Global manufacturers are entering 2026 with a sustainability challenge that extends far beyond annual reports or compliance checklists. According to Catherine Cormier, Chief Product Officer at Assent, the volume and complexity of ESG, compliance, and supply chain data requests have reached a scale that is testing the limits of existing systems. What appears on the surface to be growing friction is, in her view, a sign of progress. Sustainability has moved from a peripheral concern to a core business expectation, and the pressure now being felt across supply chains reflects that shift.

As expectations from regulators, customers, and investors rise, manufacturers are pushing information requirements deeper into their supplier networks. This has exposed a structural weakness. Suppliers are receiving overlapping and inconsistent ESG and compliance questionnaires from multiple customers, often in different formats and on different timelines. Much of this work is still handled through emails, spreadsheets, and document uploads, creating inefficiencies that slow operations and introduce risk across the value chain.

When Transparency Becomes a Bottleneck

Cormier notes that this strain is no longer theoretical. Fragmented data flows are already affecting innovation timelines, supplier relationships, and the ability of manufacturers to respond quickly to regulatory change. Suppliers are eager to demonstrate sustainability leadership, but without systems designed to manage ESG and compliance data at scale, even highly capable organizations are struggling to keep pace. As a result, manufacturers also feel the impact, as product development and sourcing decisions slow under the weight of manual processes.

Suppliers, Cormier argues, want to be strong partners and increasingly see sustainability as a source of competitive advantage. The problem lies in the lack of coordination. Each request arrives with its own structure and purpose, forcing suppliers to recreate similar datasets repeatedly rather than building on validated information they already hold.

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Moving Beyond One-Off Compliance

In response to these challenges, Assent developed its Request Manager solution to help suppliers centralize and manage ESG and compliance requests. The intent is to allow suppliers to validate data once, store it securely, and reuse it across multiple customer requests as requirements evolve. By reducing duplication and administrative effort, sustainability performance can support stronger partnerships rather than acting as a drag on operations.

A central lesson from Assent’s work with thousands of suppliers and manufacturers is that sustainability data cannot be tied to a single regulation. With new reporting and emissions rules emerging across Europe and the United States, companies cannot afford to rebuild their data processes every time a new requirement appears. Regulation-agnostic data structures allow organizations to assess risk and comply with changing rules without repeatedly burdening suppliers.

Sustainability as a Driver of Resilience

Cormier observes a broader shift in how leading manufacturers view sustainability. While compliance remains important, many companies now see responsible sourcing and sustainable product design as levers for innovation and long-term resilience. Early access to reliable supplier data helps avoid costly redesigns, reduces exposure to regulatory shocks, and supports more informed procurement decisions.

For organizations at an earlier stage of their sustainability journey, the message is one of focus and pragmatism. Identifying the highest-risk areas within products and supply chains, collecting meaningful data in those areas, and building systems that enable reuse are more effective than attempting to respond reactively to every new request.

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Suppliers at the Center of the Next Phase

Looking ahead, Cormier expects suppliers to become the foundation of credible sustainability strategies. As digital product passports, eco-design rules, and more detailed disclosures gain traction, suppliers will increasingly determine whether sustainability commitments can be substantiated. Providing them with better data infrastructure, clearer expectations, and scalable tools will be essential for progress.

In her view, 2026 represents a turning point. Suppliers are no longer just respondents to ESG questionnaires but central enablers of sustainable products, transparent supply chains, and resilient manufacturing systems. The current surge in ESG data requests, while challenging, signals that sustainability has reached the point where it is reshaping how global supply chains operate.

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