EcoVadis, CDP and Sedex are not interchangeable versions of one ESG questionnaire. Each has a different job and output. The first question is not “Which platform is best?” It is “Which exact request did the customer send?”
Platform descriptions and links checked 13 September 2026.
| EcoVadis Sustainability Rating | CDP corporate disclosure | Sedex SAQ / SMETA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Rates a company's sustainability management system | Collects environmental disclosure through the applicable corporate or SME questionnaire | Collects supplier self-assessment data; SMETA is a separate site audit methodology |
| Supplier input | Customized questionnaire and supporting documents | Applicable questionnaire data and supporting information | SAQ responses in Sedex; audit evidence and site access if SMETA is requested |
| Output | Scorecard, score, strengths and improvement areas; medal or badge when eligible | Submitted disclosure and, where eligible, CDP score | SAQ and platform risk/management information; a SMETA audit produces audit findings and corrective actions |
| Who completes the work | Supplier answers; EcoVadis analysts assess | Disclosing organization answers through CDP | Supplier completes SAQ; an approved audit company conducts SMETA |
| Can Questionnaire Pass replace the platform? | No | No | No; and it cannot conduct a SMETA audit |
The table deliberately omits generic completion hours, fixed costs and a universal “best for” verdict. Those depend on the current program, company profile, membership or fee arrangements and the customer's requirement.
EcoVadis
EcoVadis creates a questionnaire based on the assessed company's size, industry and location. The supplier provides answers and supporting documents; EcoVadis analysts publish a scorecard after review. A subscription is required to submit the Sustainability Rating questionnaire.
Use EcoVadis when that is what the customer requested. Confirm the assessment scope, submission deadline, whether the customer needs the published scorecard, and any customer-specific threshold. Start with the EcoVadis supplier overview.
CDP
CDP disclosure focuses on environmental information. The applicable route can depend on who requested the disclosure and whether the organization uses the full corporate or SME questionnaire. CDP publishes cycle-specific questionnaires, guidance and scoring materials; use the materials for the current disclosure year.
A customer request through CDP may specify environmental issues or additional supply-chain information. Do not copy last year's question set or scoring assumptions into the current response without checking the current CDP guidance.
Sedex SAQ and SMETA
Sedex's SAQ is a supplier self-assessment covering responsible-business topics. SMETA is not another questionnaire score: it is an audit methodology, and Sedex says audits are delivered by approved audit companies.
A customer may request the SAQ, a SMETA audit, or both. Establish which job is open before buying questionnaire help. Use the Sedex SAQ and SMETA guide for that distinction.
Can one answer set serve all three?
Some underlying facts recur: energy use, emissions, workforce data, health and safety, ethics controls, supplier management and policy evidence. The platform questions, scopes, reporting periods and accepted evidence are not identical.
Reuse the underlying approved fact and its source, not an unchecked sentence. For each new request, confirm:
- assessed or reporting entity;
- period and units;
- question wording and answer options;
- evidence requirements;
- who will see the information;
- submission and publication deadlines.
Which one should a supplier choose?
Usually, the customer has already chosen. If several customers are asking, check whether an existing current scorecard, disclosure or Sedex profile satisfies the new request before starting again.
Questionnaire Pass can prepare reviewable answers from the request and records you provide. It does not log into these systems, select a reporting scope, submit on your behalf, guarantee a score, or conduct an audit.