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Understanding how large companies with 50,000+ employees are assessed

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The EcoVadis Team
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Large companies (L) with 50,000+ employees have a complex corporate structure and might have many international subsidiaries. Such companies generally have:

  • Varying organizational management models, from centralized to decentralized (including sustainability management).
  • Higher scrutiny from third-party stakeholders.

As EcoVadis aims to guide all companies toward a sustainable world, we have adapted our processes to the needs of L companies with 50,000+ employees, including:

Consultation for score drop in reassessments and 360° Watch Findings

For L companies with 50,000+ employees, if there is a significant score drop during a reassessment, our analysts will proactively contact your company before the assessment is published. They will explain the reasons for the score decrease, and the company will have the opportunity to submit relevant additional documents. 

Additionally, if our analysts identify 360° Watch Findings that may severely impact the assessment score, the company under assessment is given the opportunity to comment on them. You can find more information in EcoVadis 360° Watch.

The comment period allows companies to share feedback on issues that may significantly affect their scorecard results and chances of receiving a medal. However, it's important to note that this process does not necessarily mean the initial analysis will be modified.

The process typically takes about 10 business days –  7 for the rated company to provide comments and 3 for our analyst team to review any additional information. Extensions of up to 5 extra business days can be accommodated, please be aware that this could potentially cause a delay in the publication of the scorecard.

Scoring principles for L companies with 50,000+ employees

The same scoring principles apply as to large companies with less than 50,000 employees, except for the policies, measures, and 360° Watch management indicators. 

Here are the exceptions below, with requirements specific to L companies with 50,000+ employees highlighted in bold: 

Policies management indicator

Scoring Principles for the Environment Theme

0 

Insufficient

25 

Partial

50 

Good

75 

Advanced

100 

Outstanding
No formalized policy Qualitative objectives or quantitative targets Qualitative objectives or quantitative targets Qualitative objectives and quantitative targets Qualitative objectives for all key sustainability criteria
  Less than 67% of key sustainability criteria covered More than 67% of key sustainability criteria covered More than 67% of key sustainability criteria covered Quantitative targets for at least 50% of key sustainability criteria
        Quantitative target on Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions
      1 of the following:  2 of the following: 
- - - Governance and allocation of responsibilities Governance and allocation of responsibilities
- - - Review mechanism Review mechanism
- - - Specified scope Specified scope
 

 

Scoring Principles for the Labor & Human Rights Theme

0 

Insufficient

25 

Partial

50 

Good

75 

Advanced

100 

Outstanding
No formalized policy Qualitative objectives or quantitative targets Qualitative objectives or quantitative targets Qualitative objectives and quantitative targets Qualitative objectives for all key sustainability criteria
  Less than 67% of key sustainability criteria covered More than 67% of key sustainability criteria covered More than 67% of key sustainability criteria covered Quantitative targets for at least 50% of key sustainability criteria
       

Quantitative target on working conditions*

 

and 

 

Quantitative target on diversity, equity and inclusion
      1 of the following:  All of the following: 
- - - Governance and allocation of responsibilities Governance and allocation of responsibilities
- - - Review mechanism Review mechanism
- - - Specified scope Specified scope
 

*Examples of quantitative target on working conditions include:

  • Pay a living wage to 100% of employees across the organization by 2030,
  • Offer parental leave to 100% of employees by 2027.

Scoring Principles for the Ethics Themes

0 

Insufficient

25 

Partial

50 

Good

75 

Advanced

100 

Outstanding
No formalized policy Qualitative objectives or quantitative targets Qualitative objectives or quantitative targets Qualitative objectives Qualitative objectives 
  Less than 50% of key sustainability criteria covered At least 50% of key sustainability criteria covered All key sustainability criteria covered All key sustainability criteria covered
    Policies on 2 of these subcriteria:
  • bribery
  • conflict of interest
  • money laundering
  • fraud
 Policies on 3 of these subcriteria:
  • bribery
  • conflict of interest
  • money laundering
  • fraud
 Policies on all of these subcriteria:
  • bribery
  • conflict of interest
  • money laundering
  • fraud
-

-

 

 At least 2 of the following (*must be an integral part of the policy document): At least 4 of the following: At least 6 of the following:
- -
  • Detailed ethical guidelines with examples such as red flags, annex with Q&A
  • Review mechanism (for example revision history table, version number)
  • Governance and allocation of responsibilities (such as Ethics Committee or Ethics Officer)
  • Scope of the policy is specified 
  • Quantitative targets for key sustainability aspects  within the Ethics theme
  • Ethics Policy Acknowledgment is signed by all employees
  • Disciplinary measures for policy violations
 

 

Scoring Principles for the Sustainable Procurement Theme

0 

Insufficient

25 

Partial

50 

Good

75 

Advanced

100 

Outstanding
No formalized policy

General qualitative objectives or targets 

or

Qualitative objectives or targets on one activated criteria 

 Qualitative objectives or targets on all activated criteria 

Qualitative objectives or targets on all activated criteria 

 

Qualitative objectives or targets on all activated criteria 

 
        Quantitative target on total Scope 3 or Upstream Scope 3 GHG emissions
      3 of the following:  all of the following: 
- - - Governance and allocation of responsibilities Governance and allocation of responsibilities
- - - Review mechanism Review mechanism
- - - Specified scope Specified scope
      Quantitative targets on sustainable procurement Quantitative targets on sustainable procurement

 

Measures management indicator

Scoring Principles for the Environment and Labor & Human Rights
  Percentage of key sustainability criteria addressed
  < 33% 33 to 65% ≥66%
No measures 0 0 0
1 measure 25 25 50
2 to 3 measures 25 50

75

(At least 1 measure for all key sustainability issues)
4+ measures 50

75

(At least 1 measure for all key sustainability issues)

100

(At least 2 measures for all key sustainability issues)
 
 

Scoring Principles for the Ethics Theme 
  Sustainability criteria addressed
  Information security Corruption prevention All activated criteria
No measures 0 0 0
1 to 2 measure 25 25 50
3 to 4 measures 25 50 75*
5+ measures 50 75* 100**

*Risk assessment is documented for at least one of the following: information security or corruption prevention.

**Risk assessment is documented for both information security and corruption prevention.
 
 

Scoring Principles for the Sustainable Procurement Theme
No measures 0
1 to 2 measures  25
3 to 4 measures* 50
5 to 6 measures* 75
7+ measures* 100
*List of accepted measures:
  • Implementing a supplier sustainability code of conduct.
  • Including social or environmental clauses in supplier contracts.
  • Conducting sustainability risk analysis before supplier assessments or audits.
  • Assessing suppliers on environmental or social practices through questionnaires.
  • Training buyers on social and environmental issues in the supply chain.
  • Performing on-site audits of suppliers for environmental or social issues.
  • Building supplier capacity on environmental or social issues through corrective actions and training.
  • Offering unique incentives to high-performing suppliers, such as awards, preferred supplier programs, or access to RFPs.
  • Integrating sustainable procurement objectives into buyer performance reviews.
  • Applying innovative practices, such as second-tier audits or worker voice surveys.

 

360° Watch Management Indicator

To accommodate for the complex structure of L companies with 50,000+ employees, the cumulative rules of 360° Watch findings are less stringent:

Cumulative rules for 360° Watch Findings
Score 0 Score 25 Score 50 Score 75  Score 100 

At least 1 severe case 

or

At least 10 major cases

or

At least 100 minor cases

At least 1 major case

or

At least 10 minor cases 

 At least 5 minor cases

None

or

4 or less minor cases 

 At least 3 positive cases
 

 

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