In today’s business landscape, sustainability isn’t just a marketing line — it’s a measurable, reportable, and comparable performance indicator. For thousands of organisations worldwide, the EcoVadis sustainability rating has become the gold standard for assessing environmental, social, and ethical practices.

If you’re looking to improve your EcoVadis score, enhance your reputation with procurement teams, or attract ESG-conscious investors, the most impactful place to start is your carbon reporting.

Here’s why — and how — your carbon strategy can drive a higher EcoVadis rating.

What Is the EcoVadis Score (and Why It Matters)

The EcoVadis score evaluates a company’s sustainability performance across four key themes:

• Environment
• Labour & Human Rights
• Ethics
• Sustainable Procurement

Each theme is scored out of 100, and your total rating determines whether your company earns a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum medal.

These scores are used by more than 125,000 companies worldwide, making them one of the most widely recognised benchmarks in ESG performance.

However, the bar is rising fast. EcoVadis has tightened its environmental assessment criteria — particularly around carbon management, data transparency, and emissions reduction targets.

In short: strong carbon reporting is now central to a strong EcoVadis score.

Why Carbon Reporting Is Crucial to Your EcoVadis Score

The “Environment” theme makes up a significant share of your total score, and carbon-related performance is a key subcategory.

Here’s how carbon reporting directly impacts your rating:

1. It Strengthens Your Environmental Credentials

EcoVadis looks for evidence that you’re measuring and managing your emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3.

Accurate, verifiable data signals that your sustainability strategy is data-driven — not just policy-based.

Tools like Emerald Power make it easier to collect and manage this data, ensuring your submission to EcoVadis meets best-practice standards.

2. It Demonstrates Continuous Improvement

EcoVadis rewards companies that can demonstrate measurable progress.

That means showing year-on-year reductions in your carbon footprint, clear emissions baselines, and documented actions to decarbonise your operations.

Even incremental improvements — such as switching to renewable electricity or reducing business travel — contribute to your score.

3. It Builds Trust with Customers and Suppliers

Large corporations like Schneider Electric, Unilever, and Johnson & Johnson use EcoVadis scores to evaluate suppliers.

When you report carbon data transparently, it signals credibility and accountability.

That can help you win contracts, maintain supplier relationships, and stand out in competitive tenders.

5 Practical Steps to Improve Your EcoVadis Score with Carbon Reporting

Improving your EcoVadis rating is about structured data and verifiable progress. Here’s how to start.

1. Measure Your Carbon Footprint (Scopes 1, 2 & 3)

EcoVadis expects comprehensive emissions coverage:

Scope 1: Direct emissions (fuel, company vehicles, heating).

Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy.

Scope 3: All other indirect emissions — often 70%+ of your total footprint.

Follow globally recognised frameworks such as the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol to ensure accuracy and comparability.

Platforms like Emerald Power automate the process by gathering data from across your portfolio, supply chain, and operations.

2. Set Science-Based Targets

EcoVadis gives higher ratings to companies that align with credible climate initiatives such as the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Define short- and long-term goals to reduce your emissions, ideally in line with a 1.5°C pathway.

Document these commitments and include them in your EcoVadis submission.

3. Take Action to Reduce Emissions

Actions speak louder than pledges.

Examples of reduction initiatives include:

• Transitioning to renewable energy sources.
• Electrifying your vehicle fleet.
• Implementing energy efficiency measures in facilities.
• Engaging suppliers to set their own reduction targets.

Recording and reporting these actions boosts your EcoVadis performance trend.

4. Engage Your Supply Chain

Since Scope 3 emissions often dominate a company’s footprint, supplier engagement is critical.

Use supplier questionnaires, data collection templates, or platforms like Emerald Power to gather emissions data and share reduction strategies across your value chain.

5. Publish and Communicate Transparently

EcoVadis values public transparency.

Include your emissions data and carbon reduction plan in your annual sustainability report or website disclosures.

Being open about progress — and areas for improvement — builds credibility and trust with both EcoVadis assessors and your stakeholders.

How Carbon Reporting Platforms Like Emerald Power Can Help

Manual spreadsheets and ad-hoc data collection will only get you so far.

A dedicated platform such as Emerald Power helps streamline the process by:

Collecting carbon data across all scopes and business units.

Calculating emissions according to the GHG Protocol.

Generating audit-ready documentation for EcoVadis submissions.

Tracking year-on-year progress and identifying reduction opportunities.

With automation, accuracy, and alignment to global frameworks, you can save time, reduce reporting errors, and strengthen your EcoVadis performance.

The Bottom Line

Your EcoVadis score is more than just a number — it’s a reflection of how seriously your business takes sustainability.

By prioritising carbon reporting, you can unlock higher ratings, meet customer expectations, and build a credible foundation for long-term ESG success.

✅ Ready to Boost Your EcoVadis Score?

Emerald Power helps companies collect and report carbon data aligned with EcoVadis, CSRD, and SFDR frameworks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is a good EcoVadis score?

A score above 65 typically earns a Gold medal, placing your company among the top 5% of rated businesses. 50–64 is Silver, while 37–49 is Bronze.

2. How often should we update our EcoVadis assessment?

EcoVadis assessments are valid for 12 months, so companies usually update their submission annually to reflect new data, policies, and improvements.

3. Does carbon reporting directly increase your EcoVadis score?

Yes — accurate carbon measurement, target setting, and emissions reduction activities are core elements of the “Environment” theme, which heavily influences your total score.

4. What standards does EcoVadis recognise for carbon reporting?

EcoVadis recognises reporting aligned with the GHG Protocol, CDP, SBTi, and ISO 14064. Using these standards ensures your data is comparable and credible.

5. Can small and medium-sized businesses improve their EcoVadis score easily?

Absolutely. SMEs can make big gains by starting with baseline carbon measurement, setting realistic reduction goals, and documenting progress. Using platforms like Emerald Power simplifies the process dramatically.