Supply Chain Sustainability Becomes Board-Level Priority
A global survey from Achilles has revealed where companies currently stand in their sustainability journeys.
It highlights that, despite growing strategic intent, there exists a problem with uneven execution when it comes to embedding sustainability across complex supply chains.
Achilles' Global Sustainability Priorities Survey, conducted in early 2025 with more than 1,600 companies, offers a clear view into how organisations are approaching sustainability.
The company is regarded as a global leader in supply chain risk and performance management and recently announced the acquisition of InfoControl, a specialist AI and contractor management company based in Latin America.
The acquisition deepens a successful long-term collaboration and marks a significant step forward in Achilles' commitment to the responsible use of technology and data to deliver trusted, intelligent solutions for supply chain management and compliance.
Strategic intent vs operational reality
Achilles' findings highlight current strategies, investment plans and the key challenges and opportunities shaping decision-making.
The survey, which included buying organisations as well as suppliers, shows almost two-thirds (63%) of businesses now consider sustainability a board-level priority, but only 19% report full visibility into sustainability performance across their supply chains.
Adam Whitfield, Head of ESG & Compliance at Achilles, says: "We have seen that the regulatory landscape for sustainability is continuing to evolve rapidly. Many governments remain focused on identifying new methods to increase sustainable business practices.
"Focus areas including climate change and responsible sourcing have become even more important for many. The results of the survey reflect this focus and highlight how industries are adapting to the changes they face. Sectors like energy, construction and manufacturing remain focused on reducing their carbon footprint and increasing supply chain due diligence.
"As new legislation is adopted, businesses should recognise that proactive compliance can often create leads to competitive advantage and value creation."
Revealing gaps in implementation
The findings demonstrate an indication of the growing recognition of sustainability as a business imperative – driven by regulation, investor expectations and reputational risk, while reflecting the operational challenges many organisations face when trying to align suppliers to consistent standards.
- Around two-thirds (63%) say sustainability is a board-level priority
- Just 19% have full visibility into supply chain sustainability
- Only 20% apply consistent sustainability standards across all suppliers
- About two in five (38%) say sustainability is not yet a key factor in supplier selection
- Reputational risk is now the most cited concern linked to poor sustainability performance—surpassing cost and operational risks
"The intent is clearly there, but the ability to act at scale is still developing," adds Paul Stanley, CEO of Achilles.
"Organisations are increasingly aware that sustainability performance must extend beyond internal operations to include suppliers. That means having the right data, the right partnerships and a scalable framework to drive change.
"This survey provides valuable benchmarking for companies looking to understand where they are and what gaps need closing to make sustainability work end-to-end."
Achilles provides help to organisations in building more transparent, ethical and sustainable procurement ecosystems through supplier audits, ESG assessments and its Ethical Business Programme.
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