The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually
looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.
Ethical Spend Coverage
Percentage of total business unit spend with suppliers meeting our ethical sourcing standards (e.g., valid audit, strong CAP closure rate, grievance mechanism in place).
Target · Increase from 80% to 90% within 18 months. If our business unit spends £500M annually, your target is to ensure £450M of that is with ethically compliant suppliers, up from £400M.
Supply Chain Risk Reduction Score
A composite score tracking the reduction of identified high-risk issues (e.g., forced labour indicators, severe environmental non-conformances) across Tier 1 and Tier N suppliers.
Target · Achieve a 15% reduction in overall risk score year-on-year. After implementing a new due diligence programme for cobalt, the risk score for that commodity dropped from 7.2 to 6.1 within 12 months, contributing to the overall 15% target.
ESG Rating Improvement (Supply Chain specific)
Improvement in key supply chain-related metrics within external ESG ratings (e.g., DJSI, MSCI, CDP Supply Chain).
Target · Contribute to a 5-point increase in the overall company ESG score, specifically in 'Supply Chain Labour' or 'Supply Chain Environmental Impact' categories. Our MSCI 'Supply Chain Labour Standards' score moved from 'Average' to 'Leading' due to your new grievance mechanism and HRDD programme, directly impacting the company's overall rating.
Crisis Management & Incident Resolution
The number of high-profile supply chain incidents (e.g., NGO reports, adverse media) that are managed without significant negative brand or financial impact.
Target · 100% of high-profile incidents managed with no significant negative brand or financial impact (>£1M). When an NGO report flagged child labour in a Tier 3 supplier, your team's rapid response, transparent communication, and effective remediation plan prevented a major media scandal and maintained investor confidence.
Scope 3 Emissions Reduction (Supply Chain)
Quantifiable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the supply chain (e.g., raw material extraction, manufacturing, transport).
Target · Achieve a 5% reduction in Scope 3 emissions from the supply chain year-on-year. By working with key suppliers to switch to renewable energy sources and optimising logistics, you helped reduce our supply chain emissions by 6.2% this year, exceeding the target.
Executive & Board Confidence
The degree to which the C-Suite and Board trust your strategic advice and leadership on ethical sourcing matters, proactively seeking your input on major business decisions.
- You're regularly invited to C-Suite strategy sessions, your recommendations are adopted without significant challenge, and the Board relies on your reports for their ESG oversight. They'll call you first when a tricky issue comes up, not last.
External Reputation & Thought Leadership
Our standing as a credible, transparent, and proactive leader in ethical sourcing within the industry and amongst NGOs.
- You're invited to speak at major industry conferences, NGOs see us as a partner rather than an adversary, and our public reports are recognised for their honesty and depth. We're seen as part of the solution, not just part of the problem.
Team Leadership & Development
The effectiveness of your leadership in building, motivating, and developing a high-performing, resilient ethical sourcing team.
- Your team has high retention rates, clear career paths, and is consistently delivering against ambitious targets. You're known for developing future leaders in the sustainability space, and people want to work for you.
Cross-Functional Integration
How well ethical sourcing considerations are embedded into core business processes (e.g., procurement, product design, legal) rather than being an afterthought.
- Ethical sourcing is a standing agenda item in Procurement leadership meetings, product teams consult you early in the design phase, and legal sees you as a key partner in regulatory compliance. It's not just 'your' problem anymore
- it's everyone's.