No EcoVadis medal despite a good score: which condition is missing?

A high overall score does not automatically earn a medal. A medal depends on three things: your percentile compared with all companies that EcoVadis has assessed in the previous twelve months, a minimum score of 30 on each of the four themes, and no findings that block the medal. If you have a 70 but a theme of 27, you do not receive a medal, even if your overall score clears the threshold.

This page gives a check in five steps, so you can see which condition is missing. For the background to the medals, read EcoVadis score and medals. The weighting of the themes is on improving your EcoVadis score.

The three conditions for a medal

1. The percentile. Platinum is the top 1%, gold the top 5%, silver the top 15% and bronze the top 35%. These percentiles apply to all companies assessed in the previous twelve months, across all sectors. The threshold therefore shifts with the other companies. A score that was good last year may be too low this year.

2. The minimum of 30 per theme. A medal requires you to score at least 30 on each of the four themes: environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. This is a hard requirement. A generous overall score does not compensate for a theme below 30.

3. No blocking findings. If your 360 Watch score is 0 for at least one theme, or 25 for at least two themes, you do not receive a medal. This applies regardless of your overall score. There are exceptions if you have had no negative findings in recent years. Read how this works on EcoVadis 360 Watch.

There is a fourth reason that affects few companies. Companies in certain sectors are not eligible for a medal, such as tobacco products, weapons and ammunition, the extraction of hard coal or lignite, and companies with more than 20% of their turnover from coal.

The minimum of 30 per theme also applies if your overall score is above the bronze threshold. Always check the lowest theme, not just the total.

Check your scorecard in five steps

Note your overall score and your percentile

On the scorecard, look at your overall score from 0 to 100. The scorecard contains information about the percentiles. The percentile at the time of publication determines which medal goes with that score.

Find the lowest theme

Read the scores per theme side by side. Which theme is the lowest? If it is below 30, that is the reason there is no medal, even if the rest is good.

Check the findings

Are there negative findings on the scorecard, with a severity level? Then they may block the medal. Look at which theme and which date they relate to.

Compare with the previous assessment

Has your score risen but your percentile not? Then competition is stronger this year. A rise in your score is then no guarantee of a higher medal.

Decide on the action

Is the lowest theme the cause? Then start with the improvement point for that theme in the corrective action plan. That gives the fastest effect at the next assessment. See EcoVadis corrective action plan.

Example: a score of 68 without a medal

A metal fabricator with 80 employees achieves an overall score of 68. The buyer at a large client had expected a medal, because the company had received bronze last year. The company reviews the scorecard.

Theme	Score	Clearly above 30?
Environment	76	Yes
Labour and human rights	74	Yes
Ethics	68	Yes
Sustainable procurement	27	No

In this example, the themes carry weights of 3, 3, 3 and 1, so that the total comes to 68. The sustainable procurement theme blocks the medal. The company has no purchasing policy with environmental and social requirements, and its suppliers have not been assessed. The company drafts a policy, has its main suppliers sign a code of conduct and records this in the CAP. At the next assessment, the theme is above 30 again, and bronze is possible again, depending on the percentile that applies at that time.

Something else may also play a part. Even if the company had a lower score last year, the percentile may have fallen because other companies improved faster. A medal does not always rise in line with your own improvement.

Common misunderstandings about medals

“My overall score is high, so I have a medal.” The total counts, but the minimum per theme and the percentile count too.

“I had a medal last year, so I will get one again.” Medals are decided again at every assessment. A previous medal does not entitle you to a new one.

“A badge is the same as a medal.” A badge is a recognition based on score. It is a different category, with different conditions. A company with a medal does not receive a badge.

“I can force a medal with more documents.” Documents count towards the score, but the percentile is fixed at the time of publication.

The badges as an alternative

If you do not earn a medal, you may still receive a badge. The conditions are on the EcoVadis medals page .

Badge	Condition
Committed	Overall score of at least 45
Fast Mover	Score of 34 to 44, and at least 6 points ahead of the previous assessment, within 18 months

A badge is not the same as a medal. A badge also applies to the assessed company and is valid for twelve months. Anyone with a badge may display it under the same usage rules as a medal. See sharing the EcoVadis logo and medal.

Checklist if your medal is missing

Is the lowest theme below 30?
Are there findings on the scorecard that block a medal?
Has your percentile fallen, even though your score has risen?
Does a badge give you a recognition you can display?
Is the improvement point for the lowest theme already in your CAP?
Do you know when the next assessment is?