5 defining themes for Sustainable Procurement in 2026

Sustainable procurement is entering a new phase as global regulations, stakeholder expectations and rapidly advancing AI technologies converge. Read on to learn more about 5 defining themes for sustainable procurement in 2026.

1. Widespread uptake of climate disclosure requirements will heighten focus on risks and opportunities

The list of countries that have adopted or are planning to integrate the IFRS sustainability disclosure standards continues to grow as part of a global shift towards consistent, decision-useful climate reporting. For many companies, climate reporting is – or will soon become – a core element of financial reporting, requiring a clear understanding and articulation of climate-related risks and opportunities in both their own operations as well as their value chains. Companies sitting in their value chains can expect growing pressure to provide accurate emissions data and details of how they will identify and manage their own climate risks. Suppliers that can show alignment with their customers’ climate strategies will be more competitive and more attractive to major buyers integrating climate-risk into their procurement and due diligence requirements.

2. Expanding regulatory landscape will impact global supply chains

While 2025 saw a recalibration of sustainability policies, particularly in the EU, we start the year with clarity on:

• the Omnibus package to simplify the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and scale back the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which was agreed in December and is expected to come into force early this year.
• timelines for the EU Deforestation Regulation, which will require EU imports to ensure that land associated with the production of certain commodities has not been subject to deforestation or forest degradation since 31 December 2020 (now applies to large EU businesses from 30 December 2026 and smaller EU enterprises from 30 June 2027); and
• phased application of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation from July 2026, which aims to improve the sustainability of products placed on the EU market and will introduce the requirement for Digital Product Passports for certain products.

Consultations continue in Australia in relation to potential reforms to the Modern Slavery Act, a long-waiting Modern Slavery Bill has been introduced in Aotearoa New Zealand and, in the UK, the Government is reviewing its approach to responsible business conduct policy, focused on the global supply chains of business operating in the UK.

In Asia, we are seeing increasing expectations in relation to human rights due diligence, with some countries (e.g., Thailand and Indonesia) looking to put in place mandatory requirements.

Alongside these developments, we are seeing an intensification of ESG-related litigation and continued regulatory focus on greenwashing.

These developments will have significant implications for companies directly affected as well as their supply chains around the world.

3. AI will become a foundational pillar

AI-powered intelligence will become a foundational pillar of sustainable procurement, enabling teams to conduct real time supplier diligence and evaluate suppliers throughout the procurement lifecycle.

Leading organizations are moving away from manual, resource-intensive processes that rely on incomplete or inconsistent data and utilising AI-powered solutions to turn sustainability data into decision-ready intelligence. These solutions will make sustainable procurement more data-driven, more proactive, more transparent, more strategic and more scalable and help transform sustainability commitments into operational reality.

4. Independent screening using credentials will become even more prevalent as companies ditch supplier surveys

Responsible sourcing and sustainability credentials will become more important for suppliers as regulatory expectations on human rights, climate, deforestation and circularity shift from voluntary to mandatory in many jurisdictions, with increasingly strict legal, trade and reporting requirements cascading deep into global supply chains.

Suppliers with recognised credentials will be better placed to reduce compliance friction, demonstrate alignment, risk management and structured sustainability management, improve competitiveness, and ensure continued access to regulated global markets – with buyers seeking quick and verifiable ways to vet and screen suppliers without using surveys.

5. New policies will increase mandates for Local, Small and Diverse suppliers

Despite backlash in the US, the rest of the world is elevating its focus on SMEs, local and diverse suppliers, with new government procurement policies and rules setting targets and prioritising procurement from these suppliers, fostering economic inclusion and supporting community development (e.g., Queensland Government Procurement Policy, Australian Commonwealth Procurement Rules, and New Zealand Government Procurement Rules, all of which are now in effect).

How givvable can help you

givvable’s AI-powered solutions automate supplier diligence and support sustainable procurement across environment, ethical, community, social, diversity and governance.

With givvable, you can:

• VET suppliers with data from over 3,000 global sustainability credentials
• SCREEN new and existing suppliers for risks, credentials and alignment with your sustainability objectives and policies
• ENGAGE suppliers with tools and resources to build awareness and capability, and drive improvement

These tools can be accessed directly through givvable or integrated into existing software and systems via API, making it a seamless and user-friendly implementation.