With 36% of buyers indicating they would change suppliers if their sustainability requirements were not met, clear and proactive supplier engagement has become essential. The findings outline several key steps organizations should take from communicating sustainability goals to establishing a reporting protocol with shared targets. These actions help strengthen alignment across the supply base and ensure progress toward sustainability commitments.

Procurement teams take varied approaches to requiring Certificates of Insurance. Most focus on high-risk or onsite suppliers, while fewer extend the requirement to all vendors or high-value contracts. This range highlights how organizations balance risk protection with administrative effort, and where broader coverage could strengthen overall compliance.