The Manufacturer’s Guide to EcoVadis 2025: Securing Your First Bronze Medal in the GCC

Key Takeaways for Manufacturing Leaders:

• The Bronze Bar: In 2025, a Bronze medal requires you to be in the top 35% of all rated companies. For a first-time assessment, this is a challenging but achievable target.

• The "Red Flag" Risks: For GCC manufacturers, the biggest score-killers are "Recruitment Fees" and undocumented "Health & Safety" practices.

• The "Committed" Badge: If you miss Bronze, scoring 45+ earns the "Committed" badge—a vital first signal to clients that you are compliant.

The "Silent" Requirement in Your Supply Chain

You’ve just received an email from a major client—perhaps a multinational like Unilever, a

global automotive giant, or a regional leader like ADNOC or SABIC. They aren’t asking about your production capacity or lead times. They are asking for your EcoVadis Scorecard.

For manufacturers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, this is the new reality. Sustainability is no longer just PR; it is a procurement gatekeeper. If you cannot prove your ESG performance, you risk being filtered out of the supplier list before you even submit a bid.

Why Bronze Matters for Manufacturers

Getting your first Bronze Medal (or even the "Committed" Badge) sends three powerful signals to your buyers:

1. Risk Reduction: You are not a liability. You don't have hidden forced labor issues or environmental fines.

2. Export Readiness: You are aligned with European regulations (like the German Supply Chain Act) that many GCC buyers now enforce.

3. Operational Maturity: You don't just "do" safety; you measure it.

 Steps to Your First Medal

EcoVadis assesses manufacturers on four themes. Here is where you likely stand, and where you need to focus:

1. Environment (Weight: High)

• The Trap: You have a waste contractor, but no data.

• The Fix: EcoVadis needs evidence.

  • Basic: Upload your trade license and environmental permit.

  • Bronze Level: Upload waste manifests (stamped receipts) from your disposal service. Create a simple Excel sheet tracking your monthly electricity and water consumption for 2024. If you don't measure it, it doesn't count.

2. Labor & Human Rights (Weight: High - CRITICAL)

• The GCC Challenge: This is where regional manufacturers lose the most points.

• The "Recruitment Fee" Red Flag: EcoVadis is strictly against workers paying for their own visas or flights.

  • Action: You must have a policy stating the "Employer Pays Principle." If you use recruitment agencies, you need a contract clause proving you paid the fees, not the worker.

• Health & Safety: You likely have safety gear (PPE). But do you have training logs? Upload a sign-in sheet from your last fire drill or safety briefing.

3. Ethics (Weight: Medium)

• The Gap: "We are a family business; we don't take bribes."

• The Fix: You need a formal Code of Conduct.

  • Action: Create a document defining corruption, bribery, and gifts. Have it signed by the CEO and, crucially, distributed to employees.

  • Tip: Set up a dedicated email address (e.g., ethics@yourcompany.com) as a whistleblower channel. Take a screenshot of it. That is your evidence.

4. Sustainable Procurement (Weight: Low for SMEs, but tricky)

• The Reality: Most first-timers score nearly 0 here.

• The Quick Win: Do you evaluate your suppliers? Even a simple "Supplier Code of Conduct" sent to your top 5 raw material vendors can gain you precious points.

The Data Perspective: The "Bronze" Math

To hit the Top 35% (approx. 58-60+ points), you cannot rely on "Policies" alone.

• Policies (25%): Writing the document. (e.g., Environmental Policy)

• Actions (40%): Proving you use it. (e.g., Energy bills, Safety training logs)

• Results (35%): Showing improvement. (e.g., Reduced accident rate by 5%)

  
  

Strategic Tip: For a first assessment, focus heavily on Actions. It is hard to show year-on-year "Results" if you haven't started measuring yet. Gather every certificate, invoice, and training log you have.

ESGweise Insight: The "Fresh Ink" Problem

From the desk of the Senior Lead Consultant:

We often see manufacturers rush to write 20 new policies the week before the deadline. EcoVadis analysts are trained to spot this. If all your documents are created on the same day, they may be rejected as "cosmetic."

Our Advice: Start with what you actually do. Do you have a specialized disposal method for hazardous chemicals? Document that first. Do you provide accommodation for workers? Photograph the facilities and upload the inspection reports. Real operational evidence beats a generic policy template every time.

Strategic Outlook

The journey to Bronze is about moving from informal trust to formal evidence. Don't be discouraged if you land a "Committed" badge on your first try. In the manufacturing sector, that is a badge of honor that proves you have entered the arena.

Ready to build your scorecard? At ESGweise, we help GCC manufacturers translate their shop-floor reality into EcoVadis points. Contact us at contact@esgweise.com