Accor is Leading in Sustainable Procurement & ESG Practices

Accor has achieved the Leading maturity level in an independent assessment of its sustainable procurement practices.

The assessment used the ISO 20400 methodology provided by the International Organisation for Standardisation.

The methodology offers guidance to organisations of any activity or size on integrating sustainability within procurement.

The Leading rating is the highest maturity level available and recognises excellence across policy, governance, procurement processes and supplier engagement.

Procurement policies show embedded practices

The result could show Accor's approach to embedding sustainability across its global supply chain.

The company's Responsible Procurement Charter and CSR & Ethics Charter are now embedded within procurement processes, purchasing decisions and supplier agreements.

The assessment found that Accor's charters are effectively integrated into operational frameworks.

Caroline Tissot, Group Chief Procurement Officer, Accor, says: "Achieving the 'Leading' maturity level in the ISO 20400 assessment is a major recognition of the hard work and commitment shown by our procurement teams, category managers and suppliers worldwide."

"This result demonstrates that our policies, tools and day-to-day practices are delivering tangible and measurable progress. It also confirms Accor's leadership in building a sustainable, low carbon and responsible supply chain."

The company's 2026 Sustainable Procurement roadmap was recognised for clear priorities, SMART targets and dedicated resources.

SMART refers to targets that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound.

The group's Supplier Control Plan applies during the tender process and throughout contract lifecycles.

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The assessment recognised this as a robust and operational mechanism applied at scale to secure supplier compliance, improve performance and manage procurement risk categories.

Governance structures support sustainability goals

The assessment identified strong governance and clearly defined responsibilities across Accor's organisational structure.

These responsibilities span top management, the sustainable procurement team and all local procurement teams.

According to the ISO 20400 guidance, procurement is a powerful instrument for organisations wishing to behave in a responsible way.

The methodology connects procurement practices to contributions toward sustainable development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

According to McKinsey, new opportunities are emerging for organisations to use procurement to gain a competitive edge. The consulting firm argues that strategic partnerships and innovation could help organisations achieve sustainability impact through procurement.

Analysis from McKinsey shows that top environmental, social and governance performers enjoy faster growth and higher valuations than other players in their sectors. The margin is 10% to 20% in each case.

Strong ESG credentials could lower costs by 5% to 10%, according to McKinsey. This financial impact accompanies the growth and valuation benefits identified in the consulting firm's analysis.

Accor says it is committed to sourcing local and seasonal food as part of its procurement approach. This commitment forms part of the company's broader supply chain sustainability strategy.

In 2025, Accor won the World's Leading Climate Action Initiative category at the World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards. The award recognised the Group's supply chain decarbonisation program called Achieving Net Zero Together.

Caroline said at the time: "This recognition highlights Accor's commitment to turning ambition into action. Through the Achieving Net Zero Together program, we and our partners are driving tangible progress on our journey toward net zero."

Decarbonisation programme addresses supplier challenges

The Achieving Net Zero Together programme launched in 2024.

It tackles a specific challenge in corporate climate action: how to reduce supply chain emissions in a context of low supplier maturity and limited carbon data availability.

The programme addresses the gap between corporate climate ambitions and the practical realities of supply chain decarbonisation. This includes working with suppliers who may have varying levels of environmental maturity and data collection capabilities.

The ISO 20400 Leading rating validates Accor's approach to integrating sustainability requirements throughout its supplier relationships.

The methodology assessed the company's performance across multiple dimensions of sustainable procurement practice.

The assessment process evaluated how effectively Accor's sustainability policies translate into operational procurement decisions.

This includes how the company selects suppliers, manages contracts and monitors compliance with sustainability criteria.