Are your suppliers aligned with your environmental commitments? How can you tell?
Simply choosing a product with a “green” label or a certified shopping bag isn’t enough. These responsible purchasing decisions must be integrated into a comprehensive strategy to reduce environmental impact, particularly Scope 3 emissions, which encompass all indirect emissions associated with purchased goods and services, from production through use.
Today, choosing a partner is no longer limited to price, discounts, or lead time. Traceability, compliance with ISO standards, energy efficiency, and responsible management of a product’s life cycle are becoming key factors. It is also essential to ensure a high level of quality, particularly for high-visibility products or those made from natural, eco-friendly materials.
This article can help you see things more clearly. It offers concrete criteria for identifying responsible suppliers, avoiding greenwashing, and turning your supply chain into a powerful tool for promoting sustainable development. Above all, it helps you place orders more effectively, manage your inventory, and control your water and energy consumption through more informed purchasing decisions.
Contents
Eco-friendly suppliers: What does that really mean?
Definition of an environmentally responsible supplier: much more than just greenwashing
Today, many companies tout their eco-friendly products or “green” logistics. But what makes a supplier truly eco-responsible? It’s not just a simple “organic” label or a claim that wood comes from “sustainably managed forests.” It’s a comprehensive, documented, and measurable approach that involves:
- Transparency regarding greenhouse gas emissions,
- An active reduction in environmental impact throughout the product's entire life cycle,
- The choice of sustainable materials (such as organic cotton, bamboo, stainless steel, or FSC-certified products),
- Sustainable logistics that incorporate zero-waste solutions and the use of renewable energy,
- Responsible procurement practices throughout the supply chain, including criteria related to packaging, design, and distribution.
A wholesaler or supplier that sells cotton products or paper shopping bags online may seem environmentally responsible. But that in no way guarantees a consistent and rigorous environmental strategy. It’s also important to verify whether the packaging is recycled, whether production meets standards, and whether manufacturing conditions truly reflect the commitments that have been made.
It is common to see discrepancies between environmental claims and actual practices, particularly regarding concrete factors such as the final price, delivery times, or the durability of a product. An eco-friendly product that is poorly designed or comes with excessive packaging can negate the expected benefits.
Why It's Crucial: The Impact of Scope 3 and Responsible Procurement
For any company committed to the environmental transition, it is vital to look beyond its own four walls. In fact, indirect emissions generated by procurement (upstream Scope 3) can account for up to 80% of a company’s total carbon footprint. This includes purchased products, raw materials (such as cotton or wood), goods and products, and the delivery of these items.
This is where conducting an accurate greenhouse gas emissions assessment with experts such as Decarbo’Solution® becomes essential. It allows for the precise identification of emission sources throughout the supply chain—both in France and across Europe—and helps prioritize which suppliers to engage with, support, or avoid.
Real-Life Example: When “Organic” or “Local” Isn’t Enough
Let’s take a common example: a supplier offers “organic” or locally made products. That might sound appealing… but is it enough? Not necessarily. If the supplier hasn’t measured the full environmental impact of its products—including raw material extraction, energy use, and end-of-life disposal—or if it doesn’t comply with any ISO standards or frameworks such as the GHG Protocol, its commitment remains superficial, despite any ethical rhetoric or prominently displayed labels.
By incorporating analytical tools such as those offered by specialized platforms, a company can better understand the actual impact of each product line (textiles, durable goods, low-carbon products), including those intended for resale, and thus better guide its responsible purchasing policy. It can also assess the product’s conditions of use or its origin. An item manufactured in France may seem more environmentally friendly, but that alone is not enough to prove its climate-friendliness without a rigorous analysis.
For example, the Decarbo’Solution® collaborative platform enables companies to work with their suppliers to implement a comprehensive low-carbon strategy, including the calculation and projection of Scope 3 emissions, life cycle analysis, and the simulation of reduction measures using its exclusive Decarbo’Target® tool.
How to ensure the long-term viability and growth of your business through a successful low-carbon strategy.
How can you effectively assess your suppliers' commitment?
The 5 Key Criteria for Evaluating an Environmentally Responsible Supplier
Ensuring a supplier’s environmental reliability requires a structured approach. Here are 5 key criteria to consider:
- Preparation of a Reliable GHG Inventory: A reputable supplier must have prepared an up-to-date GHG inventory based on recognized methodologies (such as the ISO 14064 standard or the GHG Protocol). Note: A general overview alone is not sufficient—it is essential to verify the level of detail, particularly regarding product-related emission sources (transportation, packaging, raw materials, etc.).
- Quantified Emissions Reduction Targets: A responsible supplier sets concrete and verifiable short- and medium-term goals. For example, reducing the use of virgin plastic in its packaging by 20% or transitioning to 100% renewable energy within three years.
- Structured Reporting and ISO Standards: Verified reporting is a mark of professionalism. It can be based on standards such as ISO 14001 or accompanied by a third-party audit. This ensures the traceability and consistency of the actions taken. It also allows for a better understanding of the displayed certification, which must be based on concrete, audited data.
- Supply Chain Transparency: A good supplier can provide details about the origin of its products: Where is the organic cotton grown? Where does the FSC-certified wood come from? Is the bamboo bag produced in Europe or Asia? What is the policy of its own subcontractors? Do the supplied accessories meet the same criteria for responsible production? Can we get a detailed quote broken down by impact category?
- Practical Measures for Sustainability: Finally , the company must adopt practical measures to promote sustainability in logistics, energy use, and digital operations: optimizing delivery, reducing packaging, extending product lifecycles, minimizing waste, and incorporating eco-design. The quality of the products offered and their recyclability must also be part of the analysis. Even simple paper packaging can be an issue if it does not come from a certified supply chain.
To help companies analyze these criteria, Decarbo’Solution® offers tailored tools. The Decarbo’Supply® platform enables companies to engage suppliers in the process by providing them with calculation tools (My-PCF® or My-CIF®) and facilitating the collection of reliable data. This makes it possible to implement “carbon-positive®” selection— that is, prioritizing suppliers with the lowest emissions in procurement processes, based on comparable and verifiable criteria.
First, the use of GCI has led to a significant reduction in the uncertainty of the GHG inventory—particularly for Scope 3—from 50% to 5%. The group therefore has data that is 95% accurate.
Using supplier data collected and analyzed by the GCI tool, in-depth analyses were conducted internally on the impact of 35,000 products, grouping suppliers into 170 categories. This represents more than 80% of purchases by volume and value.
Driving Change Among Your Suppliers: A Practical Lever for Your Low-Carbon Strategy
Collaborate and support rather than exclude
Not all suppliers are at the same level of commitment yet. Rather than excluding them outright, it is often more effective to raise their awareness, explain your expectations, and offer them gradual guidance. A collaborative approach yields better long-term results, particularly on issues related tothe environment and the ecological performance of the proposed solutions.
Providing educational tools or organizing regular monitoring enables suppliers to understand the impact of their practices. It also helps them improve the quality of their products, refine their processes andpackaging management, and better integrate recycling principles into their offerings. A company may even go so far as to co-develop monitoring tools or training modules focused on green procurement.
Including Environmental Provisions in Requests for Proposals
Companies can also include environmental clauses in their requests for proposals, such as requirements for a PCF or BEGES, a climate strategy, or material traceability. This encourages suppliers to develop a structured approach to sustainability.
Including environmental indicators—such as carbon footprint or the percentage of recycled materials—in quotes is becoming standard practice. This allows for a more accurate assessment of the true cost of a purchase, taking into account its environmental impacts.
Encouraging your suppliers to become more environmentally responsible is no longer an option— it is a strategic necessity. In a world where every organization is accountable for its overall impact, your partners’ environmental performance directly affects your own.
Assessing their commitment, analyzing their practices, and—above all—supporting them on their own low-carbon journey: this is what distinguishes a symbolic effort from a genuine driver of transformation. After all, the majority of indirect emissions (Scope 3) come from products that are purchased, processed, or used. Ignoring them would be like flying blind, without taking into account criteria such as quality, impact during use, or the origin of the items—whether they’re manufactured in France, Europe, or elsewhere.
Practical solutions exist. With Decarbo’Solution®, you can identify your suppliers with the highest emissions and engage them using collaborative tools. These tools allow you to incorporate comparable criteria (such as PCFs, My-CIF® carbon intensity factors, energy efficiency, solar energy, or recyclability), while maintaining requirements for price, traceability, and overall environmental performance.
Ultimately, the greatest impact you can have lies not only in what you produce, but also in what you choose to order, sell, or require of your partners. And if your suppliers aren’t yet on board, Decarbo’Solution® now gives you the tools to bring them along with you toward a more efficient, sustainable, and eco-friendly supply chain.