Lenovo and Schneider Electric target growing sustainability demands on channel partners

As sustainability increasingly influences customer decisions, Lenovo and Schneider Electric join forces to help partners demonstrate measurable environmental progress

Schneider Electric has partnered with Lenovo and will join Lenovo 360 Circle to bring decarbonisation expertise and management tools to IT channel partners.

Lenovo 360 Circle is the vendor’s global sustainability community for channel partners, and brings together more than 860 partners across 68 markets to share best practices and collaborate on sustainability initiatives.

The partnership comes as sustainability considerations play an increasingly important role in procurement decisions, public sector tenders and supply chain assessments, creating pressure for partners to demonstrate their environmental credentials.

The companies are well placed to deliver this initiative, as both have been recognised as ‘Champions’ in Omdia’s global Sustainable Ecosystems Leadership Matrix 2026.

CRN’s own research found that the channel is focused on sustainability when it is “increasingly tied to measurable business outcomes rather than standalone ESG messaging.”

As sustainability becomes increasingly linked to procurement decisions and supplier selection, partners are facing pressure to demonstrate measurable progress against their environmental goals.

Against this backdrop, Lenovo and Schneider Electric are aiming to give partners practical tools and knowledge to measure and reduce their environmental impact.

The partnership programme

As the newest ally, Schneider Electric will bring its Decarbonisation Champion programme to the Lenovo 360 Circle community, giving members access to carbon management tools and support from Schneider Electric Advisory Services specialists to identify where companies are in their sustainability journeys, and develop practical decarbonisation roadmaps.

Lenovo noted that, for businesses, knowing where to start in their sustainability journeys can be a challenge, so they must first understand where the emissions originate before developing practical plans to reduce them.

The programme will guide businesses through four stages: building sustainability knowledge, measuring Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, developing a decarbonisation roadmap with specialist support and implementing the initiatives and tracking their progress over time.

The pathway has been designed as an ongoing cycle of measurement and improvement, rather than a one-time sustainability assessment.

“Every partner’s sustainability journey is unique, but the need for action has never been greater,” said Paul Tyrer, VP, global AI enterprise and partner ecosystem, Schneider Electric.

“Through the Decarbonisation Champion offer, we’re building the momentum needed to address the broader Scope 3 challenge and drive lasting progress across our industry.”

Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect emissions generated across a company’s wider value chain, have become an increasing focus for large enterprises seeking greater visibility into supplier sustainability performance.

He also commented that those who take part in the programme “will be recognised as the leading partners in the IT industry who are setting the highest standard for sustainability by turning ambition into measurable impact.”

Sustainability on the channel’s agenda

Sustainability requirements are becoming increasingly influential in customer decision making, request for proposals, and supply chains.

In a previous article with CRN, Lenovo explained that many organisations are expecting businesses to not only champion sustainability but also actively collaborate in their journey toward sustainable growth.

Channel partners are facing growing expectations to demonstrate credible progress towards their ESG goals.

The ability to measure and demonstrate sustainability progress can help partners meet evolving requirements, and differentiate their business in the market.

Virginie le Barbu, Lenovo’s executive director of global sustainability for international markets commented, “Sustainability is no longer only about commitments; it is increasingly influencing market access, customer preference, and business growth.”

She explained that through the programme, “partners gain practical decarbonisation expertise that helps them strengthen their competitiveness and respond to evolving customer expectations”.

The initiative could help partners develop sustainability-focused advisory capabilities as customers seek support with carbon reporting and emissions measurement, as well as broader ESG targets, creating potential opportunities for new ESG-related services.