purchasing. The label was created in 2007 to help companies, large and small, improve their CSR practices. How can we do this? By referring to international standards and using robust management systems.
EcoVadis certification is recognized worldwide and comes in four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
For each level, your company’s score is compared with all other certified companies.
- EcoVadis Bronze: top 35%, this is the basic level indicating that the company has begun to integrate CSR practices, but that there is still plenty of room for improvement.
- EcoVadis Silver: top 15%, this level demonstrates solid performance and a serious commitment to CSR.
- EcoVadis Gold: top 5%, high-level recognition for companies with advanced, well-integrated CSR practices.
- EcoVadis Platinum: top 1%, the highest level, reserved for companies that are leaders in CSR, with best practices and full integration of sustainability principles.
Source : https://ecovadis.com/
Prepare the necessary documents
Before you start filling in the EcoVadis questionnaire, gather together all the documents relating to your CSR practices.
For example, those referring to internal policies, audit reports, certificates of compliance and any other evidence of your commitment to sustainable development.
Here are some examples of the most frequently used documents to help you organize this information:
| Document | Description | Responsable |
|---|---|---|
| CSR Policy | Document describing your CSR commitments | CSR Director |
| Audit reports | Results of internal and external audits | Internal auditor |
| Certificates of conformity | ISO 14001, ISO 26000, ISO 45001, etc. | Quality Manager |
| Environmental reports | Data on Co2 emissions, water and electricity consumption, etc. | Environmental Manager |
| Social programs | Employee and community initiatives | Human Resources Director |
These documents form the basis of your dossier and will help you provide detailed and accurate answers.
Check that all information is up-to-date and well documented.
The stronger your evidence, the more positive your assessment will be.
Register your company on the EcoVadis platform
To begin the certification process, you need to register your company on the EcoVadis platform.
Follow the steps below:
- Create your account: you’ll be asked to provide basic information, such as your business sector, number of employees and contact details.
You can create your account here. - Select the level of certification you wish to achieve: from standard label to in-depth assessment, choose according to your CSR commitment
- Access the questionnaire: you can now start filling in the various sections.
- Pay the evaluation fee to see your results: the cost depends on the size of your company and the level of evaluation chosen.
Structuring your answer
Answer the EcoVadis questionnaire as accurately and completely as possible. The questionnaire is divided into several sections, each dealing with a specific aspect of CSR. Make sure you understand the evaluation criteria and that your answers are detailed. Use figures and examples to illustrate your practices. For example, if you have reduced your energy consumption, indicate the percentage reduction and the actions taken to achieve it. The system asks you to include supporting documents whenever possible.
Here is an example to help you structure your answers:
| Section | Evaluation criteria | Sample answer | Document to be supplied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environment | Management of greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, waste management, etc. | 20% reduction in emissions over 3 years | Environmental reporting, ISO 14001 |
| Social | Working conditions, employee rights, social initiatives, etc. | Employee wellness programs | HR policies, employee testimonials |
| Ethics | Anti-corruption, fair trade practices, etc. | Code of conduct, annual training courses | Training certificates |
| Responsible purchasing | Selection and management of sustainable suppliers based on their CSR practices | 50% of suppliers ISO 14001 certified | List of suppliers, certificates |
With Mon Entreprise Durable by Coptain, it's easy to get started with EcoVadis.
Fill in the EcoVadis questionnaire
Let’s take a look at the content of each of the four sections of the EcoVadis questionnaire: environment, social, ethics and responsible purchasing.
Environment section
This section assesses your environmental management performance.
Here are some tips on how to fill it in.
Managing CO2 emissions
Provide precise data on your greenhouse gas emissions.
Indicate the sources of these emissions (transport, production, etc.) and the actions taken to reduce them.
For example, the use of renewable energy sources, improving the energy efficiency of your facilities and setting up carbon offset programs.
Reduced water consumption
Provide data on your water consumption.
Indicate the main sources of consumption (production, cleaning, etc.) and describe your water-saving strategies.
This may involve installing water-saving equipment, adopting water recycling practices or setting up employee awareness programs.
Waste management
List the types of waste generated by your company (solid, liquid, hazardous, etc.) and what you do to manage them.
What reduction programs have you adopted?
How do you reuse and recycle waste?
If you participate in hazardous waste management programs, please specify.
Social Section
This section evaluates your performance in human resources management and community relations.
Working conditions
Enter the main measures taken to improve your employees’ working conditions (safety, well-being, etc.).
Provide details of these actions: training programs, employee wellness initiatives, actions to improve workplace safety, etc.
Employee rights
What are you doing to protect your employees’ rights in terms of anti-discrimination, harassment prevention and equal opportunities?
Mention all this, and don’t forget to add any training programs on social rights that you offer your employees.
Social initiatives
Do you support your local community?
If so, how?
Through employee volunteer programs, donations to local organizations, partnerships with NGOs and associations?
Complete this section with details of all your social initiatives.
Ethics Section
The Ethics section of the EcoVadis questionnaire assesses your performance in terms of ethical management and business practices.
Fighting corruption
If you’ve introduced a code of conduct and integrated anti-corruption into your training programs, that’s a big plus.
Don’t hesitate to describe your strategies in this area, emphasizing the strict policies you’ve implemented and the mechanisms you’ve set up to report corrupt behavior.
Fair trade practices
You’re probably transparent in your business practices.
Highlight this.
Show that you’re working on it regularly through audits, employee training and compliance policies.
Responsible Purchasing Section
Finally, it’s your performance in supply chain management and supplier selection that is examined here.
Supplier selection
Indicate how you select responsible suppliers.
Some companies base their selection on CSR certification.
Others organize regular audits.
Still others require a formal commitment from their suppliers to respect their own CSR policies and charters.
And what about you?
Supply chain risk management
Responsible companies identify and mitigate risks along the supply chain.
It’s your turn to define your strategy in this area.
Typically, this ranges from regular audits to risk awareness programs and supplier performance evaluations.
Source : https://support.ecovadis.com/
Monitoring and continuous improvement
What happens once your EcoVadis questionnaire has been completed? Within two months, you’ll receive a detailed report with your score and recommendations for improving your CSR practices.
Pay close attention to identify your strengths and areas for improvement.
Prioritizing measures
Use the recommendations in the EcoVadis report as a basis for taking the most urgent action.
In other words, prioritize the areas that have the greatest impact on your overall score.
Drawing up an action plan
Develop a detailed action plan for each recommendation.
Define clear objectives, deadlines and responsibilities for each procedure.
Tracking progress
Set up a monitoring system to measure progress and adjust your actions if necessary.
This involves regular meetings, follow-up reports and internal audits.
Communicate your results
That’s it, you’ve earned the famous EcoVadis label! Let your employees, customers, suppliers, partners, etc. know about it!. More generally, put in place a communication plan to publicize your certification. Here are a few ways to do it:
Show EcoVadis logo
Your website, your social networks, your emails and other digital communications: put the EcoVadis logo on each of these tools.
You can also use it on your written communications and your company’s annual reports.
This demonstrates your commitment to CSR and strengthens your brand image.
Please note: to be able to use your EcoVadis medal logo externally, you must have taken out an appropriate subscription.
Communicating internally
An obvious point not to be overlooked.
Even if your employees are aware of your actions in terms of quality of life at work, keep them informed.
They’ll be happy to know that they work for a company that values their well-being.
Encourage them to take an active part in the company’s CSR initiatives.
We’re sure they’ll be happy to do so, and that this will boost their motivation at work.
A great way to retain talent!
External communications
Finally, highlight the EcoVadis logo by launching a marketing campaign around it.
Communicate your results to your customers, business partners and any other parties you wish to do business with.
Use social networks and press releases for this.
Better still, you can organize a corporate event to share your successes and publicize your CSR efforts.
Any examples?
For Swiss companies such as Implenia, TSG Group and ISS Suisse, EcoVadis certification represents external validation of their efforts in the field of social and environmental responsibility.
Like many others, these three companies are well aware that a good EcoVadis rating can make the difference between winning and losing a contract.
What’s more, they show that EcoVadis certification is not just an end in itself, but a catalyst for continuous improvement.
Taking advantage of EcoVadis assessments to identify weak points and areas for improvement, they are able to strengthen their CSR strategies and maintain, or even improve, their leading position in their respective sectors.
The proof is in the pudding:
Implenia: EcoVadis certification as a pillar of leadership
As Switzerland’s leading provider of construction and real estate services, Implenia is constantly striving to consolidate its position. With an EcoVadis score of 75 pointsthe company not only retained its gold medal in 2024, but also surpassed its performance of the previous year, demonstrating continuous improvement despite increasingly demanding rating criteria.
One of the main factors behind this success is Implenia’s commitment to responsible purchasing and human rights.
The company has introduced a “Supplier Code of Conduct”, which imposes strict standards of social responsibility on its suppliers.
Workplace safety and human resources management are also areas in which the company has made significant progress, contributing to its good score.
The company’s ambitious goal for 2025 of achieving twelve sustainability targets shows its determination to stay ahead, while offering its customers reliable, sustainable solutions.
TSG Group: a model of social responsibility and sustainability
TSG Group, for its part, is setting a shining example of corporate social responsibility achieving EcoVadis Platinum certification in 2024. This distinction places TSG in the top 1% of the world’s best-performing companies, according to EcoVadis criteria. This recognition is the result of a deep commitment and a well-defined CSR strategy aimed at supporting the energy transition for mobility. The backbone of this strategy is the TSG’s seven guiding principles, which govern all the company’s activities.
These principles are reflected in our rigorous health, safety and environmental policies.
What particularly sets TSG apart is its ability to think globally while acting locally.
For example, by promoting responsible supply chains, the company values the importance of each link in the transition to more sustainable mobility.
At the same time, it attaches great importance to the development of its human resources, regarded as its main asset.
This global and integrated vision of CSR is what enables TSG Group to stand out from the crowd and continue to move forward on the road to sustainable excellence.
ISS Switzerland: excellence in sustainability with Platinum certification
Another exemplary Swiss company, ISS Suisse was also awarded the EcoVadis Platinum Medal in 2024placing it among the top 1% of sustainable companies evaluated by this platform. With a score of 79/100, ISS Suisse is a prime example of how proactive and progressive sustainability management can lead to impressive results. Its commitment to sustainability is evident in every aspect of its business, from environmental management to sustainable procurement.
The company has implemented concrete measures to reduce its carbon footprint, such as converting its vehicle fleet to electric propulsion.
Another highlight of ISS Suisse’s approach is its “Green Office Program”, which encourages sustainable office management and contributes to the reduction of CO₂ emissions.
This program is part of a broader strategy that aims to achieve zero net CO₂ emissions by 2030 for the company’s direct activities.
Better still, it aims to extend this goal to indirect emissions by 2040.
But ISS Switzerland doesn’t stop at its own operations; it also offers its customers eco-friendly, climate-friendly services, reinforcing its positive impact beyond its own activities.
To conclude...
Obtaining EcoVadis certification is an excellent way of demonstrating your commitment to corporate social responsibility.
Follow our tips above to maximize your chances of success and quickly achieve your CSR objectives.
Then you can proudly display your EcoVadis medal, whether bronze, silver, gold or platinum.
EcoVadis questionnaire FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions on the subject and their answers:
Is the EcoVadis questionnaire available in French?
Yes, French, but also seven other languages are available for completing the EcoVadis questionnaire and submitting your documents. Here they are in alphabetical order: Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
What types of evidence are acceptable for EcoVadis assessment?
Provide official documents that are at least one quarter old: certificates, internal policies, audit reports and figures. Avoid creating any documents for inclusion in the EcoVadis questionnaire. It will be automatically rejected!
How is the EcoVadis score calculated?
The score is based on the answers to the questionnaire and the documents provided. Each section (Environment, Social, Ethics, Responsible Purchasing) is weighted differently depending on your business sector.
