EcoVadis has released its Q1 and Q2 2026 methodology updates for rated companies and suppliers working to meet the expectations of customers and stakeholders, improve sustainability performance, and increase their EcoVadis score. The updates touch several key parts of the EcoVadis assessment process, including scorecard review, supporting documentation, environmental measures, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate risk.
Together, these updates provide a clearer picture of what EcoVadis expects to see in supporting documentation. They also reinforce the importance of complete, accurate, and well-organized evidence before final submission. For companies navigating these changes, understanding what has changed—and how it may affect future assessments—can make a meaningful difference in identifying gaps, prioritizing corrective actions, and building a stronger sustainability management program.
As an accredited EcoVadis partner, EHS Support helps companies interpret methodology updates, evaluate current documentation, identify strengths and improvement areas, and develop practical corrective actions that support stronger sustainability performance across their operations.
Policies, Energy Consumption, and Scope 2 GHG Reporting
One key update relates to how companies disclose Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions and/or carbon emissions reductions. Companies must now identify whether they used a location-based methodology (physical grid mix) or a market-based methodology (contractual energy procurement). This additional detail aids EcoVadis in better understanding how companies are calculating and reporting their decarbonization efforts.
While this disclosure will not directly affect a company’s EcoVadis score, it may appear on the submitted scorecard as either a Strength or Improvement Area. This makes it important to clearly document the methodology used and ensure that energy and emissions data are consistent, current, and easy to verify.
All Themes: Factual Error Check and Scorecard Review
EcoVadis is also changing how certain participating companies review their scorecards. The previous “Select Check Up Process” and “Select Score Drop Consultation” are being discontinued for companies with fewer than 50,000 employees. Beginning July 1, 2026, EcoVadis implemented a new factual error check intended to standardize the assessment process, simplify review workflows for smaller applicants, and align more closely with global best practices.
Under this process, a rated company is allowed to view its EcoVadis scorecard two days before it becomes publicly available. This provides a short window to identify and correct factual errors in the submitted questionnaire. However, formatting concerns, supporting evidence for listed certifications, and lower scores will no longer be discussed between EcoVadis and rated companies below the 50,000-employee threshold. As a result, completing a thorough review before submission is a top priority.
Environment and Labor & Human Rights: More Descriptive Improvement Areas
EcoVadis is increasing transparency around Improvement Areas, particularly under the Environment theme. New sector-specific Improvement Areas related to water, biodiversity, and air pollution are designed to help suppliers better understand where internal policies may need to be strengthened and which corrective action(s) may be appropriate based on the industry in which the supplier operates.
These updates encourage suppliers and rated companies to move beyond general sustainability commitments and toward measurable, sector-specific policies. When quantitative targets are missing from submitted policies, new Improvement Areas may be added to the scorecard. EcoVadis will also include Improvement Areas for missing ethics certifications, specifically ISO 27001 and ISO 37001.
Policies, Endorsements, Reporting, and Evidence Coverage
EcoVadis has also updated how companies demonstrate evidence coverage across their operations. Revenue can no longer be used to calculate operational coverage. Instead, companies must use the number of employees or sites to show whether site-level documentation covers 80% or 95% of operations.
Sustainability or certification audits may be used as evidence for Policies, Actions, and Reporting when they meet the required coverage thresholds. At the same time, in-progress management system certifications have been discontinued as acceptable evidence. These changes make it especially important for rated companies to review their existing policies, confirm that environmental and workforce metrics are up-to-date, and verify that site-level documentation clearly supports the required level of operational coverage.
In addition, companies reporting “with reference” to the GRI Universal Standards may now be eligible for a score of 75 under this compliance level, provided all other criteria are met.
Certifications, Sustainability Ratings, and Reporting
EcoVadis is expanding what may be accepted as supporting evidence for certifications listed in the submitted questionnaire. In some cases, rated companies may be able to submit alternative forms of evidence beyond a formal certificate, such as audit documentation or communication snapshots with an accredited certification body. More details have been added to the Help Content within the certification section of the questionnaire.
To be accepted, certification evidence must include the company name, standard name, scope of certification, and validity status. If a company chooses to submit an alternative form of evidence, the certification body must also maintain a public-facing database. This added flexibility can be useful, but it also places greater responsibility on companies to confirm that supporting documentation is complete and clearly supports the claim being made.
Environment, CSDDD Alignment, and Climate Risk
EcoVadis has updated criteria for the Environment theme, including environmental measures, biodiversity, air pollution, water, materials, and chemicals and waste. These changes are intended to better align the assessment with global regulations and help suppliers address requirements outlined in the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) Annex II. Expanded Help Content also provides more examples, making it easier for companies to understand the criteria and prepare relevant documentation.
Environmental and climate-related risks are also receiving greater attention. EcoVadis has added new questionnaire items focused on environmental and climate change risk assessments, as well as the actions companies are taking to prepare for potential external disruptions (supply chain or financial impacts). These items may appear on the scorecard as either a Strength or an Improvement Area depending on the documentation submitted and the company’s size, with stricter expectations in place for larger companies.
How an Accredited EcoVadis Partner Can Help
For many companies, the challenge is not only understanding what changed, but also knowing how to respond in a practical and manageable way. As an accredited EcoVadis partner, EHS Support can help rated companies review their questionnaire responses and scorecard results, conduct targeted gap analyses, strengthen policies and supporting evidence, and develop corrective actions that are aligned with EcoVadis expectations.
Whether your company is preparing for its first EcoVadis assessment, responding to a recent scorecard, or working toward continuous EcoVadis score improvement, EHS Support can provide clear guidance, organized documentation support, and practical recommendations to help move your sustainability program forward.
Sources:
EcoVadis. (n.d.) Methodology Updates Q1 2026. https://support.ecovadis.com/hc/en-us/articles/34621845310994-Methodology-Updates-Q1-2026
EcoVadis. (n.d.) Methodology Updates Q2 2026. https://support.ecovadis.com/hc/en-us/articles/36871921227538-Methodology-Updates-Q2-2026
