Strengthening Sustainable Procurement Beyond Supplier Ratings

Many organisations rely on supplier sustainability evaluations to gain insights into their partners’ ESG and compliance performance. These assessments are valuable, but they answer only part of a wider question: ‘How mature are we in embedding sustainability into procurement?’

Supplier ratings focus on external supplier behaviour, while maturity models assess an organisation’s internal capabilities to drive responsible sourcing over time. Tools like the Sustainable Procurement Maturity Tool (SPMT) help bridge this gap by evaluating an organisation’s readiness and capability to embed sustainability effectively.

The Limitations of Supplier Evaluations

Supplier sustainability assessments are essential for managing supply chain risks and ensuring alignment with ESG standards. They highlight which suppliers support organisational goals and flag compliance concerns. However, they do not assess whether procurement teams themselves have the governance, processes, and culture needed to embed sustainability consistently. 

Supplier scores provide a snapshot of supplier performance, not a measure of the organisation’s own readiness or strategic capability to act on that information.

The role of Capability Maturity Models

Capability Maturity Models, such as the SPMT, assess an organization’s internal strengths and gaps in sustainable procurement. The SPMT evaluates key dimensions including governance, strategy, due diligence, environmental and social integration, Scope 3 alignment, supplier engagement, internal capabilities, and continuous improvement. By providing a structured framework, the SPMT delivers a clear, actionable view of procurement’s sustainability maturity.

The SPMT helps teams move from fragmented initiatives to a unified, organisation-wide approach to responsible sourcing.

Combining Supplier Insights with Organisational Capability

When supplier evaluation data is combined with internal maturity insights, organisations gain a complete perspective. Suppliers’ sustainability performance becomes more meaningful when procurement has the capability to integrate it into decision-making and category strategies.

Together, these tools enable: 

• Better-informed sourcing strategies 

• Stronger supplier engagement 

• Harmonised processes across regions 

• Enhanced risk management and compliance

This holistic view strengthens sustainable procurement outcomes by ensuring organisations not only meet external standards but also build internal capacity and resilience to adapt to future challenges.

Practical, Scalable, and Global

Designed to be multilingual and flexible, the SPMT can be applied across diverse entities and geographies. Its alignment with international norms and regulations helps procurement leaders embed sustainability consistently across the organisation—not just in isolated teams.

By giving teams a shared language and a practical roadmap for progress, the tool supports the deep and consistent integration of sustainability into procurement, strengthening both strategic focus and operational execution.

Strategic Impact and Long-Term Value

One strategic advisor observed:

“The SPMT delivers a comprehensive and insightful evaluation of sustainable procurement practices. Its clarity and practical relevance not only showcase leading approaches but also prompt organisations to critically assess and advance their responsible procurement strategies for lasting impact.” 

By embedding sustainability deeply, organisations can reduce environmental impact, improve compliance, mitigate risks, and enhance brand reputation. Mature procurement functions also gain stronger governance, greater spend visibility, improved supplier relationships, and increased adaptability creating a genuine competitive advantage.

The SPMT transforms procurement into a strategic lever for sustainable growth by supporting continuous improvement and measurable progress.

Ready to Strengthen Your Sustainable Procurement Journey?

Organisations seeking lasting, consistent sustainability can benefit from pairing supplier insights with internal maturity assessments like the SPMT. Procurement leaders are empowered to drive meaningful change, foster collaboration, and build resilient, inclusive, responsible, and sustainable supply chains.

Procurement leaders who want to move from compliance to true sustainability maturity can benefit greatly from a structured assessment like the SPMT. I invite you to connect with me to explore how this can support your organisation’s next phase of progress.

Fanny Ganti - Transformative Procurement Change® - Nice - France - November 2025