Elephant in the Boardroom: People Are Missing in Corporate Supply Chain Goals

An analysis of over 1,000 goals from nearly 700 global firms reveals that corporate supply chain sustainability targets overwhelmingly prioritize environmental footprints over the well-being and capacity of people, particularly small suppliers and workers. The research finds that only 12 percent of large companies have people-centered goals, and approximately 90 percent of goals use 'push' or 'pull' mechanisms rather than partnership models. This creates a gap where smaller suppliers, lacking technical and financial resources, struggle to meet sustainability expectations while facing cost pressures. The document advocates for investments in reskilling, innovative contracting, and technical support to ensure a just transition across the supply chain.

• A significant majority of large companies neglect the human element in their supply chain sustainability targets, with only 12 percent establishing goals focused on people, such as working conditions, safety, education, or supplier diversity.
• Corporate sustainability goals are predominantly designed as top-down mandates rather than collaborative efforts; roughly 90 percent of goals 'push' or 'pull' direct suppliers, while fewer than 10 percent adopt a 'partner' approach.
• There is a critical deficiency in goals targeting the workforce's capabilities and welfare, with fewer than 3 percent of companies setting goals for improving working conditions or for the reskilling and upskilling of workers.
• The imbalance of power and resources between large buyers and small suppliers hinders the achievement of sustainability goals, as smaller entities often lack the internal capacity for complex reporting and the financial incentives to upgrade equipment or wages.
• The vast majority of a company's impact on climate and nature occurs within its supply chain, with 80-90 percent of greenhouse gas emissions linked to the extraction and production processes of suppliers.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Elephant in the Boardroom: People Are Missing in Corporate Supply Chain Goals. https://www.wri.org/research/elephant-boardroom-people-are-missing-corporate-supply-chain-goals

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Elephant in the Boardroom: People Are Missing in Corporate Supply Chain Goals. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/elephant-boardroom-people-are-missing-corporate-supply-chain-goals.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Elephant in the Boardroom: People Are Missing in Corporate Supply Chain Goals |url=https://www.wri.org/research/elephant-boardroom-people-are-missing-corporate-supply-chain-goals |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendelephant, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Elephant in the Boardroom: People Are Missing in Corporate Supply Chain Goals}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/elephant-boardroom-people-are-missing-corporate-supply-chain-goals}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }