The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

#1602 Embed sustainability criteria into Supplier Management (SUPP) and Sourcing (SORC) skills change request pending

Amend SUPP and SORC to include green procurement criteria, vendor sustainability evaluation, and Scope 3 supply chain emissions assessment as explicit competency dimensions.

Problem Statement: SFIA 9 Supplier Management (SUPP, Levels 2–7) and Sourcing (SORC, Levels 2–7) do not include sustainability or environmental criteria as dimensions of competency. The TBM for Sustainability & ESG Framework requires technology organisations to evaluate vendor sustainability, apply green procurement criteria in sourcing decisions, and account for supply chain (Scope 3) emissions. These are not optional enhancements — Scope 3 emissions from technology supply chains are increasingly subject to regulatory disclosure requirements. Practitioners operating to SFIA 9 SUPP and SORC standards have no defined competency basis for these activities.

Proposed Change:

Amend SUPP descriptors at Levels 3–7 to include:

·        Evaluation of supplier sustainability credentials and ESG performance as part of supplier selection and management.

·        Monitoring of supplier-related Scope 3 emissions as a component of supplier performance management.

·        Incorporation of sustainability KPIs into supplier contracts and service level agreements.

 

Amend SORC descriptors at Levels 3–7 to include:

·        Application of green procurement criteria in technology sourcing decisions.

·        Assessment of environmental impact (including Scope 3 emissions) as a standard factor in sourcing evaluation.

·        Alignment of sourcing strategy with organisational ESG commitments and regulatory obligations.

 

Rationale:

·        Directly addresses "Weak" coverage ratings in Section 2.3 of the gap analysis.

·        Scope 3 technology supply chain emissions are increasingly regulated and material to ESG disclosures.

·        Aligns with ISO 20400 (Sustainable Procurement) and GHG Protocol Scope 3 guidance.

 

Applies to: SUPP — Supplier Management; SORC — Sourcing

Change Note: Proposed additions to existing skill descriptions at Levels 3–7. No structural changes proposed.

Note: More than 36 jurisdictions globally are actively adopting or aligning their corporate disclosure regulations with the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB) to create a global baseline for climate and sustainability reporting. Beyond the UK, the EU, and Australia, numerous other countries have formally finalised their approach to adopt or closely align with these rules, including Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Qatar, and Turkey. Additionally, nations such as Singapore, South Korea, India, and Indonesia are in advanced stages of implementing ISSB-aligned frameworks. View official implementation maps and country-by-country data on the IFRS Foundation Jurisdictional Profiles page.

Proposed change applies to Supplier management

Current status of this request: pending

Tim Prosser
Oct 03, 2026 12:58 am

Update following industry review;

1. Move Beyond Marketing Questionnaires to Post-Award Verification (SUPP & SORC)
• Context from Review: CR #1602 currently proposes evaluating vendor sustainability credentials and Scope 3 supply chain emissions during initial supplier selection. However, the role profile review identifies a primary failure mode in technology procurement: sustainability criteria frequently become a weighted questionnaire answered by a supplier's marketing team, with no post-award verification or enforcement.
• Recommended Addition to SUPP (Levels 4–7) & SORC (Levels 4–7):
o Require supplier managers to test and audit supplier evidence after award, holding vendors to binding improvement plans rather than relying solely on pre-award disclosures.
o Explicitly include competencies for testing whether supplier figures are derived from activity-based operational data versus unverified spend-based proxies.

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2. Challenge Need and Evaluate Sourcing Alternatives Before Buying (SORC)
• Context from Review: While CR #1602 focuses on "green procurement criteria" for new purchases, effective sustainable sourcing starts before a purchase takes place. Sourcing roles must actively challenge demand, evaluate extended hardware refresh cycles, assess refurbished or remanufactured equipment, and consider the option of not buying.
• Recommended Addition to SORC (Levels 3–7):
o Mandate that sourcing evaluations begin with challenging the fundamental need to procure, assessing hardware lifecycle extension, asset redeployment, and refurbished alternatives alongside new purchases.
o Frame sourcing trade-offs around whole-life cost and whole-life carbon impact rather than upfront purchase price.

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3. Secure Contractual Data Rights and Audit Rights (SUPP / ITCM Alignment)
• Context from Review: The gap analysis in the review document notes that contractual data rights and audit terms are currently missing from CR #1602. Without explicit contractual rights to granular emissions telemetry, reporting teams are forced to rely on whatever high-level marketing figures suppliers choose to publish.
• Recommended Addition to SUPP / Cross-Reference to Contract Management (ITCM):
o Add explicit requirements in SUPP and SORC to secure contractual rights to granular emissions telemetry, reporting methodology transparency, and audit access.
o Add a formal cross-reference note to CR #1602 recommending a companion change request or update for Contract Management (ITCM) to embed data rights and audit clauses into standard contracting frameworks.

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4. Embed End-of-Life Terms and Circular Economy Criteria (SORC / SUPP / ASMG Alignment)
• Context from Review: Sustainable vendor management requires managing hardware throughout its full lifecycle down to final disposition. Supplier selection and contract governance must address end-of-life terms, including chain-of-custody verification, e-waste handling, and documented proof of reuse or recycling.
• Recommended Addition to SORC & SUPP (Levels 4–6):
o Require sourcing specifications and supplier reviews to mandate verifiable end-of-life terms, including strict chain-of-custody tracking, refurbishment guarantees, and evidence of reuse.
o Note the alignment with Asset Management (ASMG) for tracking embodied carbon through hardware reassignment and disposal.

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Proposed Ready-to-Paste Text for CR #1602 "Change Comments / Proposed Additions"
Proposed Amendments to CR #1602 Descriptors:

• SORC (Sourcing, Levels 3–7):
o "Evaluates sourcing requirements by challenging the need to purchase, explicitly considering hardware lifecycle extension, asset redeployment, refurbished equipment, and alternative service models alongside new acquisitions."
o "Applies whole-life costing and whole-life carbon impact criteria—including embodied carbon and circular economy disposal terms—to evaluate tenders and negotiate commercial options."

• SUPP (Supplier Management, Levels 4–7):
o "Verifies and audits supplier environmental data, testing whether disclosures are based on granular activity metrics rather than spend-derived estimates or marketing assertions."
o "Enforces contractual sustainability obligations post-award, monitoring supplier progress against decarbonisation targets, securing data audit rights, and verifying end-of-life chain-of-custody terms."
• Cross-Skill Gap Note:
o "Recommend cross-referencing CR #1602 with Contract Management (ITCM) and Asset Management (ASMG) to ensure contractual data rights, audit access, and end-of-life asset tracking are formally embedded across the commercial lifecycle."