ESG Frameworks
Plain-language explainers of the standards your procurement partners and investors care about.
EcoVadis rates companies on Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. Major buyers — from luxury houses to industrial groups — require their suppliers to hold an EcoVadis scorecard. The assessment is documentation-heavy: every claim must be backed by uploaded evidence.
SEDEX hosts the data, SMETA is the audit methodology used by retailers and consumer brands. It covers labour standards, health & safety, environment and business ethics. Suppliers are typically expected to publish a self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) and prepare for on-site audits.
CDP runs the world's largest environmental disclosure system. Companies report greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1, 2 and increasingly Scope 3), water stewardship and deforestation risk. CDP scores are used by investors and large buyers alike.
GRI is the most widely used global standard for sustainability reporting. It provides a structured way to disclose economic, environmental and social impacts — increasingly expected in annual reports and procurement documents.
The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive obliges large companies to identify, prevent and mitigate human-rights and environmental impacts in their value chains. SMEs are affected indirectly through supplier requirements cascading down from in-scope buyers.