Nearly half of suppliers monitor and manage water use to protect the environment, cut costs and strengthen their reputation. By conserving water, suppliers align with industry sustainability goals and appeal to eco-conscious buyers. The State Of Responsibility 2026 | Must Read TABLE 7: Does your company actively monitor and manage water use at manufacturing or operational facilities? Yes, measured and managed Informal efforts Not currently Not applicable Suppliers $100M+ 54% 38% 8% 0% Suppliers $25M-$100M 56% 18% 9% 18% Suppliers $10M-$25M 39% 22% 26% 13% Suppliers $3M-$10M 30% 25% 20% 25% Suppliers Under $3M 33% 33% 17% 17% Regulations involving PFAS, extended producer responsibility, forced labor and supply-chain due diligence can have significant consequences for companies that are unprepared, warns Pinkley. “These risks can sometimes be viewed as relatively low probability, but the potential impact can be extremely high, from interrupted supply chains and restricted product sales to financial and reputational consequences,” Pinkley says. “For us, the takeaway is that companies can’t wait until a regulation directly affects a shipment or customer to begin preparing. Understanding your supply chain, establishing the right internal systems and monitoring regulatory developments have become fundamental parts of responsible business operations.” TABLE 8: How prepared is your company to comply with emerging global regulations (e.g., PFAS restrictions, EPR, forced labor laws, due diligence requirements)? Proactively supporting customers External expertise engaged Internal systems in place Monitoring developments Not currently tracking Suppliers $100M+ 38% 8% 54% 0% 0% Suppliers $25M-$100M 38% 9% 29% 24% 0% Suppliers $10M-$25M 22% 4% 43% 22% 9% Suppliers $3M-$10M 20% 5% 45% 30% 0% Suppliers Under $3M 0% 0% 17% 67% 17% “Understanding your supply chain, establishing the right internal systems and monitoring regulatory developments have become fundamental parts of responsible business operations.” —GERALD PINKLEY, CAP AMERICA • OCTOBER 2026 • 31
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