EcoVadis Methodology Update 2026: 9 Changes Every Sustainability Manager Needs to Know
Is your EcoVadis submission still valid after the 2026 updates?
Between April and May 2026, EcoVadis published nine methodology changes. Some affect which documents are accepted. Others change how coverage is calculated or how your scorecard feedback is presented. If you are currently preparing a submission or planning your improvement roadmap, at least three of these changes require immediate action.
This article gives you a clear overview of every change and whether it affects your situation. A separate guide covers exactly what to do about each one before your next submission.
All 9 changes: quick reference
| # | Change | Published | Direct submission impact? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32.1 | New methodology disclosure documents | 1 Apr 2026 | No |
| 32.2 | Revenue removed from coverage calculation | 15 Apr 2026 | Yes |
| 32.3 | More evidence types accepted for certifications | 15 Apr 2026 | Yes (positive) |
| 32.4 | Audit reports accepted; "in progress" certificates removed | 15 Apr 2026 | Yes |
| 32.5 | GRI "with reference" now scores | 14 Apr 2026 | Yes |
| 32.6 | Scorecard feedback now more specific | 15 Apr 2026 | Yes |
| 32.7 | CSDDD Annex II environment criteria updated | 15 Apr 2026 | Yes |
| 32.8 | Two new environmental risk questions added | 15 Apr 2026 | Partial |
| 32.9 | Scope 2 split into location-based and market-based | 7 May 2026 | Yes |
32.1 – New methodology disclosure documents
EcoVadis has published comprehensive methodology disclosure documents for all rating products, available in a new "Regulatory Disclosures" section on the platform. A standardised versioning system has been introduced. Significant changes now require a mandatory 30-day public consultation before they take effect.
Does this affect my submission? Not directly. This is a transparency and governance change driven by the EU ESG Ratings Regulation.
How Kemi helps: I monitor EcoVadis methodology changes continuously and flag relevant updates to my clients ahead of each submission cycle, so nothing catches them off guard.
32.2 – Revenue removed from coverage calculation
EcoVadis has removed revenue as a valid way to demonstrate coverage for site-level evidence. From 15 April 2026, the 80% and 95% coverage thresholds for policies, additional clauses and reporting indicators must be demonstrated using number of employees or number of sites only.
Does this affect my submission? Yes, if your company has multiple sites and previously used revenue to demonstrate coverage. Evidence that met the threshold before may no longer meet it.
How Kemi helps: Reviewing coverage calculations is a standard part of my gap analysis process. I identify which site-level documents need to be updated or replaced based on the new calculation method, before they are rejected at submission.
| Previous rule | Updated rule |
|---|---|
| Coverage could be demonstrated using revenue, employees or number of sites. | Coverage must be demonstrated using employees or number of sites only. Revenue is no longer accepted. |
32.3 – More evidence types accepted for certifications
Where a publicly accessible online verification database exists for a certification standard, EcoVadis now accepts additional evidence types including database screenshots, audit reports, sustainability reports, website screenshots, invoices and official correspondence with the certification body. The screenshot must clearly show company name, standard name, scope and validity status.
Does this affect my submission? Yes, positively. If you have certifications that are verifiable online but have struggled to provide the formal certificate, you now have more flexibility.
How Kemi helps: I advise clients on which evidence types carry the most weight for each certification and how to structure the documentation correctly so it clearly meets the criteria EcoVadis is looking for.
32.4 – Audit reports accepted as evidence; "in progress" certificates removed
External sustainability audit reports and certification audit reports can now be submitted as evidence for policies, actions and reporting across all four EcoVadis themes. Coverage requirements apply: 80% for policies and reporting, 95% for energy and GHG KPIs.
At the same time, EcoVadis will no longer accept management system certificates marked as "in progress." This status has been removed entirely from the assessment framework.
Does this affect my submission? Yes. If you have any document currently submitted as "in progress," it will not be accepted. If you have external audit reports not currently used as evidence, they may now strengthen your submission.
How Kemi helps: As part of my document review, I check the evidence library for any "in progress" documents and identify audit reports that could now be mapped across relevant themes to strengthen the submission.
32.5 – GRI "with reference" now scores
EcoVadis has updated its scoring rules for GRI reporting. Previously, GRI "with reference" compliance had no impact on the rating. From 14 April 2026, it can achieve a score of 75 in the reporting dimension, provided all other report quality criteria are met.
Does this affect my submission? Yes, if your sustainability report is aligned with GRI at the "with reference" level. This change may directly improve your reporting score.
How Kemi helps: Reviewing how your sustainability report is classified against GRI standards and whether it meets the additional report quality criteria is part of my gap analysis. If you report at the "with reference" level, I assess whether the necessary quality criteria are in place to score at 75 in the reporting dimension.
32.6 – Scorecard feedback now more specific
Scorecards published after 15 April 2026 contain more specific, diagnostic improvement areas. The underlying scoring has not changed, only the way feedback is presented. New diagnostics explicitly flag: missing quantitative targets in policies, absence of sector best practices in actions, general voluntary commitments that fall short of recognised standards, and missing ISO 27001 or ISO 37001 certifications under Ethics.
Does this affect my submission? Yes. If your next scorecard contains more specific feedback than previous cycles, that is this change. The new feedback is more actionable and should be treated as your brief for the next cycle.
How Kemi helps: Reading the scorecard with clients and translating the feedback into a prioritised improvement plan is a core part of how I work. The new specificity makes this even more valuable. I cover this in detail as part of my module 1, so that every improvement area becomes a concrete, actionable next step rather than a vague signal.
32.7 – CSDDD Annex II environment criteria updated
EcoVadis has updated option texts in the Biodiversity, Air Pollution, and Materials, Chemicals and Waste criteria to align with CSDDD Annex II requirements. Three existing options have been reworded and a new option has been added under Materials, Chemicals and Waste: "Actions to prevent the offshore disposal of waste."
| Previous wording | Updated wording |
|---|---|
| Formal risk assessment of the impacts of operations or their dependency on local biodiversity and ecosystems | Assessment of the impact of operations on local biodiversity and ecosystems |
| Actions to mitigate the impacts and physical disturbances of marine life during operations | Actions to protect and avoid impacts on aquatic ecosystems during operations |
| Actions to support and protect native species not used for production purposes | Actions to support and protect ecosystems and native species not used for production |
Does this affect my submission? Yes, if you have evidence submitted under these criteria. Check that your documentation still clearly supports the updated option texts.
How Kemi helps: Reviewing evidence against the updated biodiversity and environmental criteria wording is part of my gap analysis process. I check whether existing documents still clearly map to the new option texts and flag where language or framing needs to be updated before submission.
32.8 – Two new environmental risk questions added
EcoVadis has replaced the previous single question on physical climate risk with two new evidence-based questions: one on assessing the potential impacts of external environmental risks, and one on actions taken in response to external environmental degradation. Available options vary by industry and company size.
These questions do not negatively affect your score. However, evidence submitted will generate strengths or improvement areas on your scorecard. The existing Water criterion action "Conducted water risk assessments" has been removed to avoid duplication.
Does this affect my submission? Partially. Your score will not drop if you leave these questions unanswered, but evidencing them well can generate strengths on your scorecard.
How Kemi helps: Identifying which environmental risk documentation is relevant for a client's specific industry and how to present it in the new question fields is part of my workshop and improvement planning process. Even where these questions are not yet fully evidenced, I help clients understand which internal processes could be formalised to support them in the next cycle.
32.9 – Scope 2 split into location-based and market-based
The single combined Scope 2 metric has been replaced by two separate reporting options aligned with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard: location-based and market-based. The scoring impact remains unchanged, but strengths and improvement areas on the scorecard will now be based on the evidence submitted for each figure separately. A reliability grade (low, medium, high or third-party verified) will be assigned to each metric.
Does this affect my submission? Yes, if you currently report a single combined Scope 2 figure. You will need to split this into two separate figures before your next submission.
How Kemi helps: Reviewing KPI dashboard structure and advising on how to separate and evidence location-based and market-based Scope 2 figures correctly is part of my document review module. I work with clients to ensure their KPI dashboard is structured in a way that reflects both figures clearly and meets the reliability criteria EcoVadis applies.
Not sure which of these changes affects your submission?
The practical implications vary significantly depending on your industry, company size, current evidence library and target medal. A short conversation is often the fastest way to identify which of these nine changes require action before your next submission.