EcoVadis Questionnaire: How to Complete the Carbon Section
What Is the EcoVadis Environment Theme?
EcoVadis is a sustainability rating platform used by thousands of large enterprise buyers. It assesses suppliers across four themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. The Environment theme — which includes carbon and GHG reporting — carries approximately 32% of your total EcoVadis score.
Getting the Environment theme right is therefore the single highest-impact section of your EcoVadis assessment. This guide focuses specifically on the carbon-related questions and how to answer them correctly.
What Questions Does EcoVadis Ask About Carbon and GHG?
The Environment theme carbon section covers:
| Question Area | What EcoVadis Is Assessing |
|---|---|
| GHG emissions measurement | Do you measure Scope 1 and Scope 2? Do you measure Scope 3? |
| Methodology | Which standard do you follow? GHG Protocol, ISO 14064? |
| Reporting boundary | What facilities and activities are in scope? |
| Data quality | Are figures estimated, calculated, or verified by a third party? |
| Reduction targets | Do you have quantified reduction targets for GHG? |
| Targets science-based | Are your targets aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)? |
| Actual reduction performance | Has your footprint reduced year over year? |
| Carbon offsetting | Do you use offsets? Which standards (Gold Standard, VCS)? |
| Climate policy | Do you have a written, board-approved climate or environmental policy? |
What Score Do You Get for Each Evidence Level?
EcoVadis scores are not binary — they reward depth of evidence. For the GHG measurement question:
| Evidence Provided | Score Impact |
|---|---|
| No measurement, no policy | Minimum score for this section |
| Self-assessed Scope 1 and 2 with stated methodology | Moderate score — demonstrates awareness |
| Scope 1, 2, and 3 measured, GHG Protocol, DEFRA factors, verification URL | Strong score — demonstrates management |
| Above + third-party review + published reduction target + year-on-year reduction | Maximum score — demonstrates leadership |
The progression from Bronze to Silver to Gold EcoVadis ratings is substantially driven by moving up this evidence ladder. Most SME suppliers start at the "awareness" level and achieve Silver by adding a verified Scope 3 estimate and a formal reduction commitment.
What Methodology Statement Should You Submit?
EcoVadis requires a written methodology statement. The correct statement for a Carbon Passport approach:
"Our greenhouse gas inventory follows the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard (World Resources Institute / World Business Council for Sustainable Development). Scope 1 covers direct combustion of natural gas, diesel, petrol, LPG, and any refrigerant leakage from owned equipment. Scope 2 is calculated using the location-based method, applying DEFRA 2023 national grid emission factors. Scope 3 covers Categories 3 (well-to-tank upstream fuel), 5 (waste), 6 (business travel), and 7 (employee commuting). All emission factors are sourced from the UK Government DEFRA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Conversion Factors 2023. The inventory is self-assessed. A verification URL is available at [your Carbon Passport URL]."
DeCarbonOPS generates a version of this statement automatically in your Carbon Passport.
What Documents Should You Upload to EcoVadis?
EcoVadis uses documents as evidence — stated policies without documents score lower. Upload:
- Your Carbon Passport PDF — confirms Scope 1, 2, 3 measurement with GHG Protocol methodology
- Your environmental or climate policy document — a one-page signed statement from senior management is sufficient. It does not need to be ISO 14001 or formally certified.
- Your reduction target commitment — can be a simple board resolution or published statement: "We commit to reducing our absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by X% by [year]."
- Evidence of renewable electricity — if applicable, your green tariff contract or REGO/GoO certificate (UK/EU)
- Waste contractor annual report — shows your waste tonnage and disposal method
You do not need ISO 14001, a full sustainability report, or third-party verification to achieve a strong EcoVadis Environment score for the first time. A Carbon Passport plus a simple written climate policy moves most first-time respondents out of the lowest tier.
How Does EcoVadis Treat the Verification URL?
EcoVadis evaluators cross-check your stated figures against any external evidence you provide. A Carbon Passport from DeCarbonOPS provides:
- A public URL that any evaluator can access to verify your Scope 1, 2, and 3 figures
- Confirmation that the GHG Protocol methodology was followed
- The DEFRA 2023 factors used
- The reporting year and calculation date
Paste this URL directly into the EcoVadis questionnaire's evidence URL field and reference it in your methodology statement. Evaluators recognise it as supporting documentation for the GHG measurement answer.
What Is the Fastest Path to EcoVadis Silver?
The majority of first-time EcoVadis respondents who achieve Silver do so by:
- Measuring and documenting Scope 1, 2, and 3 with a clear GHG Protocol methodology — a Carbon Passport covers this
- Writing and signing a brief climate policy statement — 200–300 words is sufficient
- Setting a quantified reduction target — even "reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 15% by 2027 from a 2024 baseline" counts
- Uploading all three as documents in the EcoVadis portal
This approach typically takes one working day and moves most SMEs from Bronze or Not Rated to Silver on the Environment theme.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of the EcoVadis score is based on environmental and carbon data?
The Environment theme carries approximately 32% of your total EcoVadis score — the largest single theme. Within Environment, GHG measurement, methodology, reduction targets, and year-on-year performance are the primary scoring factors. Getting the carbon section right is therefore the highest-impact single action for improving your EcoVadis rating.
What is the correct methodology statement for an EcoVadis questionnaire?
State: 'GHG Protocol Corporate Standard (WRI/WBCSD). Emission factors: DEFRA 2023. Scope 1 covers natural gas, diesel, petrol, LPG, and refrigerant gases. Scope 2 is location-based using national grid factors. Scope 3 covers Categories 3, 5, 6, and 7. Self-assessed. Verification URL: [your Carbon Passport URL].' EcoVadis evaluators use this to confirm methodology compliance.
What documents should I upload to EcoVadis for the carbon section?
Upload: your Carbon Passport PDF (confirms GHG Protocol methodology and Scope 1/2/3 figures), a brief written climate or environmental policy signed by a director, your reduction target commitment, renewable electricity certificate if applicable (REGO or GoO), and your waste contractor's annual tonnage report. These documents move your score from Awareness to Management level.
What EcoVadis score level can an SME realistically achieve for a first submission?
Most SMEs with a Carbon Passport, a written climate policy, and a basic reduction target achieve Silver on the Environment theme in their first submission. Reaching Bronze requires only basic data. Gold requires SBTi-aligned targets, third-party verified data, and active supply chain engagement — typically a second or third year objective.
How does EcoVadis use the Carbon Passport verification URL?
EcoVadis evaluators cross-check your stated emissions figures against external evidence you provide. A DeCarbonOPS Carbon Passport URL confirms your Scope 1, 2, and 3 figures, GHG Protocol methodology, DEFRA 2023 factors used, and reporting year. Paste it into the EcoVadis evidence URL field and reference it in your methodology statement.
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