Top Sustainability Questions for SMEs
Sustainability Questionnaires
If you sell into larger organisations, expect a sustainability questionnaire. They are now standard across UK procurement, and they are appearing in tenders, onboarding forms, supplier portals, and annual reviews. This is because the organisations you sell to are likely to be regulated.
Supply Chain Transparency
Large corporations and public bodies must now report on carbon, packaging, human rights, and supply chain risk with far more detail than ever before. To do that, they need data from their suppliers.
Below, we break down the six most common sustainability questions SMEs are now asked, why they matter, and what they signal about the direction of UK supply chains.
Your answers to these six questions are the key to winning work.
1. Do you have a Carbon Reduction Plan?
This is now one of the most frequent requests SMEs receive, especially when bidding for public sector contracts or supplying large corporations that have net‑zero commitments.
Carbon Reduction Plans
A Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) is a short document that outlines:
- your current emissions
- your emission reduction targets
- the actions you’re taking to achieve your targets
Your Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) can be simple as long as it is credible. Buyers increasingly expect suppliers to have a CRP because they must demonstrate progress against their own climate goals. If buyers cannot show that their supply chain is reducing emissions, their own net‑zero plans fall apart.
It’s vital that you have a CRP and that it aligns with the priorities of the organisations you sell into.
2. What are your Scope 1 and 2 emissions?
This question is a standard part of procurement. Large organisations must report their Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Scope 3 includes supplier emissions, which means your emissions form part of their compliance.
Scope 1 and 2 emissions are the easiest for SMEs to measure:
- Scope 1: fuel you burn directly (e.g., company vehicles)
- Scope 2: electricity you purchase
Buyers ask for this because they need accurate, auditable data. A straightforward annual baseline often meets this need.
SMEs who can provide this data quickly stand out immediately. They reduce friction. They reduce risk. And they make procurement teams’ lives easier.
3. Can you complete our EcoVadis / sustainability assessment?
EcoVadis, Sedex, CDP, and other sustainability platforms are becoming the default way that large organisations assess supplier performance. These platforms allow buyers to:
- benchmark suppliers
- compare risk levels
- track improvements
- meet reporting obligations
These assessments take some time, but they’re a vital part of doing business with larger organisations. Many large organisations now require an EcoVadis score as part of onboarding or contract renewal.
The key insight: buyers are not expecting SMEs to score highly. They are expecting SMEs to participate. Completing the assessment signals that you are willing to engage and that you understand the direction of travel.
4. Do you have a Modern Slavery / human rights policy?
This question is now standard across all sectors, from construction to tech to professional services. Even if you are not legally required to publish a Modern Slavery Statement, buyers still expect you to have a policy.
This is because they must demonstrate that their supply chain is managing human rights risks. If they cannot show this, they fail their own compliance requirements.
A simple policy is usually enough. It should outline:
- your commitment to preventing modern slavery
- how you assess risk
- how you manage suppliers
- how staff can raise concerns
SMEs who have this ready move through procurement faster. Those who don’t often get stuck in back‑and‑forth emails that delay onboarding.
5. Can you evidence recycled content in your packaging?
Packaging data is becoming a major pressure point due to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Large producers must report:
- total packaging placed on the market
- recycled content
- material types
- weights
To do this accurately, they need data from their suppliers.
If you supply packaging, components, or products that include packaging, expect this question. Clear, reliable data helps buyers stay compliant and avoid unnecessary charges.
For SMEs, this often means:
- asking your own suppliers for recycled content data
- keeping simple records
- providing clear specifications
Handled well, packaging data becomes another way to stand out as a prepared, low‑risk supplier.
6. Can you provide supply chain traceability data?
This is the question that signals where the market is heading. Buyers increasingly want to know:
- where materials come from
- who your suppliers are
- what risks exist in your upstream supply chain
This is driven by modern slavery legislation, deforestation rules, ESG reporting, and investor expectations. Traceability is becoming a core part of procurement, especially in sectors like food, construction, textiles, and electronics.
For SMEs, this means being able to clearly present this information when asked. Helping you to demonstrate that you understand the importance of transparency.
Most SMEs aren’t legally required to provide this information, but commercially speaking it’s vital. This is the heart of the shift.
Because the organisations you sell to are regulated on carbon reporting, packaging data or human rights due diligence. This information has become part of how contracts are awarded.
For SMEs this makes preparing answers to key sustainability questions vital.
Procurement readiness = winning contracts
Sustainability questions are now commercial questions. They determine:
- who gets shortlisted
- who gets onboarded
- who gets preferred supplier status
- who wins the contract
SMEs who prepare early move through procurement smoothly. They reduce risk for buyers. They stand out.
At Cala Sustain, we help SMEs navigate what your buyers need and put practical preparations in place to meet that need.
