You receive an EcoVadis request from an important client. The deadline is tight, a contract is at stake, and there are dozens of companies on the market offering “EcoVadis consulting.” How do you choose the right one?
The answer is not in price. It is in credentials, experience, and proven results.
1. Check what he knows about the EcoVadis methodology
First filter: has the consultant received formal training on the EcoVadis platform? Official EcoVadis courses certify that the person managing your assessment knows the methodology and scoring criteria directly from the source. In the absence of any form of certified training, you rely solely on their statements.
2. Ask what he knows about the areas being evaluated
EcoVadis analyzes four areas: Environment, Labor Rights, Ethics and Responsible Procurement, each corresponding to specific international standards. The correct question is not “have you done EcoVadis before?”, but “what certifications do you have in the areas assessed by the platform?”
The answers that matter: environmental management or environmental auditor, greenhouse gas quantification, energy management, occupational safety, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, information security and data protection. A consultant certified as an auditor in these standards does not interpret the EcoVadis requirements but knows them from practice.
3. Test it against the platform rules
This is where the real consultants are separated from the declarative ones. EcoVadis imposes a strict technical rule: the limit of 55 documents per assessment applies to all companies, regardless of size, precisely to ensure that only truly relevant documents are transmitted. This rule has two critical implications that an experienced consultant knows and manages:
- Each document should be chosen strategically so that it covers as many of the assessed criteria as possible. The limit of 55 documents requires a comprehensive approach, such as a Sustainability Report that can cover several points simultaneously.
- EcoVadis does not accept combined documents, i.e. a single file containing multiple sub-documents on different topics, such as an environmental policy, a risk assessment and training materials combined into a single PDF. Uploading such documents will result in the document being removed from the assessment and, consequently, the cancellation of possible answers to multiple questions.
4. Ask for concrete data about results
Any serious consultant answers two simple questions: what percentage of their clients have achieved a medal and at what level? Go ahead and ask for references, real clients who can confirm the work experience and the results achieved. A consultant with a solid portfolio has no reason to hesitate.
5. Beware of promises without analysis
Two types of promises immediately raise question marks:
"We'll get you medal X." No serious consultant can guarantee a medal level before analyzing the processes and documentation existing in your company. A consultant who promises a medal without having seen them is guessing.
"Without ISO certifications, we will get you the X medal." ISO certifications are not mandatory for EcoVadis, but their absence significantly influences the score across all areas, especially for the higher medals. A consultant who downplays this aspect either doesn't know the scoring methodology or is telling you what you want to hear.
6. Check for continuity in the market
EcoVadis has recalibrated its methodology and medal thresholds several times, including in January 2025. A consultant who has been continuously active for at least 5 years has absorbed these changes on real projects. A recent entrant knows them only from public documents.
Conclusion
The right consultant for EcoVadis simultaneously fulfills: certified training on the EcoVadis platform, auditor certifications in the assessed areas, deep knowledge of the technical rules of the platform, demonstrable success rate and continuous experience of at least 5 years. Promises without analysis and medal guarantees without knowledge of the real situation of the company are signals that that consultant does not master the process enough to be honest with you.