LRQA has been featured in tier-one global media outlet, Reuters, with CEO Ian Spaulding setting out five key risk trends shaping 2026, drawing on insights from the World Economic Forum, LRQA’s work with global brands and data from our EiQ supply chain intelligence software.
The article describes a “sobering” risk landscape where “trade is weaponised, alliances are strained and strategic assets are subject to geopolitical negotiation”, placing pressure on business continuity, product integrity and reputation.
It highlights how “geoeconomic confrontation” - including tariffs and sanctions - is driving rapid shifts in supply chains. As production relocates, risks linked to quality, human rights and environmental standards increase, particularly in regions with weaker oversight. In response, companies are investing more in due diligence and moving towards continuous, intelligence-led monitoring rather than point-in-time audits.
The piece also points to growing regulatory fragmentation, where enforcement diverges across regions. With stricter requirements emerging, particularly around forced labour and verified data. “Independent verification, not self-declaration” is becoming essential for market access.
At the same time, standards and assurance models are under pressure, as digitalisation and generative AI make it harder to distinguish between authentic and synthetic information. AI is therefore reshaping verification and trust in supply chains, while also acting as a system-level economic force, bringing both opportunity and risk, including implications for energy demand and market stability.
The article further emphasises that cyber and supply chain risks are converging, with attacks now capable of disrupting entire global operations. This reinforces the need to treat cybersecurity as a core element of business resilience.
The conclusion is clear: in a fragmented global economy, verified data and transparency become the “currency” of trust, and organisations that embed these into their operations will be better positioned to maintain market access and continuity.
