Top 20 documents to include in your EcoVadis assessment

Last updated: September 5, 2025

Getting started with document collection for your EcoVadis assessment

Preparing for your EcoVadis assessment starts with gathering the right documents. EcoVadis analysts will only credit declarations backed by formal, credible evidence. That means the stronger and more relevant your documents are, the higher your chances of a good score.

This article explains which types of documents matter most, how many you can upload, and tips for organizing your collection.

How many documents can I upload?

You can upload up to 55 new supporting documents per assessment (documents from previous assessments don’t count toward this limit). Combined or “catch-all” documents are not accepted, so each file should stand on its own.

What types of documents should I prepare?

EcoVadis looks for evidence across three areas: policies, actions, and results. The most useful documents are those that are:

  • Formalized and part of your management system

  • Recent and valid (usually less than 2 years old for KPIs, 8 years for policies)

  • Clearly linked to sustainability themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement

Here are the top categories of documents to start collecting:

1. Reports and disclosures

  • Sustainability or CSR/ESG report

  • Annual report with a sustainability section

  • CDP report or other climate disclosures

  • Public KPI reports (energy, emissions, accidents, diversity, etc.)

  • SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) approval letter or disclosure

2. Policies and codes

  • Code of ethics/conduct

  • Environmental policy (with climate or resource targets)

  • Health and safety policy

  • Human rights and labor policy (covering DEI, child/forced labor, etc.)

  • Sustainable procurement policy or supplier code of conduct

  • Whistleblowing/grievance procedure

3. Certificates and external validations

  • ISO 14001 (environment) and ISO 45001 (health & safety) certificates

  • Other relevant certificates (ISO 27001, SA8000, FSC/PEFC, B Corp, etc.)

  • Third-party audit reports (e.g., SMETA, BSCI, SEDEX)

  • Rainforest Alliance or UTZ certification (for agricultural products)

4. Internal documents and actions

  • Employee handbook

  • Collective bargaining agreements (if applicable)

  • Internal training materials (ethics, labor rights, environment)

  • Risk assessments (environmental, safety, corruption, information security)

  • Records of implemented measures (e.g., solar panel installation, supplier audit results)

Tips for making the most of your documents

  • Start with the essentials: Sustainability reports, code of conduct, and ISO certificates often cover multiple questions.

  • Check validity: Use the most recent versions. Outdated or expired documents won’t count.

  • Label clearly: Make sure each document has your company name/logo and a clear issue date.

  • Think quality over quantity: One strong piece of evidence is usually better than several weaker ones.

  • Cover all themes: Aim for a balanced set across Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement.

What’s next?

Once you have your document set ready, you’ll upload and link each file to the relevant answers in the EcoVadis questionnaire. Our module will guide you step by step, and you can track your progress as you go.

If you’re unsure about a document, ask yourself: Does this file prove a commitment, action, or result in one of the four themes? If the answer is yes, it’s probably worth including.