EcoVadis certificate: is EcoVadis a certificate or a rating?

An EcoVadis certificate is not a certification. EcoVadis gives an assessment (rating): a scorecard with a score from 0 to 100, and a medal or badge if you score well. According to the usage rules for EcoVadis medals , a medal or badge is not a certification or a product label. When someone asks for an “EcoVadis certificate”, they usually mean the scorecard, the medal or an old PDF document called a “rating certificate”.

A certificate is proof after an audit by an external, accredited body, such as for ISO 14001. EcoVadis does not visit your site. The difference between the two is explained on the page EcoVadis vs ISO 14001 and CO2 Performance Ladder.

What do people mean by an EcoVadis certificate?

Clients often use the word “certificate” for anything that looks like a quality mark. That sometimes makes the answer difficult. This table shows what you should show.

What the client asks	What they usually mean	What you show
”Do you have an EcoVadis certificate?”	Have you been assessed?	The scorecard from your latest assessment, with date
”Which EcoVadis medal do you have?”	How do you score compared with other companies?	The medal or badge, with its twelve-month period
”Is your EcoVadis still valid?”	Is the assessment up to date?	The date of the scorecard. Medals and badges are valid for twelve months
”Do you have an ISO certificate?”	Do you have a tested management system?	The certificate from the certifying body, with the scope

Note the last row. A scorecard does not replace an ISO certificate. If a client asks for ISO 14001, a scorecard provides no evidence for that.

What happened to the EcoVadis rating certificate?

In the past, a medal came with a PDF called “EcoVadis Rating Certificate”. Many companies still have it on their website. According to the support centre , EcoVadis stopped this on 14 February 2024. Instead, medals and badges from 2024 onwards come with their own recognition page. That page serves as proof of your recognition.

The old PDF was never a certification either. It was proof of an assessment, with a validity date. A rating certificate from 2022 or 2023 has therefore expired, and you may no longer show it as current.

What do you get from an EcoVadis assessment?

After the assessment you have three things:

A scorecard. It contains your overall score and your score per theme: environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. You also see your strengths and areas for improvement.
A list of improvement points. Each improvement point appears as an action in the corrective action plan on the platform. See EcoVadis corrective action plan.
Possibly a medal or badge, with a recognition page. You only receive this if you meet the conditions. See score and medals and no medal despite a good score.

A medal or badge applies only to the company that was assessed. A medal from your Dutch B.V. does not automatically apply to your parent company, a subsidiary or a branch. This is also stated on the EcoVadis medals page .

When do you need a real certificate?

A scorecard is not enough if your client requires a standard or a certificate. Think of these situations:

A tender that requires an ISO 9001 certificate or ISO 14001 certificate. See ISO 14001.
An assignment that asks for a VCA certificate, for example in construction or industry. See VCA.
A client who wants to see an ISO 27001 certificate before processing client data. See ISO 27001.
A public contract in which the CO2 Performance Ladder is an award criterion.

In these cases, an EcoVadis medal can be an extra argument. It cannot replace the certificate. So ask your client which document they want to see.

How to word it in quotes and emails

Do not use words like “certified” or “EcoVadis-certified” in your quote. That is not accurate, and a buyer may come back to it later. These are examples of sentences that are accurate.

We have been assessed by EcoVadis. The scorecard dated [date] is attached. You can find our recognition page via [link].

Our EcoVadis score is [score] on a scale of 0 to 100. We have received the [name] medal, valid for twelve months from [date]. You can find our recognition page via [link].

Our ISO 14001 certificate was issued by [certifying body] and is valid until [date]. We also hold an EcoVadis assessment dated [date].

Use a medal only while it is valid. After twelve months it should no longer appear on your website or in your quote. Read how you may use the logo and medal on sharing the EcoVadis logo and medal.

The word “certificate” in the name of a document is not proof. Always check whether the document comes from an organisation that is allowed to issue it. An EcoVadis scorecard is an assessment. An ISO certificate comes from a certifying body that is itself accredited.

Common mistakes with the word certificate

“EcoVadis-certified” on your website. That is a rating, not a certificate. Write “assessed by EcoVadis” and state the score.

Showing an expired medal or an old rating certificate. Medals and badges are valid for twelve months. A medal or PDF from two years ago is no longer current.

Supplying a scorecard as ISO proof. A client who requires an ISO certificate usually does not accept a scorecard. Then supply the certificate itself.

Applying the medal of the B.V. to the group. EcoVadis assesses a legal entity, group or branch. A medal applies only to what was assessed.

Not keeping the scorecard. Keep the scorecard with its date. You need it if a client later asks what exactly you have supplied.

Checklist for your quote and website

Does the word “certified” appear anywhere next to EcoVadis?
Is the date of your scorecard shown?
Is the medal still valid, meaning less than twelve months old?
Does the medal refer to your own company and not to another company in the group?
When a client requires an ISO certificate, do you always supply the certificate itself?
Is the score shown on the correct scale, 0 to 100?

This checklist prevents most discussions with a buyer. It comes down to clarity: a rating is a snapshot, and a certificate is proof that you meet a standard.

How do you explain it to someone who knows little about it?

A short explanation you can use in an email or on a procurement form:

EcoVadis is an assessment of sustainability policy and practice, carried out by an external party. It is not a certificate such as ISO 14001. The assessment gives a score from 0 to 100 on environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. If the score is high enough, the company receives a medal or badge, which is valid for twelve months.

Stick to the facts. Do not state percentages you cannot support, and do not promise your client a score.