Mastering EcoVadis: Boost Your Sustainable Procurement Score

If you're looking to improve your EcoVadis Sustainable Procurement score, this is the right place to start. Let’s explore how you can enhance your performance in this critical area:

• why the Sustainable Procurement theme matters
• relevant standards and frameworks
• practical steps you can implement starting today to improve your EcoVadis rating.

Why Sustainable Procurement Matters in EcoVadis

Sustainable Procurement is essential in the EcoVadis assessment as it evaluates how your company integrates social, ethical, and environmental factors into your purchasing decisions. This theme is vital for minimising risk and enhancing the sustainability performance across your supply chain.

By prioritising sustainable procurement, you can drive positive change, not only within your company but especially among your suppliers, thereby improving your overall EcoVadis rating.

Five Practical Steps to Improve EcoVadis Sustainable Procurement Scores

Here are five actionable steps to boost your performance in Sustainable Procurement:

1. Develop a Sustainable Procurement Policy: Formulate a policy that integrates sustainability into all purchasing decisions. This policy should outline your commitment to choosing suppliers that meet specific environmental, social, and ethical standards
2. Evaluate Suppliers’ Sustainability Performance: Implement a process to assess the sustainability performance of your suppliers. Use tools and frameworks that can help you measure their compliance with your sustainability criteria.
3. Engage Suppliers in Sustainability Goals: Collaborate with your suppliers to help them improve their sustainability practices. Offer training and resources to support their efforts in becoming more sustainable.
4. Incorporate Sustainability into Contracts: Ensure that your procurement contracts include clauses that require suppliers to adhere to environmental and social standards. This legal integration helps enforce your sustainability criteria.
5. Monitor and Report on Sustainable Procurement Practices: Regularly review and report on the effectiveness of your sustainable procurement practices. Transparency in your procurement process builds trust and accountability.

Relevant Standards and Frameworks

To further guide your sustainable procurement efforts and practices, familiarise yourself with these widely recognised standards and frameworks: 

• ISO 20400: Standard for sustainable procurement. It provides guidelines for integrating sustainability into procurement processes and is highly relevant to EcoVadis assessments.
  ISO 20400 is not certifiable. 
• SA8000 Standard: Developed by Social Accountability International, this standard addresses issues in supply chains that are relevant to sustainable procurement. SA8000 is a certifiable standard developed by Social Accountability International and garners EcoVadis points under the Certifications indicator. 
• ISO 14001: While primarily an environmental management system standard, it can be applied to sustainable procurement practices, especially for environmental considerations. You can obtain certification for this standard, which garners EcoVadis points under the Certifications indicator. 
• ISO 45001: This occupational health and safety standard can be relevant when considering worker safety in the supply chain. ISO 45001 is certifiable and gets you EcoVadis points under the Certifications indicator. 
• ISO 26000: Guidance for Social Responsibility (including aspects of Sustainable Procurement). ISO 26000 is not a certifiable standard. However, EcoVadis mentions it as a foundational standard on which the EcoVadis methodology was built. 
• UN Global Compact: This initiative encourages businesses to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, including principles related to sustainable procurement. UNGC membership garners EcoVadis points under the Endorsement indicator. 
• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards include disclosures related to supply chain management and procurement practices, which are relevant for EcoVadis assessments. Your company’s public release of a sustainability report in accordance with GRI Standards can garner EcoVadis points under the Reporting indicator. 
• OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises: These guidelines include recommendations on responsible business conduct relevant to sustainable procurement practices. 

Aligning your practices with these standards and frameworks and actively improving your procurement processes, you can significantly enhance your EcoVadis scores and contribute to a more sustainable global supply chain.