SUSTAINABILITY Navigating supplier complexity The complexity associated with Scope 3 emissions hammers home a major issue facing procurement – managing suppliers at vastly different stages of their sustainability journey.
The supplier ecosystem encompasses everything from multinational corporations with dedicated sustainability teams to small enterprises just beginning to understand their environmental impact.
“ Not every supplier is on the same sustainability journey,” Fang acknowledges.
“ A key part of onboarding suppliers is understanding their sustainability reporting capability, an area that can become a barrier, especially for smaller or diverse suppliers who may lack the resources or systems to report consistently.”
The disparity creates both operational challenges and opportunities for innovation.
Aniththa emphasises that supporting smaller suppliers requires a comprehensive approach:“ Reducing carbon emissions within a supply chain, especially among smaller suppliers, requires a multifaceted approach. It involves building strong partnerships, providing the necessary resources and expertise, creating financial incentives and establishing clear expectations and measurement systems.”
114 September 2025