______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Predictions
How manufacturers will meet demands for supply chain transparency. By Catherine Cormier
As we enter 2026, global manufacturers are facing a pivotal shift in their compliance and sustainability requirements. Between new legislation and reporting mandates, rapidly shifting geopolitical risks, and growing customer expectations around product transparency, there’ s a lot to keep track of. But supply chain sustainability is not just a box to check off. It’ s key to maintaining market access, avoiding fines and penalties, and gaining a competitive advantage. Here’ s a look at how global manufacturers are expected to evolve by 2026 as they respond to this new transparency-driven marketplace.
Compliance and sustainability expectations mean deeper supplier data requests
Since 2020, the World Trade Organization has steadily received more notifications of technical trade barriers. It’ s expected that in 2026, the scope and volume of supply chain data requests will reach unprecedented levels.
To keep up, manufacturers must shift from occasional, customer-driven requests toward continuous, proactive data collection. Three accelerating trends will drive this shift: