Prioritise material impacts
Map category-level impacts such as emissions, energy, water, waste, labour conditions, human rights, safety, diversity and local value. Focus diligence and improvement on material risks instead of issuing the same questionnaire to every supplier.
Set verifiable requirements
Translate policy into specifications, qualification gates, weighted criteria, contract clauses and reporting obligations. Define acceptable evidence and avoid unsupported green claims or criteria that unnecessarily exclude capable smaller suppliers.
Evaluate and contract
Score commitments separately from demonstrated performance, verify high-risk claims and record trade-offs. Assign baselines, targets, data methods, audit rights, corrective actions and remedies proportionate to the contract.
Monitor outcomes
Track relevant category indicators and evidence quality, not questionnaire completion alone. Work with important suppliers on improvement, reassess material changes and publish results with transparent methodology and limitations.
Related resources
Sources and research basis
This guide distinguishes general control recommendations from legal requirements. It is general information, not legal advice; applicability varies by entity, sector, jurisdiction and contract.