Q&A about Ecovadis

EcoVadis accepts internal policies, procedures, reports, certificates, and signed contracts — but only if they are dated, applicable to the assessed period, and clearly demonstrate implementation (not just intent). PowerPoint slides or screenshots are often rejected unless they show real operational evidence.

Yes, one document (e.g., a Code of Conduct) can support several criteria if it clearly addresses the relevant topics. However, you must link the document separately to each applicable criterion and explain its relevance in each case.

Yes. Even if you’re ISO-certified, EcoVadis requires the actual certificate file (valid during the assessed period) to consider the criterion covered. Merely stating that you're certified is not sufficient.

EcoVadis typically accepts documents from the past 12 months, though up to 24 months may be accepted if justified (e.g., bi-annual audits). Older documents will often be rejected, especially for implementation-level questions.

Policies refer to commitments (e.g., statements, codes); actions are measures showing implementation (e.g., training, audits); and reporting refers to the measurement and communication of results (e.g., KPIs, dashboards, external reports). Scoring depends heavily on proving all three levels.

Leaving questions blank can result in a lower score or missed points for that theme. If a question is not applicable, explain why in the comment section — otherwise, it may be treated as a negative indicator.

No. EcoVadis scores answers to questionnaire items based on the quality and relevance of attached evidence. Documents support scoring but are not scored independently. Unlinked or poorly described files might be ignored.

Possibly. Sometimes, score improvements can be made by better linking existing documents, clarifying explanations, or reclassifying evidence to more relevant criteria. However, lack of implementation or result-level evidence still limits progress.