Despite recent headlines, global corporations continue to implement their sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs, including building sustainable, transparent, and resilient supply chains. As a result, suppliers of all sizes and across all sectors are increasingly being asked to demonstrate their ESG performance. EcoVadis, a leading provider of business sustainability ratings, has emerged as a key platform facilitating this shift. Understanding EcoVadis and its growing influence is essential for suppliers aiming to meet customer expectations and remain competitive
What Is EcoVadis?
EcoVadis offers a comprehensive sustainability assessment system that evaluates companies across four key themes: environment, labor & human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. The platform provides a scorecard reflecting a company’s ESG performance, which is increasingly used by large corporations to assess and monitor their supply chains.
Suppliers implement EcoVadis by completing a detailed self-assessment questionnaire tailored to their industry and size, submitting supporting documentation, and receiving a sustainability scorecard evaluating their performance across environmental, social, ethics, and procurement criteria. This process helps them meet customer requirements, identify improvement areas, and demonstrate ESG compliance to global buyers.
The growing influence of EcoVadis
The number of companies using EcoVadis exceeded 150,000 in 2024, having more than doubled since 2019. This growth reflects the broader trend of corporations integrating sustainability into business operations:
- Rising demand from companies. Investor and regulatory pressures, such as those in Europe and California, impacting the worldwide operations of global companies, are compelling companies to enhance transparency in their supply chains through tools like EcoVadis. Companies also use tools like EcoVadis to evaluate new suppliers and manage supply chain risks.
- Expanding Network. As of 2023, EcoVadis has assessed over 130,000 suppliers and collaborates with 1,200 buyer organizations worldwide.
- Increased Assessments. In 2023 alone, EcoVadis published 47,000 sustainability performance scorecards, indicating a surge in companies seeking to evaluate and improve their ESG practices.
- Sector Initiatives. Driven by corporate demand, EcoVadis has doubled its sector initiatives in the past 12 months, promoting sustainable supply chain transparency across various industries.
Case study: Procter and Gamble
As global companies ramp up sustainability and transparency requirements, suppliers — particularly those based in the United States — are increasingly required to report relevant data. Major corporations are no longer satisfied with surface-level compliance; they now demand deep, data-driven insights into their entire value chains, including upstream suppliers.
For example, Procter & Gamble (P&G) uses EcoVadis to evaluate supplier sustainability. P&G has set a goal that 100% of its key suppliers will be measured on environmental performance, with expectations that:
- Emissions data are reported annually
- Progress toward renewable energy usage is tracked
- Transparency tools are embedded into supplier operations
For small and mid-sized American suppliers, especially in packaging, ingredients, and logistics, this means onboarding to platforms like EcoVadis has become a gateway to doing business with Fortune 500 buyers.
Implications for US suppliers
EcoVadis is becoming an integral part of global supply chains, with large corporations relying on its assessments to ensure sustainability compliance. For US suppliers of all sizes, engaging with EcoVadis is not just about meeting customer demands but also about seizing opportunities for growth and improvement. By understanding and participating in EcoVadis assessments, suppliers can position themselves as valuable partners in a sustainability-focused business landscape.
If your company is looking to better understand how to track, assess, or improve supplier performance with EcoVadis, we can help.
Contact us to learn how other U.S. suppliers are using EcoVadis to meet customer expectations, strengthen partnerships, and stay competitive in global supply chains.
Our people
Ben Vatterott
Partner, San Francisco
Ben brings over 15 years of experience in supporting both local Chicago manufacturers and Fortune 500 companies in creating and scaling ESG/sustainability programs to meet customer needs and ensure regulatory compliance.
Aldo Aragon
Manager, Chicago
Aldo uses his experience supporting manufacturers, retailers, and professional service companies to help executives build ESG/sustainability programs that create new revenue opportunities, reduce regulatory risk, and improve brand equity.
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