Climate performance and responsible sourcing risk outlook
2026 risk trends report
LRQA's latest report, climate performance and responsible sourcing risk outlook, draws on insights from 837 organisations, including LRQA clients and partners actively engaging with LRQA on climate performance, responsible sourcing and risk management topics. The report reflects the perspectives of organisations already navigating complex supply chains, evolving regulation and growing stakeholder expectations. Rather than benchmarking performance, it highlights how organisations are progressing in practice, where capability is maturing and where focused action can unlock further value.
Key takeaways: where opportunity is emerging
- With ambition firmly in place, organisations have an opportunity to strengthen the evidence behind climate and sourcing commitments through proportionate validation, assurance and governance.
- Scope 3 is increasingly viewed not as a barrier, but as a lever for improving supplier collaboration, data quality and targeted emissions reduction.Existing supplier oversight programmes offer a launch point for smarter, risk-based scaling that improves visibility while remaining practical and efficient.
- Organisations aligning climate performance and responsible sourcing are better positioned to simplify compliance, reduce duplication and respond coherently to regulatory and market expectations.
- Early attention to climate-related disruption, worker welfare and supplier resilience is helping organisations strengthen continuity and reinforce responsible sourcing objectives.