Posted on March 4, 2026 by Gabriella Leuthner
#Corporate Responsibility #Corporate Sustainability #Corporate Sustainability Reporting #Supply Chain #Sustainability Reporting
In a resource paper published today, G&A Institute outlines emerging sustainability requirements from pharmaceutical companies, which most tier 1 pharma suppliers now need to meet. The approach we suggest for navigating this evolution reflects a new reality for tier 1 pharma suppliers: as sustainability mandates increase from industry-leading customers, compliance is no longer a siloed effort, but a company-wide imperative. It can also be a strategic advantage.
For years, responding to customer data requests was generally relegated to a company’s sustainability or EHS (environmental, health, and safety) team. In 2026, that model is changing with increasingly complex and frequent sustainability data requests from customers, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry.
With pharma companies now making requests like detailed emissions disclosures, validated science-based targets, and disclosures and surveys such as CDP and EcoVadis, completing these tasks outpaces the reach of any single department. To remain a preferred supplier, companies must treat sustainability as a company-wide business practice.
To align with customer requests and achieve high-quality outcomes such as an “A” score from CDP or validated targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), organizations must mobilize a diverse set of internal stakeholders. The list likely needs to include:
G&A’s resource paper, “What Tier 1 Pharma Suppliers Need to Know: Navigating Customers’ Climate and Sustainability Requests,” outlines what is required of these internal stakeholders and provides a framework for building a successful, cohesive sustainability strategy.
The Supplier Sustainability Roadmap featured in this paper breaks the process down into five manageable phases: Establish, Plan, Execute, Submit, and Improve. The “Plan” phase is where companies will need to internally identify who is responsible for collection and analysis of data from all relevant areas of the company.
Ultimately, a company-wide approach to sustainability creates a more resilient business. When sustainability, finance, risk management, procurement, and operations are aligned, organizations can actively move beyond a compliance mindset to a resilient and proactive organization. If you treat sustainability requests as a compliance exercise, your organization likely won’t see major improvements or year-over-year efficiency gains. Without integrating these practices into your business strategy, the requests will continue to feel like a burden rather than a strategic advantage. By making sustainability part of your core business strategy, you ensure continuous improvement and long-term competitiveness.
“ What Tier 1 Pharma Suppliers Need to Know: Navigating Customers’ Climate and Sustainability Requests“ is your guide to aligning with pharma customer requests and bringing on the right team members to help you meet your sustainability goals.
ABOUT GABRIELLA LEUTHNER
Senior Climate Analyst, G&A Institute
Gabriella Leuthner is a Senior Climate Analyst on the Climate Consulting team at Governance & Accountability Institute. She supports clients with a wide range of climate projects, including conducting Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas inventories, assessing climate physical and transition risks and opportunities, and developing decarbonization strategies.
Published by Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.
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