5 Things to Ask Your Supplier About Their Environmental Impact
Sustainability has moved to the top of the agenda, with ESG strategies under pressure and Scope 3 emissions facing increased scrutiny, the spotlight is now on the environmental impact of suppliers, not just price and delivery.
Here
are five questions worth asking if you want your supply chain to stand up to
environmental due diligence.
1.
Do they hold any environmental certifications?
Third-party
certifications are one of the clearest indicators of an ongoing commitment to
sustainability. An ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System shows
that a supplier is actively measuring and reducing their impact and applying
best practice to how they operate day-to-day.
Without
independent validation, environmental claims are hard to verify. If a supplier
lacks certification, ask how they manage and monitor environmental performance,
and what improvement targets are in place.
2.
How do they handle hazardous waste?
If
your supplier deals with chemicals or technical materials, waste handling is a
key area of risk. You need confidence that substances like acids, solvents or
precious metals are being managed responsibly, not just disposed of.
Look
for transparency on who handles the waste, what happens to it, and whether any
recovery or recycling processes are in place. Proper disposal is not only vital
for the environment, but also critical for compliance and traceability.
3.
What action are they taking to help cut carbon emissions?
The
impact of your supply chain extends well beyond your own operations. If your
business is working towards net zero, your suppliers need to
be pulling in the same direction.
Ask
what they’re doing to reduce emissions across their fleet, buildings and
logistics, and whether those measures are measured, reported and reviewed.
Progress doesn’t need to be perfect, but it does need to be visible.
4.
Are their supply chain partners aligned on sustainability?
Behind
every supplier is a network of partners and providers influencing their
sustainability. From manufacturers and couriers to storage and packaging
providers, the environmental impact of suppliers is shaped by every link in the
chain.
It’s
worth finding out how your supplier assesses their partners. Do they have
minimum environmental standards or codes of conduct? Are they taking
responsibility for who they work with?
5.
How sustainable is their packaging and delivery approach?
Packaging
often falls down the list of priorities, but it can have a significant
environmental footprint. If your supplier is still using excessive single-use
plastics or oversized shipments, this could be a red flag.
More
responsible suppliers will already be reviewing their materials, minimising
waste, and optimising how goods are packed and transported. It’s a simple area
to improve, but one that speaks volumes about how seriously they take
sustainability.
Building a more sustainable supply chain
Your
suppliers play a direct role in shaping your environmental impact and your
ability to meet both internal targets and external obligations. Asking the
right questions now helps protect your brand, strengthen compliance and
future-proof your supply chain.
Looking
for a benchmark? At A-Gas EM, we’ve embedded sustainability into
every part of our operation, from ISO 14001 certification to responsible chemical
handling and low-carbon logistics. Visit our sustainability page to find out how we help customers
build safer, cleaner and more compliant sustainable electronic materials supply
chains.
Resources
https://www.agasem.com/sustainability/
https://www.chemical.org.uk/membership/responsible-care/
https://www.cdp.net/pt/insights/strengthening-the-chain
https://sciencebasedtargets.org
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