Sustainable Supply Chain Consulting Services
Supply chain sustainability risks span environmental, social, and governance issues, yet supplier engagement remains one of the biggest challenges for businesses. We're former CSOs who've built comprehensive supplier programmes across manufacturing, helping companies manage everything from Scope 3 emissions to human rights due diligence.
Why Supply Chain Sustainability Needs a Different Approach
Your investors want Scope 3 data. Your customers demand supply chain transparency. CBAM regulations are creating new compliance requirements. The opportunity is significant: companies with strong supplier sustainability programmes reduce risks, access new markets, and often achieve cost savings through efficiency improvements.
The challenge is more than data collection and involves building genuine supplier relationships that deliver long-term value. Success requires understanding your suppliers' business pressures, speaking their language, and creating programmes that benefit both parties.
This means combining technical expertise in frameworks like CDP Supply Chain and GHG Protocol with practical experience in supplier assessment platforms like EcoVadis and SEDEX, procurement integration, and change management.
Two Ways We Can Support Your Supply Chain Sustainability
Depending on your current sustainability capabilities, we offer two approaches:
Fractional Chief Sustainability Officer
For companies needing broader sustainability leadership alongside supply chain expertise. Ideal if sustainability has been added to someone's existing role (like operations or finance) and you need strategic guidance across all environmental and social sustainability areas.
Supply Chain Sustainability Specialist
For companies with existing sustainability teams who need specific supply chain expertise. Perfect if you have a Head of Sustainability but lack the specialist knowledge for complex supplier programmes, Scope 3 mapping, human rights due diligence, or regulatory compliance like CBAM and Modern Slavery Act.
Our Approach
Here's what makes our approach uniquely effective for supply chain sustainability:
Comprehensive ESG supplier relationships - Direct access to expertise that can manage both environmental and social supplier programmes, from carbon assessments to labour standards auditing
Flexible scaling for project phases - Intensive support during supplier assessments, then ongoing relationship management for both compliance monitoring and improvement programmes
Knowledge transfer and capability building - Your team learns alongside us, building internal expertise for long-term success across all sustainability dimensions
Specialist expertise when you need it - Whether it's CBAM compliance, Scope 3 calculations, human rights due diligence, ethical sourcing, or supplier decarbonisation strategies
Whether you need a specialist to complement your existing sustainability team or broader CSO support, this model works particularly well for manufacturing companies where supply chain sustainability sits at the intersection of procurement, operations, and ESG. You get the strategic thinking and relationship management skills of a senior hire, with the flexibility to adapt as your programme matures.
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Depends on the complexity of our business, but while comprehensive supplier sustainability assessment typically takes 6-12 months, but we prioritise your highest-impact suppliers first. This means you'll have initial data for your major suppliers within 3-6 months, allowing you to start reporting and taking action while the detailed mapping continues.
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Success comes from understanding what matters to each supplier and framing sustainability accordingly. For some, it's cost reduction through efficiency. For others, it's accessing new markets or meeting customer requirements. We help you develop tailored supplier engagement strategies and due diligence processes that create value for both parties.
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Strong supplier relationships need consistency, not constant presence. We typically work more intensively during supplier assessment and engagement phases, then maintain ongoing relationships through regular check-ins and support. This creates continuity while managing costs effectively, with time commitments that flex based on your programme's needs.
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Yes. We help identify cost reduction opportunities through supplier efficiency programmes, circular economy initiatives, and collaborative decarbonisation projects. The key is identifying suppliers who are ready to invest in improvements that benefit both their operations and your supply chain.
FAQs
Why work with Pulse?
Apart from increasing sustainability performance…
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As sustainability leaders ourselves, we understand your needs and can precisely match you with the right expert
Receive a curated shortlist of pre-vetted specialists, not an overwhelming pile of CVs
Access both our core bench of trusted experts and our extended network of specialists
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Average time from initial conversation to full proposal is under a week
Streamlined process saves you time and resources
Rapid deployment of expertise when you need it most
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Fractional leadership that adapts to your needs - no long-term cost burden of a full-time hire.
Scalable resources to match project scope, ensuring cost-effectiveness at every stage.
On-demand access to expert guidance, allowing you to pivot swiftly as business or regulatory landscapes evolve.
One-month cancellation notice for enhanced flexibility and peace of mind.
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Non-dogmatic/ idealistic advice
Focus on value-add: grounded in business realities, balancing sustainability with bottom-line objectives.
Targeted support that aligns with your brand identity and resonates with key stakeholders.
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Your expert is backed by our entire bench of sustainability leaders
Access to collective knowledge across sectors and specialties
Ongoing support and guidance from our wider team
Regular knowledge sharing and best practice updates
Book a free discovery session now
Fill in the form below or email dan@pulsecso.com.
