SUSTAINABILITY
“ Prevention is often cheaper than the‘ cure’!”
Jon Hancock, CEO, Sedex
This multi-source approach addresses a fundamental challenge:“ real time verification” may sound appealing, but as Jon observes, it’ s“ a bit of an oxymoron – by definition, verification requires time for checking and validating information via other sources or methods.”
The solution lies not in instantaneous validation, but in the real-time integration of diverse data streams to provide the most current possible risk picture.
The business case is increasingly clear For ethical sourcing to become truly embedded, its impact on business performance must be tangible and measurable. Benjamin describes developing“ tailored KPI frameworks that integrate sustainability into procurement scorecards,” including metrics such as percentage of spend with sustainable suppliers, Scope 3 emissions reductions and supplier engagement scores. These KPIs are aligned to external reporting frameworks including CSRD, GRI and SASB and“ embedded into procurement processes” with realtime dashboards across platforms. Jon sees particular promise in innovations that make the business case even more compelling.
“ The business case for sustainable, ethical sourcing is increasingly clear – from energy savings and risk prevention to improved productivity and reduced worker turnover,” he observes.
Further integrating ethical and environmental data with traditional procurement KPIs on cost and efficiency would help procurement teams“ present an undeniable argument to stakeholders”, according to Jon, whilst emphasising how ethical practices influence performance across the business.
Jon also advocates for predictive analytics to enable“ a more forward-
86 December 2025