Featured in:
edie
Logistics Manager
CPO Strategy
BusinessGreen
Our latest research reveals a striking level of confidence among UK business leaders: 76% of C-suite executives believe they are well positioned to meet Scope 3 emissions regulations. At face value, it is an encouraging signal. But look a little deeper, and a more complex picture emerges.
Despite this optimism, only 37% of leaders say they are investing sufficiently in the tools and technologies needed to track and reduce Scope 3 emissions. The disparity suggests that while ambition is high, many organisations may be underestimating the operational challenge ahead.
The reality is that the old rules no longer apply. Supply chains are no longer simply about cost, speed, and efficiency. Today, visibility, accountability, and sustainability are equally critical. Achieving that requires rethinking long-established approaches from the foundation up.
The shifting regulatory landscape is adding to the complexity. Changes to major frameworks, including CSRD, CSDDD, and the EU Taxonomy, have introduced fresh uncertainty. As compliance targets evolve, businesses need to build supply chains that are not only adaptable but also fundamentally transparent and resilient.
We are also seeing the limits of traditional sustainability gains. Many organisations have already captured the obvious wins by reducing energy use, improving efficiency, and cutting waste. The next phase of progress requires a more fundamental reassessment of supply chain strategy.
Where supply chains were once linear and transactional, they now need to become collaborative and circular. Competitive advantage no longer comes just from driving down supplier costs. It comes from working with partners to build shared value. That means moving away from disconnected processes and toward end-to-end integration, where data, accountability, and innovation are embedded throughout the chain.
Reconfiguring a supply chain is never easy. These systems are complex, interconnected, and often deeply embedded. But current global pressures, from trade disruption to changing customer expectations, are forcing businesses to adapt. For many, this is a rare opportunity to embed sustainability into the foundation of operations rather than trying to add it on later.
Those who act now will be best positioned to lead. Businesses that build transparent, accountable, and circular supply chains will not only meet today’s expectations. They will secure stronger partnerships, earn premium positioning within the value chain, and ensure they are ready for future demands.
This shift is already underway. Under growing scrutiny from regulators, investors, and customers, organisations are prioritising partners who can demonstrate meaningful progress on emissions, ethics, and circularity. The supply chain is quickly becoming a critical arena for sustainability leadership.
For more insights and data on how supply chain strategies are evolving, download the full Operations Outlook report.
Share:
