A good buy: using data to identify ESG conscious government suppliers

Governments have long recognised the value of strong private sector ‘environmental, social and governance’ (ESG) standards, which can improve companies’ impacts in a range of fields – from pollution to diversity, transparency to community engagement. And commissioning from firms with good ESG track records doesn’t only ensure that public spending helps realise a range of policy goals; it also makes good sense from the buyer’s perspective. Companies with strong standards of transparency, sustainability and ethics, for example, find it easier to attract and retain staff, increase sales and avoid negative media attention – helping to insulate their clients against the risks of weak delivery, supplier collapse or reputational damage. And with a growing number of national leaders and strategies insisting that departments track environmental and social impacts throughout their supply chains, procurement staff are under pressure to gather and verify relevant data across their supplier networks. This task has grown easier in recent years, with the emergence of stronger metrics and better data covering ESG performance; and with the spread of technologies such as the Internet of Things and satellite imagery, the range and quality of data sources is fast improving. But how can civil service bodies access reliable, verified ESG data that allows them to compare suppliers? How should that data be deployed within procurement processes? And how can public bodies continue to monitor ESG performance throughout the life of a contract? At this Dun & Bradstreet webinar, experts from the business data and analytics firm explored the state of contemporary ESG practice, explain the options facing civil service commercial teams, and answer questions from the live audience.