Ecovadis certification: A 5-step approach from Sourcing Champions

Last month, Ecovadis named Sourcing Champions as one of its Approved Consultant and Training Partners for Europe. Hot on the heels of the recognition, we spoke with managing partner Robert Waalder to find out how the firm helps its clients achieve the Ecovadis certification through a 5-step approach.

With increasing pressure on businesses to demonstrate robust sustainability practices, EcoVadis has emerged as the premier platform for assessing sustainability performance. Over 100,000 companies worldwide look to EcoVadis to evaluate their supply chains, making a strong score crucial for supplier visibility, meeting customer requirements, and strengthening overall ESG positioning.

Achieving EcoVadis certification can be a long, difficult road. International consultancy firm Sourcing Champions follows a 5-step approach to help guide companies through the complexities of EcoVadis assessments and enhance their sustainability performance across global supply chains.

1) Baseline scan and score simulation: “We begin by reviewing your current documentation, policies, and operational practices across the four EcoVadis themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. This results in a preliminary score estimate and a structured assessment of strengths and improvement areas,” says Waalder.

2) Gap analysis and roadmap development: Leveraging EcoVadis scoring methodology, Sourcing Champions conducts a detailed gap analysis, translating findings into a tailored improvement roadmap. “This includes prioritized actions, responsible owners, and suggested timelines to support structured and measurable progress,” Waalder notes.

3) Cross-functional collaboration and data collection: EcoVadis assessments require input from various departments, so Sourcing Champions ensures strategic collaboration across procurement, HR, legal, compliance, and sustainability functions. This ensures efficient data collection, clear documentation ownership, and a consistent narrative.

4) Documentation, monitoring and capability building: “We support the development and enhancement of required documentation – such as policies, codes of conduct, supplier procedures, training, and audit records,” notes Waalder.

Furthermore, Sourcing Champions guides internal teams in identifying relevant monitoring practices and KPIs, offering training sessions to build in-house understanding of EcoVadis requirements for long-term readiness.

5) Submission review and final preparation: “Before submission, we conduct a detailed review of the questionnaire and all supporting documentation. Our team provides targeted feedback to address any remaining gaps and strengthen your submission, ensuring alignment with EcoVadis scoring expectations and supporting your target rating,” says Waalder.

Following these steps, consultants from Sourcing Champions seek to bring structure, clarity, and expertise to every stage of the assessment.

“From gap analysis to documentation and internal alignment, we ensure that the submission of our client is both accurate and impactful. Our approach goes beyond scoring – we help embed sustainable practices that stand up to scrutiny and deliver long-term value,” explains Waalder.

Transforming supply chains

Overall, the main imperative is for organizations to transform their supply chains by managing risk and sustainability compliance. This not only makes builds trust and reputation, but also future-proofs businesses, as failing to implement ESG initiatives is increasingly seen as a liability.

“Together with EcoVadis, we turn sustainability goals into measurable actions. By combining risk insights, performance scorecards, and decarbonization tools, we help organizations build responsible, resilient, and future-ready supply chains.”

As an Approved Consultant and Training Partner for Europe, Sourcing Champions is uniquely positioned to advise organization on EcoVadis certification. This status means the firm has completed extensive training, along with a requirement to have completed their own EcoVadis assessment and score a minimum of 50.

“By collaborating with EcoVadis, we gain access to comprehensive insights and benchmarking tools that enable us to monitor and improve our sustainability performance effectively,” says Waalder. “It also reinforces our commitment to fostering sustainable procurement practices and empowering businesses to navigate the evolving landscape of ESG compliance and supply chain risk management.”