Meeting Evolving ESG Expectations: Regenerative Sourcing for Credible Impact

Rules and investor needs are changing fast. New laws in the EU and new climate and nature rules raise the bar. Investors want trusted data. Regulators want proof. Customers want real results. The question is not if you change. It’s how you turn regenerative sourcing into clear, credible impact—without extra noise.

Why regenerative sourcing now?

Regenerative sourcing is no longer a pilot or a PR line. It helps cut emissions, protect forests and water, rebuild soil, and support farmers. Many companies talk about it. Fewer can show results. The message is clear: move from intent to evidence.

What does “credible impact” mean?

“Credible” means impact you can measure and verify. It also means you can report it the same way each year and across crops. Here is what to show:

• Climate: Real cuts to land-sector (FLAG) emissions with a clear baseline and steady tracking.

• Nature: No deforestation or conversion. Gains for biodiversity and water at farm and basin levels.

• People: Human rights due diligence. Child-labor risk controls. Progress toward a living income.

• Governance & data: Independent checks so your claims stand up to audits and investor reviews.

When you can show hectares under regen practices, emissions reduced, water benefits, and farmer outcomes, you build trust.

The business case

• Compliance confidence: Traceability and field checks lower legal and brand risk.

• Investor-grade data: Clean, verified metrics help win capital and support.

• Supply security: Healthier soils and smarter water use protect yield and quality.

• Reputation with proof: Third-party checks reduce greenwash risk.

A practical roadmap

1. Pick the right places and crops. Use risk and materiality scans to find hot spots. Set what “good” looks like in each place: regen practices, no-deforestation rules, water goals, and social safeguards.

2. Design farmer-first support. Make adoption doable: demo plots, agronomy advice, input right-sizing, and fair finance or insurance.

3. Monitor from space and on the ground. Map farms, screen for deforestation, and verify in person. Set up clear fix and grievance steps.

4. Build solid MRV for FLAG. Create shared baselines and activity data so reductions are auditable. Add simple biodiversity and water indicators where they matter.

5. Embed human rights and income. Use child-labor monitoring, supplier due diligence, and living-income plans. Regeneration must help people, not just carbon.

6. Report with clarity. Align to key frameworks (like CSRD, SBTi FLAG, and TNFD). Share steady progress, not perfection.

What leaders aim to do

Industry leaders set targets for: deforestation-free supply, FLAG cuts, regen adoption, basin water gains, and human-rights due diligence. They run programs beyond pilots. They fund farmer transitions. And they track results with strong MRV. Sector reviews show momentum—but also big gaps. This is your chance to stand out with verified outcomes.

How SAN helps you deliver credible regenerative sourcing

Sustainability doesn’t need to be complicated—it needs to be credible. SAN helps you move fast and show results:

1. Regenerative Sourcing Programs Farmer-first support in coffee, cocoa, dairy, grains, and more. We track adoption, yield/quality, emissions, and co-benefits.

2. Deforestation-/Conversion-Free Assurance Farm mapping, risk screens, satellite checks, and field verification. Ready for audits and buyer claims.

3. FLAG & Net-Zero MRV-as-a-Service Baselines, monitoring, and accounting that fit your reporting system.

4. Water-Positive Landscapes Basin projects that deliver measurable water benefits and protect riparian areas.

5. Human Rights & Living Income Child-labor monitoring systems, supplier due diligence, and income-gap strategies.

6. Impact Data & Claims Hub A light, practical system for KPIs like % regen, % deforestation-free, water benefits, and human-rights coverage—so you publish with confidence.

With our Global Impact Network in 120+ countries, we bring local expertise at global scale. We turn board promises into field results you can trust. One network. Global impact.

What good looks like on your dashboard

• % of key volumes under verified regen management

• Hectares protected or restored; no-deforestation status by origin

• FLAG-aligned Scope 3 reductions (tCO₂e) tied to actions

• Volumetric water benefits by basin

• Human-rights coverage: CLMRS reach, fixes completed, living-income progress

• Evidence packs mapped to CSRD, SBTi FLAG, and TNFD

Ready to move beyond compliance?

Traceability is not enough. The future belongs to regenerative supply chains with verified impact. If you are setting regen targets, facing EUDR timelines, or preparing CSRD reports, we can help. Talk to us about your supply chain. Let’s make your sourcing measurable, auditable, and scalable—and meet rising ESG expectations with confidence.