Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Achilles has been appointed as one of the providers of independent ESG assurance and supplier audit services supporting the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources’ programme to advance ESG maturity across manufacturing.
The programme represents an important step in strengthening transparency, sustainability, and long-term competitiveness across Saudi Arabia’s industrial landscape. As manufacturers face growing expectations to demonstrate measurable ESG progress, independent assurance provides the confidence needed to turn commitments into credible action.
The appointment builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Achilles and the Ministry at Made in Saudi 2025. Achilles was selected as one of four delivery partners following a competitive process involving ten organisations, reflecting its three decades of experience in supply chain assurance, supplier engagement, and sustainability improvement. For Saudi manufacturers, credible independent ESG assurance is increasingly a requirement for accessing international markets and global supply chains. The programme provides manufacturers with certification against internationally recognised standards, strengthening their competitiveness and opening pathways into established global networks.
Through the programme, Achilles collaborates with manufacturers to provide on-site ESG auditing expertise and practical support to help assess current performance, validate ESG practices, and identify opportunities to strengthen their operations. By combining independent verification with actionable recommendations, Achilles supports manufacturers in moving beyond reporting commitments to driving meaningful improvement.
Katie Ferrier, Regional Director UKI & MEA at Achilles, said: “Across global supply chains, organisations are looking for greater confidence that ESG commitments translate into measurable action. Our role is to provide independent assurance, trusted data, and practical insights that help manufacturers strengthen performance and build resilience.”
The programme supports the Kingdom’s broader industrial diversification, supply chain resilience, and sustainability ambitions under Saudi Vision 2030. By strengthening ESG capabilities and providing verifiable performance data, the programme helps Saudi manufacturers demonstrate world-class practices and build stronger foundations for long-term competitiveness in international markets.
Contact:
Hayley VanLeeuwen
Hayley.VanLeeuwen@achilles.com
How Saudi Manufacturers are Building Credible ESG Performance
Saudi manufacturers are entering a new phase of ESG. Completing a sustainability questionnaire is no longer sufficient. Customers, regulators, investors, and supply chain partners increasingly expect independent evidence that ESG commitments translate into operational practice.
For many manufacturers, the challenge is no longer whether ESG matters. It’s understanding how current performance measures up, where the biggest gaps exist, and which improvements will deliver the greatest impact.
Independent ESG assurance bridges that gap, providing an objective assessment of performance and a clear foundation for continuous improvement.
Moving Beyond Self-Report
Questionnaires remain a useful starting point. They help organisations document environmental practices, labour standards, governance structures, and sustainability commitments.
But questionnaires capture what an organisation reports about itself. Assurance tests whether those commitments are supported by evidence, embedded into operational processes, and delivering actual results.
An independent ESG audit gives manufacturers a clearer picture of where they stand: what works well, where gaps exist, and which improvements should come first.
What Independent Assurance Actually Reveals
Take a manufacturer with an established environmental programme. A questionnaire confirms the existence of recycling initiatives, waste reduction targets, and environmental policies.
An ESG audit examines how those commitments operate in practice:
- Are environmental processes implemented consistently?
- Are performance records maintained and monitored?
- Are targets measured against actual results?
- Are management systems in place to sustain improvement?
The real value of assurance often lies in the gap between intention and execution. Those gaps aren’t failures. They’re opportunities to strengthen performance.
Why Saudi Manufacturers Are Shifting Toward Assurance
Four factors are driving this transition.
First, regulatory and industrial priorities. The Saudi Ministry’s ESG programme reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to measurable sustainability performance in manufacturing. Structured assessment helps manufacturers understand their maturity and identify practical improvement opportunities.
Second, customer and supply chain expectations. Global manufacturers increasingly face requests for credible ESG information. Independent assurance provides the confidence manufacturers need to satisfy international customers and reduce the burden of responding to multiple assessments.
Third, international market access. Saudi manufacturers seeking to enter global supply chains face increasing requests for independently verified ESG credentials. This programme provides that verification against international benchmarks, strengthening competitiveness in international markets and opening pathways to established global networks.
Fourth, operational improvement. The strongest ESG programmes do more than support compliance. They help manufacturers identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen working practices, reduce risk, and build long-term resilience.
Turning Audit Findings Into Action
Valuable ESG audits provide more than a score. They provide manufacturers with specific insights into where improvements will have the greatest impact.
Findings are facility-specific. One manufacturer may identify energy efficiency opportunities. Another may need to strengthen contractor management. A third may discover supply chain visibility gaps.
Independent assurance provides the evidence needed to prioritise action and allocate resources effectively.
From Compliance to Capability
The most advanced manufacturers view ESG assurance as part of continuous improvement.
Rather than asking only “Are we compliant?”, they ask:
- Where do we stand today?
- Where do we need to improve?
Strengthening our Competitiveness
This shift from compliance-focused thinking to capability building is where ESG assurance creates the greatest value.
The Saudi Ministry’s ESG programme provides manufacturers with a structured approach to assessing, improving, and demonstrating ESG performance.
Through independent assurance and expert support, manufacturers can build confidence in their ESG position, strengthen operational practices, and contribute to the Kingdom’s ambition for a more sustainable and globally competitive industrial sector.
The future of ESG in manufacturing will be defined not by what organisations say they do, but by what they can demonstrate.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources’ ESG programme for manufacturers?
The programme is designed to support manufacturers in strengthening their environmental, social, and governance performance through structured assessment, independent assurance, and practical improvement support. It helps manufacturers understand their current ESG maturity, identify improvement opportunities, and build foundations for sustainable industrial growth and international competitiveness.
Why is ESG becoming central to Saudi manufacturing?
ESG performance is now a material factor in global manufacturing. Customers, investors, regulators, and supply chain partners all place emphasis on transparency, sustainability, and responsible business practices. For Saudi manufacturers, strengthening ESG capability supports both domestic industrial objectives and competitiveness in international markets.
What’s the difference between an ESG questionnaire and an ESG audit?
A questionnaire provides information based on an organisation’s own reporting. An audit provides independent verification of whether policies, processes, and commitments are reflected in operational practice. For manufacturers, this means moving from self-report to verified performance and understanding where improvement is needed.
What does an ESG audit involve?
An audit typically combines a review of policies, documentation, management systems, and operational practices with on-site assessment. Depending on the organisation, this may include environmental management, energy and emissions, waste management, water use, health and safety, labour practices, ethics, governance, and business continuity. The outcome is a clear understanding of current performance and practical recommendations for improvement.
How does an ESG audit help manufacturers improve, not just demonstrate compliance?
A valuable audit identifies specific opportunities manufacturers can act on. For example, an audit might highlight opportunities to improve resource efficiency, strengthen management systems, enhance workforce practices, or reduce operational risks. By understanding where improvements have the greatest impact, manufacturers can use ESG as a driver of operational performance and resilience.
How does ESG assurance help manufacturers meet international supply chain expectations?
Many manufacturers supplying international customers face requests for credible ESG information. Independent assurance helps manufacturers provide confidence to customers and supply chain partners that sustainability commitments are supported by verified practices. This strengthens trust, supports market access, and improves competitiveness in global supply chains.
How should manufacturers prepare for an ESG audit?
Manufacturers don’t need every ESG process fully developed before beginning an assessment. An effective audit establishes a baseline and identifies improvement priorities. Preparation typically involves gathering relevant policies, performance data, operational records, and identifying key people involved in ESG activities. The most successful organisations approach audits as an opportunity to understand their current position and build capability.
Why is independent ESG assurance important for supply chain resilience?
Modern supply chains extend beyond a manufacturer’s own facilities. Understanding supplier practices and potential risks is essential for organisations seeking greater resilience. Independent supplier assessments create visibility, identify areas of risk, and support stronger relationships across the supply chain.
How is Achilles supporting the Saudi manufacturing ESG programme?
Achilles was selected as one of four providers from a competitive field of ten organisations, bringing more than 30 years of experience in supply chain assurance, supplier assessment, and sustainability improvement. Through independent ESG audits and supplier assessments, Achilles collaborates with manufacturers to help understand their current performance, verify commitments, and identify practical opportunities to strengthen their operations.
What value does ESG assurance create for Saudi manufacturers?
ESG assurance gives manufacturers trusted insight into where they stand today and what they can do to improve. Beyond meeting stakeholder expectations, it can help organisations strengthen operational efficiency, reduce risk, build customer confidence, and contribute to the Kingdom’s ambition for a more sustainable and globally competitive industrial sector.
