Your suppliers aren't aligned with your sustainability values. How will you address this challenge?

Sustainability isn’t enough. Suppliers need to meet quality, consistency, and price. That’s the baseline. Sustainability tips the scale after that. At Without, we don’t just chase “green.” We ask: does this create real systemic change? Can it make low-income communities better off? Can it hold up under scrutiny? Sustainability has to be pragmatic. And personal. Otherwise, it’s just a tagline.

Begin with open dialogue—share your sustainability goals and why they matter. Educate suppliers on the benefits of eco-friendly practices, like cost efficiency and stronger partnerships. Offer support or resources to help them transition. Set clear expectations in contracts and monitor progress regularly. If alignment isn’t possible, explore alternative suppliers who share your values. Staying true to your sustainability vision strengthens your brand and builds a responsible supply chain—one that reflects your commitment to a better future.

Before initiating any changes, it's crucial to assess your own sustainability values and goals by identifying specific practices you prioritize, such as energy efficiency through LED lighting or solar power, reducing waste via recycling and composting, sourcing materials locally and ethically, conserving water with smart systems, tracking and minimizing your carbon footprint, engaging with the community for broader impact, and adopting circular economy principles that focus on long-term resource use and product lifecycle thinking.

To address the challenge of suppliers not matching sustainability values, companies should first set clear sustainability goals and communicate these to their suppliers. Engaging in discussions helps identify gaps and allows both sides to improve. Suppliers can be required to follow a sustainability code of conduct, with audits to check compliance. Companies can offer support to help suppliers align with sustainability standards, or switch to more aligned suppliers if necessary. Incentives can encourage suppliers to keep improving. This way, companies can maintain strong sustainability practices throughout their supply chain.

To address the challenge of suppliers not matching sustainability values, below strategies to be adopted: 1. Companies should first set clear sustainability goals and communicate these to their suppliers. 2. Engage in discussions helps identify gaps and allows both sides to improve. 3. Suppliers can be required to follow a sustainability code of conduct, with audits to check compliance. 4. Companies can offer support to help suppliers align with sustainability standards, or switch to more aligned suppliers if necessary. 5. Incentives can encourage suppliers to keep improving. This way, companies can maintain strong sustainability practices throughout their supply chain.

Initiate an open dialogue with your suppliers about your sustainability concerns by clearly communicating your values and goals in a constructive and collaborative manner, focusing on shared benefits such as long-term cost savings, regulatory compliance, and brand reputation—this approach encourages transparency, fosters mutual understanding, and can lead to innovative solutions that align both parties with more sustainable practices.

I share my goals and concerns, but also take time to understand their practices and challenges. It's important to listen actively and approach the dialogue with empathy. By creating a space for mutual understanding, we can explore solutions together and find common ground to move forward sustainably, rather than enforcing change without collaboration.

Once you've established a dialogue, it's time to set clear sustainability expectations by outlining specific criteria such as environmental certifications, ethical labor practices, material sourcing standards, and emissions targets—ensuring these expectations are measurable, time-bound, and integrated into contracts or agreements to promote accountability and long-term alignment.

Once I've opened the dialogue with my suppliers, I focus on setting clear, measurable sustainability expectations. I create realistic and achievable guidelines that outline the standards I expect them to meet. These standards act as a roadmap for success. Alongside this, I make sure to offer support and resources where possible to help them transition smoothly to more sustainable practices. It's important to collaborate and ensure that they feel equipped and motivated to meet these goals.

Monitoring progress is a critical step in ensuring that your suppliers are aligning with your sustainability goals by implementing regular audits, requesting sustainability reports, tracking key performance indicators, and maintaining open lines of communication—this not only helps identify areas for improvement but also reinforces a culture of continuous accountability and shared commitment.

To address misalignment with my suppliers, I prioritize monitoring progress closely. I establish a system for tracking and reporting on key sustainability metrics, whether through regular check-ins, audits, or using technology to gather data. Transparency is crucial—both my team and the suppliers should have access to this information to build trust and encourage continuous improvement. By staying engaged and holding both sides accountable, we can ensure long-term alignment with our sustainability goals.

If a supplier is unable or unwilling to meet your sustainability standards, it may be necessary to explore alternative partnerships with vendors who demonstrate a stronger commitment to environmental and ethical practices—ensuring your supply chain reflects your values while minimizing reputational and operational risks.

When suppliers aren’t aligned with our sustainability values, we tackle it in three steps: first, we should communicate our standards and deadlines and clarify that alignment isn’t optional. Then we start mapping alternatives, focusing first on key suppliers, so we’re ready if a transition becomes necessary. Finally, we stay close to the process: if there’s willingness but a lack of means, we invest time educating and supporting those suppliers. This isn’t just about replacing partners, it’s about building a more conscious, capable supply chain.

If a supplier isn't able or willing to meet my sustainability standards, I consider exploring alternative partnerships. This doesn’t mean abruptly ending the relationship, but rather researching and engaging with suppliers who align with my values. During this transition, I keep communication open with my current suppliers, as they may choose to make changes once they realize my commitment to sustainability. It's important to maintain a collaborative approach while making sure my sustainability goals are met.

Finally, consider broadening your collaborative efforts beyond individual supplier relationships by engaging in industry coalitions, sustainability networks, and cross-sector partnerships—this collective approach amplifies impact, drives innovation, and fosters systemic change that supports long-term environmental and social goals across the value chain.

Addressing misalignment between suppliers and sustainability values is a serious challenge, but also a great opportunity to improve both impact and accountability. You have to assess the gaps, Communicate expectations clearly, Collaborate on Improvement is very important and you have to Establish Accountability. It’s about creating a supply chain that reflects your commitment to sustainability—not just in words but in measurable actions. Leading by example and encouraging partners to rise to the challenge is part of being a responsible business.