The report is groundbreaking on two fundamental levels. First, this is the first edition of what will become an annual research project that aims to chronicle the evolution of supply chain sustainability over time. Second, our three-pronged analytical approach and comprehensive coverage are pioneering in the supply chain sustainability domain.

• What do companies publicly disclose about supply chain sustainability programs? Over 40% of respondents confirmed that their organizations disclose supply chain sustainability practices. They prefer to disclose on platforms the companies can control, like websites or press releases, rather than more structured disclosure reporting platforms like CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) or Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Carbon emissions and climate change are the most frequently reported topics.
• Knowing which tools translate investments into action helps to guide supply chain’s pursuit of sustainability. Study results show that the two tools most widely embraced across the industries examined are supplier codes of conduct and supplier audits. Executives also expressed the value of collaborating with supply chain partners and external stakeholders to achieve sustainability goals.
• A notable finding is that almost 40% of the practitioners surveyed were either a primary decision maker or directly involved with sustainability. This shows that supply chain is taking a central position in sustainability activities. Again, however, a note of caution is warranted: Some respondents pointed to issues such as a lack of engagement and training that can prevent supply chain professionals from taking on more responsibility for sustainability.
• These are not the only speed bumps. Executives highlighted that financial, physical, and technological barriers also stand in the way of supply chain’s shift to more sustainable practices. For example, in low-margin businesses such as apparel, making the case for investments in supply chain sustainability can be extremely challenging.

This global catastrophe has already redrawn the supply chain sustainability map to some extent in response to changing consumer demand. The crisis is reshaping the contours of the sustainability movement, with some experts seeing a significant downturn in adoption of supply chain sustainability, while others see an opportunity to drive up engagement. It’s impossible to know for sure how the pandemic will impact supply chain sustainability in the long term—only time will tell.

• Another theme to note is the future role of technology. This is nothing new; however, in recovering from multiple disruptions, firms will probably be more likely to invest in information technology that gives them better visibility into upstream and downstream operations. As consumer buying habits are being reshaped by the pandemic, the value of trust and ethical practices as components of a brand will likely increase. This trend implies that supply chain transparency will gain in currency; the days of opaque supply chains as commercially viable entities may be numbered.
• Finally, the pace of change was frenetic before the COVID-19 crisis. The post-pandemic era promises to be even more fraught with uncertainty, which underscores the need for this annual report.