EcoVadis Brief: What to look for in an EcoVadis advisor—And why It matters

1. Focus on what corporate buyers actually care about

Buyers aren’t asking you to complete an EcoVadis assessment for academic reasons. They use it to manage supply chain risk, meet internal environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets, and demonstrate compliance with investor, regulatory, or customer demands.

An advisor should understand how buyers interpret EcoVadis scores, specifically what thresholds they consider acceptable, how scores impact procurement decisions, and which issues (e.g., emissions, labor rights, ethics) matter most in your industry.

A strong advisor helps to focus documentation and improvement efforts in areas that directly influence how procurement teams evaluate a business.

2. Understanding the Industry and risk profile

EcoVadis tailors its assessment based on a company’s sector and inherent sustainability risks. A medical device manufacturer, a food processor, and a plastic packaging supplier will have different expectations.

An advisor with experience in your company’s industry should understand:

• The types of environmental or social risks typical for your company’s operations
• Common certifications and relevant policies
• How to tailor your response to meet the expectations of your customers and industry peers

An advisor with sector-specific knowledge can also help you benchmark your performance and identify high-impact improvements.

3. Ability to translate operations into buyer-friendly ESG language

Many manufacturers already do the right things—whether it’s recycling, employee training, safety protocols, or ethical sourcing. But translating these day-to-day practices into ESG language that makes sense to a global buyer isn’t always intuitive.

Your advisor should help you translate this, meaning framing operational practices in terms of risk mitigation, governance, and measurable improvement; terms that procurement and sustainability officers are looking for.

For example, “we follow OSHA regulations” becomes “we have a documented health and safety policy aligned with international labor standards and an active incident tracking system.”

4. Ability to facilitate internal collaboration

Completing an EcoVadis assessment is a cross-functional effort. It typically requires input from teams such as human resources (HR), environment, health, and safety (EHS), procurement, compliance, and operations. One of the biggest challenges suppliers face is coordinating with these stakeholders to gather documentation and align messaging.

A good EcoVadis advisor does more than fill out forms, they facilitate internal alignment. Look for and advisor who can:

• Lead structured kickoff and working sessions
• Help assign responsibilities and timelines
• Bridge communication between departments

This collaborative approach can significantly reduce delays, missteps, and internal resistance.

5. Guidance on how to use EcoVadis proactively with customers

Buyers often don’t just want a score, they want to see improvement. An advisor who understands corporate expectations will help you use the EcoVadis platform to engage customers more actively.

That might include:

• Sharing your improvement plan with key customers
• Highlighting sustainability achievements during performance reviews
• Using your score as part of contract or bid negotiations

Rather than treating EcoVadis as a behind-the-scenes task, your advisor should help you leverage it as a relationship-building tool.