by Gigo Joseph
As Vice President of Business Development, who works with companies on supplier management challenges, I’ve recently spent more time than expected helping them untangle their historical supplier data.
Not the cutting-edge, forward-looking tools—like real-time risk alerts or ESG dashboards. I’m talking about old email threads, unlabeled spreadsheets from 2013, and long-forgotten shared folders. Why? Because the next wave of supply chain regulation doesn’t just expect you to know your suppliers today. It expects you to understand their business practices and activities from a decade ago.
Take the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). It requires companies to report detailed data on PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals”, dating back to 2014. That includes volumes, usage, disposal methods, and more. While it’s a one-time disclosure, the data requirements are anything but simple. Most organizations aren’t ready for that kind of backward-looking audit.
And yet, this is where supplier risk and compliance regulation is headed: deeper, broader, and more historical.
Even as some high-profile rules stall, such as the SEC’s climate disclosure requirements, which are currently on hold, momentum continues, and companies need to prepare. Pressure from global markets, investors, and state-level legislation hasn’t let up. ESG accountability is still advancing, though through a more fragmented and nuanced landscape.
At the state level, new laws in California, New York, and Washington are raising expectations around labor practices and human rights compliance. Federal regulations such as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) are tightening the screws further, pushing companies to know not just their Tier 1 suppliers, but also the origins of materials and labor throughout their entire supply chain.
What’s the big shift? Compliance is moving from policy to proof.
From “we have a statement on our website” to “we can document and verify our actions.” Auditors and regulators want more than words—they want evidence. It’s no longer enough to report company actions; it’s imperative to verify compliance within your entire supply chain.
That’s a tall order for most procurement and compliance teams. Many still rely on manual processes, fragmented systems, and tribal knowledge buried in inboxes. Multi-tier supplier visibility is limited. And retrospective data? Often nonexistent.
But this isn’t just a legal or financial problem anymore. It’s a supply chain issue and increasingly, a trust issue.
Can you confidently identify your suppliers, describe the risks they pose, and provide the necessary documentation to support your compliance claims? Could you provide proof to external auditors?
There’s no silver bullet, but there is a clear path forward. In my work supporting supplier ecosystems, I’ve seen how powerful tools like TYS Essentials make a real difference, especially when it comes to compliance workflows, document traceability, and multi-tier transparency.
Supplier management platforms such as Trust Your Supplier enable companies to manage onboarding, collect certifications, and retain auditable records. These capabilities allow you to respond to disclosure requirements with speed and confidence.
Tools alone won’t solve the growing need for historical information, but they provide the foundation to act proactively instead of reactively.
We’re entering a new era of accountability. Supplier compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties anymore; it’s about building resilience, earning trust, and future-proofing your operations.
If you haven’t started preparing for this shift, now is the time. Your customers, investors, and regulators are expecting it.
Explore How Trust Your Supplier (TYS) Essentials Can Help
If you're facing increasing demands around supplier data, documentation, and compliance, you’re not alone. TYS Essentials is designed to simplify supplier onboarding, centralize critical records, and give you the visibility needed to meet today’s—and tomorrow’s—regulatory expectations.
✅ Automate onboarding workflows
✅ Maintain auditable compliance records
✅ Improve supplier data quality and traceability
✅ Gain multi-tier visibility without the spreadsheet chaos
Learn more about how TYS Essentials supports smarter, compliance-ready supplier management. Request a demo.
The onboarding moment is the one time in the supplier lifecycle when you have full control. Before issuing a PO or starting work, you can ask questions, validate claims, and assess risk. But too often, that opportunity is missed because onboarding is treated as a checklist task instead of a strategic safeguard. 
