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Tech providers demanding more environmental goals from vendors 'by default' - Gartner

Predictions claim 75 per cent of organisations will increase business with vendors that have demonstrable sustainability goals over vendors that do not

Technology providers are demanding more environmental-sustainability-aligned performance from vendors as the matter pushes its way to the front of CEO discussions.

Predictions from Gartner say that 70 per cent of technology sourcing, procurement and vendor management leaders (SPVM) will have environmental-sustainability-aligned performance objectives for their functions by 2026.

The analyst house has urged vendors to incorporate sustainability rigour into operations and objectives as sustainability is becoming a competitive differentiator when selecting IT vendors.

Moreover, by 2026, 75 per cent of organisations will increase business with IT vendors that have demonstrable sustainability goals and timelines, replacing vendors that do not.

"Organisations with sustainability targets have realised that technology vendors within their ecosystem will have a significant part to play in their success," said Gartner senior director analyst, Stephen White.

Avoid greenwashing, review the detail

"Sustainable sourcing, contracting and performance management are critical to minimise technology's environmental impacts."

He added: "Avoid being dazzled by providers' headline commitments or greenwashing, and instead, review the detail behind headline commitments and validate merit and performance."

Gartner added the criticality of technology vendors with poorly aligned sustainability objectives will be identified by SPVM leaders and stakeholders, leaving the services of those vendors to be scaled down and new alternatives will be found.

"Moving forward, sustainability will be a driver or fully operationalised in the decision-making process by default," White added.

"SPVM leaders must set the transformation agenda for their function, enabling sustainable consumption of technology by executing key responsibilities: evaluating vendors, contracted vendor commitments, and managing vendors."