As 2026 approaches, sustainability is increasingly shaping how supply chains are planned, operated, and measured, from supplier selection to transportation decisions. Insights from Tunley Environmental’s Sustainability Report 2025 show that these pressures are no longer theoretical. Here are five ways sustainability is already changing global supply chains, and why it matters for logistics, manufacturing, and procurement teams.
1. Supply chains are now the main focus of sustainability efforts
For years, companies focused on cutting emissions inside their own operations. That’s no longer enough.
New rules and reporting frameworks are pushing companies to look more deeply into their supply chains, where the majority of emissions and environmental impacts often reside. Transportation providers, contract manufacturers, raw material suppliers, and packaging partners are all under closer review.
For supply chain leaders, that means sustainability is no longer a side project. It’s becoming part of everyday sourcing, planning, and network decisions.
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2. Scope 3 emissions are forcing companies to engage suppliers
Scope 3 emissions, which come from suppliers and downstream partners, remain one of the hardest challenges companies face.
Many organizations still struggle to collect consistent, reliable data from suppliers across regions and tiers. But expectations are rising. New guidance and standards are making it harder to rely on estimates or incomplete data.
In 2026, supply chain teams are spending more time working directly with suppliers to understand emissions, improve reporting, and identify reduction opportunities that go beyond quick wins.
3. Biodiversity is becoming a supply chain issue, not just a land-use one
Carbon isn’t the only metric gaining attention.
Biodiversity, water use, and natural impacts are increasingly part of sustainability conversations, especially in industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and materials. Companies are being asked to understand how sourcing locations, materials, and supplier practices affect ecosystems.
For supply chains, this adds a new layer of complexity. Decisions about where products are made and how materials are sourced now carry environmental risks that go beyond emissions alone.
4. Regulations are pushing sustainability into daily supply chain decisions
Sustainability regulations are no longer abstract or future-facing. They’re influencing real operational choices.
Trade rules tied to carbon intensity, stricter reporting requirements, and new standards are shaping how companies move goods across borders, choose suppliers, and design distribution networks. For global supply chains, staying compliant increasingly means planning ahead and building sustainability into procurement and logistics strategies from the start.
What once sat with legal or ESG teams is now landing squarely on supply chain and operations leaders.
5. Technology is being used to reduce impact, not just report it
Technology still plays a major role, but the focus is shifting.
Instead of just tracking sustainability metrics, companies are using tools to make smarter decisions, such as optimizing routes to reduce fuel use, improving network efficiency, and identifying high-impact areas in supplier networks.
In 2026, the goal isn’t more dashboards. It uses data to make practical changes that lower costs, reduce risk, and cut environmental impact.
The takeaway
Sustainability is no longer a separate initiative running alongside the supply chain. It’s becoming part of how supply chains operate, compete, and adapt to new pressures.
For companies heading into 2026, the challenge isn’t whether sustainability matters. It’s how quickly supply chain teams can turn evolving expectations into practical, workable strategies.
