How to Use Your VS (VSME) Report to Prepare for EcoVadis (The Data Overlap Guide)
How to Use Your VS (VSME) Report to Prepare for EcoVadis
🤝 VS (VSME) to EcoVadis Theme Overlap Map
You just received an EcoVadis assessment invitation from one of your corporate customers. The email says you need to complete a questionnaire covering your company's environmental practices, labor conditions, ethics, and procurement policies. It feels like a lot.
Here's the good news: if you've already completed a VS (VSME) report, you've done 40-60% of the work. The data points in your VS (VSME) report map directly to the themes EcoVadis evaluates. This guide shows you exactly where the overlap is — and where you'll need to go further.
What is EcoVadis? (Quick Context)
EcoVadis is a sustainability ratings platform used by over 130,000 companies worldwide. Large corporations use EcoVadis to evaluate the ESG performance of their suppliers. If you're an SME in a supply chain, your customer may require you to complete an EcoVadis assessment as a condition of continuing the business relationship.
EcoVadis evaluates companies across four themes:
- Environment (Energy, emissions, water, biodiversity, pollution)
- Labor & Human Rights (Health & safety, working conditions, social dialogue, non-discrimination)
- Ethics (Corruption, anti-competitive practices, responsible information management)
- Sustainable Procurement (Supplier environmental practices, supplier social practices)
Each theme is scored 0-100, and your overall score determines your medal level (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum).
The VS (VSME)-to-EcoVadis Mapping
Here is the exact correspondence between VS (VSME) disclosures and EcoVadis scoring themes. This is the map that saves you time.
🌿 EcoVadis Theme 1: Environment
| EcoVadis Question Area | VS (VSME) Disclosure | What Your VS (VSME) Report Already Contains |
|---|---|---|
| Energy consumption & efficiency | B3 (Energy & GHG) | Total energy consumption (kWh), energy sources, Scope 1 & 2 emissions |
| GHG emissions reporting | B3 + C3 (targets) | CO₂e totals and (if Comprehensive) reduction targets for 2030 |
| Carbon reduction targets | C3 (GHG Reduction Targets) | Scope 1, 2, and optionally Scope 3 targets |
| Water management | B6 (Water) | Water consumption data and water-stress assessment |
| Biodiversity | B5 (Biodiversity) | Proximity to protected areas, biodiversity policy |
| Pollution & waste | B4 (Pollution) + B7 (Waste) | Pollutant types, waste volumes, recycling rates |
| Climate risk assessment | C4 (Climate-related risks) | Physical and transition risk identification |
Coverage level: ~70-80% — EcoVadis may additionally ask about environmental certifications (ISO 14001), product lifecycle assessments, and specific environmental KPIs beyond what the VS (VSME) covers.
👥 EcoVadis Theme 2: Labor & Human Rights
| EcoVadis Question Area | VS (VSME) Disclosure | What Your VS (VSME) Report Already Contains |
|---|---|---|
| Employee health & safety | B9 (Health & Safety) | Work-related injuries, fatalities, LTIFR, H&S training |
| Working conditions | B8 (Workforce General) | Headcount, gender split, contract types, turnover |
| Remuneration & training | B10 (Remuneration) | Gender pay gap, training hours, living wage, collective bargaining |
| Human rights due diligence | C7 (Human Rights) | Due diligence policy, grievance mechanisms |
| Diversity & inclusion | B8 + B10 | Gender data, pay equity |
Coverage level: ~60-70% — EcoVadis may additionally ask about child labor policies, forced labor risk assessments, supply chain human rights monitoring, and specific diversity targets.
⚖️ EcoVadis Theme 3: Ethics
| EcoVadis Question Area | VS (VSME) Disclosure | What Your VS (VSME) Report Already Contains |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-corruption | B11 (Governance) | Convictions, fines, anti-corruption policies |
| Whistleblower mechanisms | C9 (Business Conduct) | Whistleblower channels, anti-corruption training |
| Data privacy & information security | — | Not covered by VS (VSME) |
| Anti-competitive practices | — | Not covered by VS (VSME) |
Coverage level: ~40-50% — EcoVadis has broader ethics requirements. You'll likely need to provide additional documentation on data privacy (GDPR compliance) and competitive practices. The good news: as an EU-based company, you should already have GDPR policies in place.
🔗 EcoVadis Theme 4: Sustainable Procurement
| EcoVadis Question Area | VS (VSME) Disclosure | What Your VS (VSME) Report Already Contains |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier environmental practices | C8 (Value Chain) | Supply chain sustainability practices (Comprehensive only) |
| Supplier social practices | C8 (Value Chain) | Same — if completed |
| Scope 3 emissions from procurement | C5 (Scope 3) | Spend-based or supplier-based estimate (Comprehensive only) |
Coverage level: ~30-40% — This is the weakest overlap area. EcoVadis places significant weight on procurement, while the VS (VSME) Basic Module doesn't cover it at all. The Comprehensive Module touches it lightly in C8.
The Strategy: VS (VSME) First, EcoVadis Second
Based on this mapping, here's the most efficient approach:
Step 1: Complete Your VS (VSME) Report First
If you haven't done it yet, create your free VS (VSME) report using the Basic Module. This takes ~15 minutes and gives you a structured, exportable document with your core ESG data.
Step 2: Identify the Gaps
Using the mapping above, identify which EcoVadis themes are not covered by your VS (VSME) report:
- Data privacy / GDPR documentation (Theme 3)
- Supplier assessment processes (Theme 4)
- Environmental certifications (Theme 1 bonus)
- Specific diversity and inclusion policies (Theme 2 bonus)
Step 3: Prepare Additional Evidence
For each gap, prepare the supporting documents EcoVadis expects:
- Policies: Written sustainability policy, code of conduct, GDPR policy, procurement policy
- Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001, B Corp, or equivalent
- KPIs: Specific targets beyond what the VS (VSME) requires (e.g., "reduce emissions 30% by 2030")
- Evidence of Action: Training records, audit results, improvement initiatives
Step 4: Upload to EcoVadis
When you start your EcoVadis assessment, you'll find that the questionnaire moves much faster because you already have:
- Your emissions data (from VS (VSME) B3)
- Your workforce data (from VS (VSME) B8-B10)
- Your governance data (from VS (VSME) B11)
- Your waste and water data (from VS (VSME) B4-B7)
Simply reference your VS (VSME) report as a supporting document, and use the specific data points to answer the EcoVadis questions.
What VS (VSME) Module Should You Choose If EcoVadis Is Coming?
| EcoVadis Scenario | Recommended VS (VSME) Module |
|---|---|
| Customer mentioned EcoVadis but hasn't sent an invitation yet | Basic Module (get your baseline data ready) |
| You've received the EcoVadis invitation and have time to prepare | Comprehensive Module (covers C3 targets, C7 human rights, C8 value chain — all important for EcoVadis) |
| You need to maximize your EcoVadis score | Comprehensive Module + additional certifications and policies |
The Comprehensive Module is available on ExecutESG's Pro tier (€49/month).
The Score Impact
While we can't guarantee specific EcoVadis scores, companies that enter the assessment with structured ESG data consistently perform better than those who start from scratch. Here's why:
- Completeness: EcoVadis rewards answering all questions. VS (VSME) data helps you answer more sections.
- Evidence quality: A structured VS (VSME) report is more credible than ad-hoc answers.
- Consistency: Your VS (VSME) data is internally consistent (same reporting period, same methodology).
- Speed: You complete the assessment faster, leaving more time to improve weak areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit my VS (VSME) report directly to EcoVadis? Not as a replacement for the EcoVadis questionnaire — they have their own format. However, you can upload your VS (VSME) report as a supporting document, and use the data it contains to answer the EcoVadis questions.
Which is more important: VS (VSME) or EcoVadis? They serve different purposes. The VS (VSME) is a voluntary disclosure framework you control. EcoVadis is a third-party rating that your customer controls. Having both gives you maximum flexibility: the VS (VSME) for standardized reporting to all stakeholders, and the EcoVadis score for specific customer requirements.
What if my customer asks for VS (VSME) AND EcoVadis? Start with VS (VSME) (it's faster and free). Then use the VS (VSME) data to complete your EcoVadis assessment. This is the most efficient path.
Does ExecutESG directly integrate with EcoVadis? Not yet — this is on our roadmap as part of the "EcoVadis Prep Mode" feature. Today, you can export your VS (VSME) data and manually reference it during your EcoVadis assessment. We're working on automated mapping to make this seamless.
What's the cost of an EcoVadis assessment? EcoVadis charges the assessed company approximately €500-3,000/year depending on company size. The assessment itself is initiated by your customer (who pays a separate fee to access the platform). Your VS (VSME) report (free via ExecutESG) helps you maximize the ROI on that EcoVadis investment.
Ready to build your VS (VSME) foundation before EcoVadis arrives?
Start Your Free VS (VSME) Report →
No credit card required. Get your ESG data structured now, so when the EcoVadis invitation lands, you're already prepared.
Need to collect your data first? Use our VS (VSME) Data Collection Checklist.
Want to understand the EFRAG VS (VSME) Standard? Read our Complete Guide.