In the context of sustainability requirements, companies have various certifications at their disposal to certify their environmental and social responsibility commitments. Two of the most recognised certifications are EcoVadis and B Corp, both provide a snapshot of a company's sustainability performance, but from different perspectives and for different purposes.

EcoVadis: Evaluation for supply chains

EcoVadis is a rating system widely used in supply chains to assess the sustainability performance of suppliers. This certification is globally recognised and focuses on four main pillars:

Medium: measures to minimise environmental impact

Labour and human rights: working conditions and respect for human rights

Ethics: business integrity

Sustainable procurement: the impact of suppliers on sustainability.

The EcoVadis assessment is based on a customised questionnaire and supporting documents, after which the company receives a score on each pillar, together with an overall grade. EcoVadis certification is preferred by companies that operate in global supply chains and need a standardised method to assess the sustainability of their suppliers.

B Corp: A holistic approach to social responsibility

B Corp is a certification with a broader scope, covering not only environmental performance but also social impact, corporate governance and economic responsibility. The B Corp certification process measures a company's performance in five areas:

Governance: transparent and accountable practices.

Labour: employee rights and working conditions.

Community: impact on local communities.

Medium: policies and actions to protect the environment.

Customers: ethical practices towards consumers...

To achieve certification, a company must achieve a minimum score of 80 out of 200 points and be reassessed every three years. B Corp is aimed at social mission-orientated companies that aim to improve their impact on the community and the wider environment.

Main differences between EcoVadis and B Corp:

Main objective: EcoVadis is B2B orientated and is used in supply chain assessment. B Corp is a certification for companies that want to demonstrate their commitment to social and environmental responsibility to the general public.

Evaluation scope: although both certifications assess sustainability, B Corp also includes corporate governance and customer impact, which is not at the centre of EcoVadis.

Evaluation methodology: EcoVadis uses a customised questionnaire and scores on specific pillars, while B Corp assesses the company holistically, covering several factors, with a minimum score threshold for certification.

Several companies in Romania providing consultancy for EcoVadis and B Corp:

Bureau Veritas Romania
Sustainalytics Romania
Deloitte Romania
PwC Romania.

List of EcoVadis training partners (Romanian language) here.

Although EcoVadis and B Corp have similar aims in promoting sustainability, they respond to the different needs of companies. EcoVadis is suitable for companies in complex supply chains, while B Corp is more suitable for social mission-orientated companies that want to differentiate themselves through their commitments to society and the environment. Through the EcoVadis collaboration platform, companies can collaborate with value chain partners to continuously improve their sustainability practices.