A client request: where should you start?
A client requests an EcoVadis assessment. Or you already have a scorecard identifying areas for improvement. DCA helps turn that request into a work plan: what is already in place, what is missing and who will handle each action?
Start with the invitation or existing scorecard. Establish which legal entity and activities are being assessed, who gathers information internally and what schedule has been discussed with the client. The EcoVadis process runs through the EcoVadis platform. We support your preparation and improvements within the organisation.
Support for three situations
Prepare for your first assessment
We review existing policies, practices and evidence. We then identify where information is missing or practice still needs improvement. This clarifies which actions are needed first and which documents can substantiate the answers.
Address improvements identified in the scorecard
We help translate findings into concrete actions, priorities and owners. For each action, we agree what implementation is needed and how you will demonstrate the outcome. An improvement plan therefore goes beyond collecting documents.
Reassessment and ongoing maintenance
Keep track of policies, actions and results between assessments. We help organise recurring checks and ownership so you can build on the previous round at reassessment. We also consider changes in activities, scope and questions.
What does EcoVadis assess?
EcoVadis assesses an organisation’s sustainability management system . Its methodology considers policies, implementation and results across four themes:
- Environment: how you manage relevant environmental topics.
- Labour and human rights: how you approach employees and human rights.
- Ethics: how you organise ethical business practices.
- Sustainable procurement: how sustainability is considered in the supply chain.
Questions and relevant topics are tailored to factors including business activities, size and location. Work from your own organisation’s questionnaire and scope. Read the official EcoVadis methodology.
The outcome is a rating with a scorecard. EcoVadis determines the assessment and any award of a medal or badge. A medal or badge is not a certification or product quality mark. The current recognition criteria are decisive; DCA does not promise a score, score increase or medal.
From an initial review to a workable improvement plan
- Clarify the request and scope. We discuss the reason for the request, the entity being assessed, activities, employees involved and the available questionnaire or scorecard.
- Review the existing foundations. Together, we examine policies, procedures, recorded checks and available data. What is current, who uses it and which part of the organisation does it apply to?
- Identify gaps and priorities. We distinguish missing evidence from work that has not yet been carried out. For each improvement, we determine the action, owner and dependencies.
- Implement and substantiate. You implement the improvements with the agreed support from DCA. We help organise documents and make evidence of implementation and results easy to find.
- Review the preparation. We discuss the consistency of answers, documents and practice. Open issues become visible before you submit the assessment through EcoVadis.
- Follow up the scorecard. After the assessment, we translate areas for improvement into follow-up actions and a workable schedule for maintenance and reassessment.
The concrete outcome of our support is an agreed work plan, clear responsibilities and an overview of the supporting evidence. We record in advance which activities DCA carries out and which remain with you.
What does DCA do and what remains your responsibility?
- DCA: supports the initial review, helps translate questions and areas for improvement into activities, and helps organise policies, actions and evidence. We agree the precise operational support for each assignment.
- Your management: sets ambitions and priorities, approves policies and decisions, and allocates time and resources.
- Your team: provides accurate data, implements agreed controls and checks that answers and documents reflect the actual situation.
- EcoVadis: assesses the information submitted using its own methodology and determines the rating and scorecard.
This keeps responsibilities for content, implementation, checking and submission clear. We agree access to the EcoVadis platform and any support with the questionnaire within your assignment.
Demonstrate policies, implementation and results
We start with what your organisation actually does. Examples include approved policies, working procedures, training or inspection records and reports on relevant results. Link documents to the right question and record the entity, location and period they cover.
According to the EcoVadis supporting-document guidelines evidence must, among other things, be relevant, current and appropriate to the assessed scope. A new document alone does not demonstrate implementation. We help distinguish missing evidence from controls that first need to be put into practice.
Reuse existing ISO documentation
ISO policies, procedures, audit findings and valid certificates can provide a useful starting point. For each EcoVadis question, check whether the content, scope and period match. A certificate does not automatically cover every theme or question: additional evidence of implementation and results may be needed.
From scorecard to targeted improvement
Use the scorecard to determine which improvements need attention. We help choose a workable sequence, considering the finding, risks, available resources and dependencies. For each action, record who carries out the work, when it should be completed and what evidence demonstrates that the improvement works.
EcoVadis also offers a Corrective Action Plan within its own platform. Adding actions or evidence to that plan does not change the current score. A new assessment is needed for that. In the meantime, you are developing a better-substantiated approach.
Maintain oversight with the Compliance Tool
If you use the Compliance Tool as part of the support, it helps track the agreed activities:
- Tasks and owners: record responsibilities and track the status of improvement actions.
- Documents and evidence: organise supporting evidence alongside the relevant arrangement or control.
- Follow-up: keep clear what is complete, what still needs attention and what requires recurring checks.
The Tool supports internal work. The questionnaire, submission and EcoVadis assessment remain on the EcoVadis platform. We agree the setup you need and how the team will use it.
Request a demo and discuss how you currently organise actions and evidence.
What determines resources, costs and planning?
The resources required depend on the entity and activities being assessed, existing documentation, available data, open improvements and the time your team can allocate. A first assessment requires different preparation from following up an existing scorecard. EcoVadis scheduling and arrangements with the client also play a part.
- DCA support: initial review, preparation and agreed support with improvements. We determine the resources required based on your situation.
- Software: any licence and agreed setup of the Compliance Tool. Also view our general cost breakdown.
- EcoVadis: any subscription and assessment fees under EcoVadis’s terms; these are separate from DCA support.
- Your own implementation: staff time and any investment in improvements within the organisation.
We discuss the activities and dependencies before agreeing a schedule and resources. There is no fixed lead time or standard total price for every EcoVadis project.
Practical example: EcoVadis at Lucom
Lucom Benelux BV, Groot-Ammers. The assessed organisation is Lucom Benelux BV; the assessment scope on the scorecard is the entity.
Reason for the project and starting point
VodafoneZiggo asked Lucom for an EcoVadis assessment. After the first assessment, Lucom wanted to improve its sustainability performance, supporting evidence and score further. DCA supported Lucom in developing improvements.
What DCA did
Aileen refined eight documents, updated the corrective action plan and added explanations and supporting evidence in EcoVadis. The work included:
- Waste policy and environmental measures.
- Documentation on ethical conduct.
- Evidence relating to working conditions.
Practical implementation
Documentation from the Compliance Tool was used in this work. Evidence was uploaded to EcoVadis: the Tool supported the evidence base, while the assessment took place through EcoVadis.
DCA also supports Ritmeester with its EcoVadis project. Would you like to discuss what support fits your situation? Bring the invitation or existing scorecard to the discussion.
Frequently asked questions about EcoVadis
Our client asks for EcoVadis: where do we start?+
Start with the invitation, requested schedule and organisation being assessed. Gather existing policies and evidence and appoint an internal owner. DCA helps map the available foundations and outstanding actions.
Is EcoVadis a certification?+
EcoVadis provides a sustainability rating and scorecard. Any medals and badges are not a certification or product quality mark. EcoVadis assesses and determines the outcome; support does not guarantee a score or medal.
Which documents and evidence are relevant?+
Consider approved policies, procedures, evidence of implemented controls and reports on results. Relevance, currency and the scope of your own questionnaire are decisive. The focus is evidence of the real organisation, not merely filling a document folder.
What does DCA do and what do we need to do ourselves?+
DCA helps review the starting point, set priorities, structure activities and organise evidence. You provide data, make decisions and implement the agreed improvements. We record operational support and the division of responsibilities in advance.
How do we use an existing scorecard to improve?+
Translate improvement points into actions with an owner, schedule and demonstrable outcome. DCA helps determine priorities and dependencies. Updating actions in the EcoVadis Corrective Action Plan does not change the existing score; a new assessment is required.
Can we reuse existing ISO documentation?+
Yes, if the content fits the EcoVadis question, the assessed organisation and the relevant period. Check each topic to establish which evidence is already available and what else is needed. An ISO certificate does not replace the full EcoVadis assessment.
What determines costs and lead time?+
They depend on your scope, current practices and evidence, improvements needed, available resources and assessment schedule. Distinguish between DCA support, any software, EcoVadis costs and your own implementation. We agree resources and planning based on your situation.
How does the Compliance Tool support the project?+
The Tool helps organise tasks, owners, documents, evidence and follow-up. This supports internal improvement work. The EcoVadis questionnaire and submission remain in the EcoVadis platform. We agree the required setup and use in advance.
Official sources
Consulted on 19 September 2026. Use the current EcoVadis questionnaire, scorecard and publications when preparing.