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Last updated on Feb 19, 2025
  1. All
  2. Sustainability
  3. Corporate Sustainability

Your suppliers are falling short on sustainability. How will you ensure your standards are met?

When suppliers fall short on sustainability, it's crucial to realign them with your standards. Here's a strategy to tackle this:

  • Establish clear criteria: Define and communicate your sustainability requirements.

  • Audit and collaborate: Regularly review supplier practices and work together on improvements.

  • Leverage purchasing power: Consider switching to suppliers who meet your standards.

How do you handle sustainability lapses in your supply chain?

Sustainability Sustainability

Sustainability

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Last updated on Feb 19, 2025
  1. All
  2. Sustainability
  3. Corporate Sustainability

Your suppliers are falling short on sustainability. How will you ensure your standards are met?

When suppliers fall short on sustainability, it's crucial to realign them with your standards. Here's a strategy to tackle this:

  • Establish clear criteria: Define and communicate your sustainability requirements.

  • Audit and collaborate: Regularly review supplier practices and work together on improvements.

  • Leverage purchasing power: Consider switching to suppliers who meet your standards.

How do you handle sustainability lapses in your supply chain?

Add your perspective
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
46 answers
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Aasim Hameed Khan عاصم حميد خان

    Sustainability I ESG I Decarbonization I CCU+S I Carbon Credit I Carbon Modelling I Climate Change I Circular Economy I Strategic Planning I Asset and Facility Management I Operation and Project Management I Drive Change

    • Report contribution

    When suppliers fall short on sustainability, it's crucial to realign them with your standards. Start by assessing the gap and understanding the reasons behind it, then open a dialogue to express your concerns in a collaborative way. Provide support, training, or resources to help them meet your sustainability goals, and set clear expectations with specific targets and timelines. Monitor their progress regularly, offering feedback and adjusting support as needed. If improvements are insufficient or there’s resistance to change, consider alternative suppliers who better align with your sustainability standards.

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    7
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Neeraj Kumar Singal

    Founder Semco Group, Entrepreneur, Lithium-ion Cell Manufacturing Solution, Lithium Battery Testing & Assembly Solutions, Battery Energy Storage System, Electric vehicles, #HIRING #Delhi #Bengaluru

    • Report contribution

    When sustainability lapses occur in our supply chain, we first ensure our expectations are crystal clear by establishing detailed sustainability criteria that suppliers must meet. We conduct regular audits and maintain open communication to identify any gaps. If a supplier is falling short, we collaborate closely to create a clear action plan for improvement, offering support and resources where needed. However, if no progress is made within an acceptable time frame, we explore alternative suppliers who align better with our sustainability goals. This approach ensures our supply chain stays resilient and true to our values.

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    6
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    Contributor profile photo
    Antonio Vizcaya Abdo

    LinkedIn Top Voice | Sustainability Advocate

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    Capacity building is essential for driving sustainability across the supply chain, recognizing that many suppliers may lack the resources, expertise, or infrastructure to meet evolving standards. Instead of simply enforcing compliance, companies should actively support suppliers through training, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. This collaborative approach not only helps suppliers improve their environmental and social performance but also strengthens long-term partnerships and resilience. By investing in supplier capacity, businesses can drive systemic improvements, enhance supply chain transparency, and create shared value, ensuring sustainability commitments are met more effectively.

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    6
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Mahesh Patil

    Quality Manager || Lean Six Sigma Black Belt || Driving Excellence in Quality, Health, Safety & Environment Management || Strategic Innovator & Team Builder||Technology Transfer Projects

    • Report contribution

    When suppliers are failing short on sustainability practices means there is either knowledge or accountability issue. communication and responsibility is key for success. communicating clearly what are needs and expectations as per ESG like carbon reduction, waste management or circular economy or simplest form as product life cycle as per ESG. Use sustainability audits to identify gaps in their processes, such as energy inefficiency, waste generation, or lack of certifications. Offer workshops or toolkits to help suppliers implement sustainable practices, such as adopting renewable energy or optimizing resource use. work closely for problem solving. Recognize and reward suppliers who meet or exceed sustainability targets.

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    5
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    Contributor profile photo
    Neha Devapuja

    Sustainability | Strategy | Growth

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    When suppliers fall short on sustainability, it’s essential to take decisive and strategic action. First, I’d establish clear sustainability criteria and communicate them transparently to all suppliers. Then, I’d conduct regular audits to review their practices, offering collaboration and support to help them meet the required standards. If improvements aren’t made, I’d leverage purchasing power by exploring alternative suppliers who align better with our values. This approach not only maintains sustainability commitments but also reinforces accountability across the supply chain.

    Like
    4
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    Contributor profile photo
    Sachin Sharma

    ESG Enthusiast | ♻️ ESG & Corporate Sustainability | ♻️ CSR | 🏅 Top Corporate Sustainability Voice | 🏅 Sustainability Consulting | 🌏 Climate Action | ⏳ Lead Generation | Marketing & Sales | Communications Strategist |

    • Report contribution

    Ensuring supplier alignment with sustainability is key to responsible business! 🌍✅ Set clear expectations, collaborate on improvements, and prioritize partners who share your values. How do you manage supplier sustainability? #Sustainability #ESG #ResponsibleSourcing #SupplyChain

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    4
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    Contributor profile photo
    Anirudh Kumar (अनिरुद्ध कुमार)

    Born at 354 ppm Simplifying ESG & Climate

    • Report contribution

    Clear Communication: Define your sustainability requirements clearly and explain their importance. Use frameworks like the triple bottom line to align with industry standards and best practices. Collaborative Approach: Engage suppliers through open communication, training, and resources. Collaborate on joint initiatives to improve sustainability practices. Transparency and Feedback: Provide regular updates on progress and challenges. Encourage feedback from suppliers to foster a collaborative environment.

    Like
    3
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Brent Sertijn

    Empowering digitalization with MES, EnMS (CSDR, ESG and ISO50001)

    • Report contribution

    Measuring and mapping the variables of the required energy performance indicators (EnPIs), will ensure that you can benchmark and compare suppliers. Over time, an average EnPI will become visible and you will be able to distinguish suppliers from each other because they focus on different issues.

    Like
    3
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Aravindha Sekar Loganathan

    Environmental Specialist🌱 | Winner of Engineering Excellence Awards 2024 | Founder of @BirdboxDrones

    • Report contribution

    I take sustainability seriously, and if my suppliers fall short, I make it a priority to ensure my standards are met. I set clear expectations, conduct regular audits, and work closely with suppliers to improve their practices. Transparency is key—I require detailed reporting on environmental and ethical standards to ensure alignment with my values. If a supplier consistently fails to meet expectations, I seek alternatives that prioritize sustainability. For me, true impact comes from partnership and continuous improvement, not just enforcement. #SustainableSupplyChain #Accountability #EthicalSourcing

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    2
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Alain Maroun

    On a mission to help 10,000 people implement sustainable practices | Sustainability Consultant | Aviation Specialist | Engineering Innovator

    • Report contribution

    Ensuring supplier alignment with sustainability standards requires clear expectations, continuous oversight, and strategic partnerships. Define and enforce sustainability criteria, conduct regular audits, and collaborate on improvements. If compliance remains an issue, leverage your purchasing power to prioritize responsible suppliers. Strengthening these relationships not only mitigates risks but also drives long-term positive impact across the supply chain.

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    2
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