Question · EcoVadis
What changed in EcoVadis document rules in 2026?
Most of EcoVadis's ten Q1 2026 methodology changes took effect on 15 April 2026. For supporting documents, five matter. In-progress certificates earn nothing. SMETA, amfori BSCI and TfS audit reports count for policies, actions and reporting. A verification-database screenshot can prove a certificate. Coverage is counted on employees or sites, never revenue. And from 7 May 2026, Scope 2 is reported location-based and market-based.
The changes that decide which files count
| Change | From | What to do with your files |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 14001, 45001 and 27001 left the external audit option. External audits must be independent, accredited and cover at least two sustainability criteria. | Q4 2025 | Link ISO certificates as certificates. Link SMETA or BSCI reports under the audit option. |
| In-progress certificates earn no credit | 15 Apr 2026 | Unlink the "in progress" letter. Upload the procedures and records the certification work produced. |
| Audit reports count as evidence for policies, actions and reporting: SMETA, amfori BSCI, TfS and qualified customer audits | 15 Apr 2026 | Add the full, latest audit report naming your company. It counts for 2 years. |
| Certificate proof widened. Where a standard keeps a public verification database, a screenshot, invoice or official notice showing company, standard, scope and validity is accepted. | 15 Apr 2026 | Screenshot the database entry with all four fields visible, and keep the company domain in view. |
| Revenue removed from coverage. Coverage is counted on employees or sites: 80% of operations for 1,000+ employee companies, 95% for energy and GHG figures. | 15 Apr 2026 | State coverage as a share of employees or sites in each KPI file. |
| Scope 2 split into a location-based and a market-based figure | 7 May 2026 | Give both figures in the GHG inventory. Name the grid factor and its version, for India the CEA database. |
| Two-business-day scorecard review before publication, to flag a misattributed item | Q2 2026 | Watch for the review notice and contest a news item that belongs to another company. |
Dates and wording as summarised by Sunhat (30 April 2026) and Greenplaces (updated 30 September 2026) from EcoVadis's Methodology Updates Q1 and Q2 2026. EcoVadis's own pages are the authority; open them from your platform's help centre.
What stayed the same
The validity windows in EcoVadis's Complete Document Guide v1.1 (1 August 2026): policies and actions 8 years, metrics 2 years, external audit reports 2 years, certificates to their expiry date, or 3 years if undated. The limit of 55 new documents per assessment. Every file shows your company's name or logo, a date of its own, and machine-readable text.
At a reassessment, replace reporting files first: figures older than two calendar years no longer count. The full list of rejection reasons has the fix for each.
Check last cycle's files against the 2026 rules
Upload your EcoVadis questionnaire export, the one with last cycle's answers and rejections. The free evidence check lists each file likely to be rejected, the rule behind it and the fix, and turns last cycle's rejections into actions in your plan.
Check your EcoVadis evidence free
Preparing the next cycle in the workspace: the workspace walkthrough.
Common questions
Does an ISO 14001 certificate still count as an external audit in EcoVadis?
It counts as a certificate. Since the Q4 2025 update, ISO 14001, 45001 and 27001 are excluded from the external audit option, which needs an independent, accredited audit covering at least two sustainability criteria, such as SMETA or amfori BSCI.
Our ISO 45001 certification is under way. Can we upload the contract with the certifier?
Since 15 April 2026 a certificate marked in progress earns no credit. Upload the procedures, training records and incident data that the certification work produced; they count as actions and reporting. Add the certificate when it is issued.
Related questions
- Which Indian statutory documents count as EcoVadis evidence? PCB consents, POSH, EPR, groundwater and fire NOCs, PF/ESI.
- Why does EcoVadis reject supporting documents?
- What does EcoVadis ask for? The four themes and 21 criteria.
- Can ChatGPT or Claude check EcoVadis evidence?
Sources
- EcoVadis Help Center, Methodology Updates Q1 2026: support.ecovadis.com
- EcoVadis Help Center, Methodology Updates Q2 2026: support.ecovadis.com
- Sunhat, EcoVadis methodology updates Q1 2026, 30 April 2026: getsunhat.com
- Greenplaces, EcoVadis methodology changes for your 2026 submission, 1 May 2026, updated 30 September 2026: greenplaces.com
- EcoVadis, Complete Document Guide v1.1, 1 August 2026: resources.ecovadis.com
Guidance, not advice. Independent of EcoVadis: ClimateFluent prepares your evidence; EcoVadis does the rating. EcoVadis is a trade mark of EcoVadis SAS.