EcoVadis Tops ESG Ratings Usefulness Rankings as Sustainability Scrutiny Intensifies Across Supply Chains

EcoVadis, a widely adopted sustainability ratings platform across global trade and supply chain networks, has been recognised as the most useful ESG ratings provider among corporates, according to ERM's 2026 Rate the Raters report. The platform also ranked second for usefulness among investors, reinforcing its position as a leading benchmark for supply chain sustainability performance. The Rate the Raters study, published by sustainability consultancy ERM, evaluates ESG ratings providers based on their practical business value — a metric that has gained increasing prominence as companies face mounting pressure to demonstrate credible, verifiable sustainability credentials rather than rely on self-reported data. For the maritime industry, the recognition carries particular relevance. Shipowners, port operators, freight forwarders, and logistics providers are increasingly required to demonstrate ESG compliance as part of procurement and chartering processes. EcoVadis assessments are used by major commodity traders, cargo owners, and multinational shippers to evaluate the sustainability performance of their supply chain partners, including vessel operators and marine service providers. 'The growing importance of practical business value in sustainability ratings reflects a broader shift in how corporates and investors approach ESG,' EcoVadis noted in its announcement from Paris and New York. The company describes itself as 'the global standard for resilient' supply chain sustainability management. The maritime sector is navigating an increasingly complex ESG landscape, shaped by the International Maritime Organization's revised greenhouse gas strategy, the EU's Emissions Trading System extension to shipping, and the forthcoming FuelEU Maritime regulation. Against this backdrop, third-party sustainability ratings such as those provided by EcoVadis are becoming a practical tool for demonstrating compliance and competitiveness to charterers and cargo owners. Industry observers note that as ESG due diligence requirements tighten under frameworks such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), the demand for credible, standardised ratings is expected to grow further — placing platforms like EcoVadis at the centre of how maritime businesses manage and communicate their sustainability performance to counterparties and financiers alike.