From complexity to clarity: Developing an Indirect Spend strategy, FMCG

Overview

A leading global FMCG company recognised the critical need to strengthen human rights due diligence across its Indirect Spend categories.

The challenge

Indirect Spend categories – including logistics, facilities management, merchandise production and professional services – have complex, multi-tiered supply chains where human rights and environmental risks can be hard to detect. ​

In response to evolving legislation and rising stakeholder expectations, the client asked twentyfifty to proactively uncover and address hidden risks within these supply chains.

Our approach

Working with our client’s procurement and sustainability teams, we defined legislative priorities and identified the Indirect Spend categories and human rights issues that fell within scope.

This ensured that the project addressed compliance requirements and broader sustainability objectives.

We gathered insights from internal stakeholders and carried out detailed research using academic studies, media reports, NGO publications, and company disclosures.

We assessed the severity and likelihood of risks for each category, creating a combined score for meaningful comparison and a data-driven foundation for prioritisation.

Stakeholder workshops and validation sessions ensured that findings were relevant, practical, and aligned with organisational priorities.

We delivered concise summaries, detailed risk profiles and actionable recommendations.

Results

Our client gained a comprehensive understanding of risks across all Indirect Spend categories.

This enabled the prioritisation of high-risk areas, effective resource allocation, and strengthened responsible procurement.

The project also built internal capability, equipping teams with practical tools, frameworks and knowledge.

This supported compliance with current legislation and positioned the company to respond proactively to future regulatory developments and stakeholder expectations.