2024-Sustainability-Integrated Vendor Scorecard Evaluating Carbon Footprint, Waste Reduction, and Ethical Sourcing Alongside Traditional Metrics

The growing emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors has reshaped procurement practices and vendor performance evaluation in global supply chains. Traditional vendor scorecards primarily focused on cost, quality, and delivery performance are no longer sufficient to address the pressing sustainability challenges in today’s business ecosystem. This study develops a Sustainability-Integrated Vendor Scorecard (SIVS) framework that incorporates sustainability dimensions such as carbon footprint, waste reduction, and ethical sourcing, alongside traditional procurement metrics. Based on an extensive review of over 100 peer-reviewed studies, industry reports, and international sustainability guidelines, this paper argues that integrating sustainability metrics into vendor performance evaluation fosters transparency, long-term resilience, and strategic alignment with global sustainability goals. The proposed framework highlights how procurement leaders can balance operational efficiency with environmental stewardship and social responsibility. The findings suggest that sustainability-integrated vendor evaluation not only mitigates risks but also enhances brand reputation, stakeholder trust, and competitive advantage.