導(dǎo)語:Dear Sir/Madam, We are conducting a research study on how ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting influences international trade in the healthcare industry. This questionnaire aims to understand the extent to which ESG factors influence your company's procurement and import decisions regarding medical products. This survey is solely for academic purposes, and all responses will be kept strictly confidential and anonymized. Thank you for your valuable time and support!
1. Your company's primary business belongs to which segment of the healthcare industry? (Single choice) A. Medical Device Distributor/Procurement B. Pharmaceutical Importer/Wholesaler C. Hospital Group/Healthcare Provider D. Retail Pharmacy Chain E. Other (Please specify)
2. Does your company have procurement sources or import medical products from China? (Single choice) A. Yes, as a significant source B. Yes, but as a minor source C. No, but we are considering it D. No, and we have no plans to
3. The region where your company is headquartered: (Single choice) A. European Union B. North America (USA, Canada) C. Asia-Pacific (excl. China) D. Other (Please specify)
4. What is your job function? (Single choice) A. Senior Management (C-Suite, VP) B. Procurement/Supply Chain Management C. Sustainability/ESG Specialist D. Compliance/Quality Assurance E. Marketing/Sales F. Other (Please specify)
5. What is your work experience in the industry? (Single choice) A. Less than 3 years B. 3-5 years C. 6-10 years D. More than 10 years
Part 2: ESG Perception and Integration (Q6-Q15, 10 questions)6. Does your company have a formal ESG or sustainability strategy? (Single choice) A. Yes, and it is fully integrated into our procurement policy B. Yes, but it is separate from procurement decisions C. No, but we are developing one D. No
7. How important is the ESG performance of a supplier when making procurement decisions for medical products? (Single choice, scale 1-5)
8. What are the primary drivers for your company to consider ESG in procurement? (Multiple choice) A. Compliance with local and international regulations (e.g., EU MDR, CSDDD) B. Requirements from our own customers or investors C. Corporate social responsibility and ethical values D. Mitigating supply chain risks (reputation, operational) E. Achieving long-term cost savings F. Competitive advantage and brand differentiation G. Investor pressure and ESG ratings
9. Which ESG aspects are currently included in your supplier assessment criteria? (Multiple choice) A. Environmental management (ISO 14001, carbon footprint) B. Labor practices and working conditions (e.g., no forced labor) C. Product safety and quality management (ISO 13485, ISO 9001) D. Business ethics and anti-corruption policies E. Data privacy and security (e.g., for digital health products) F. Circular economy practices (e.g., take-back programs) G. Not formally assessed yet
10. Has your company set Scope 3 emissions reduction targets that include your supply chain? (Single choice) A. Yes, we have ambitious targets B. Yes, we have preliminary targets C. No, but we are working on it D. No, not currently
11. Which frameworks do you primarily use to guide your ESG assessments? (Multiple choice) A. GRI Standards B. SASB Standards C. TCFD Recommendations D. EU CSRD / ESRS E. UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) F. Internal proprietary framework
12. How would you rate the level of commitment from your top management to ESG-driven procurement? (Single choice, scale 1-5)
13. Does your company conduct on-site audits specifically for ESG compliance? (Single choice) A. Yes, for all key suppliers B. Yes, for high-risk suppliers only C. We rely on third-party audits and certifications D. No, we do not conduct ESG-specific audits
14. How does your company handle suppliers that fail to meet your ESG standards? (Single choice) A. Immediate termination of contract B. Work with them on a corrective action plan C. Gradually phase them out D. No specific action is taken
15. What is the biggest internal hurdle in implementing ESG procurement? (Single choice) A. Lack of clear ROI and higher costs B. Difficulty in measuring ESG performance C. Lack of internal expertise or resources D. Resistance from other departments focused solely on cost E. Complexity of supply chains
Part 3: The Impact of ESG on Sourcing Decisions (Please rate your agreement: 1=Strongly Disagree, 5=Strongly Agree) (Q16-Q45, 30 questions)
Environmental (E) Factors:16. A supplier's carbon footprint and environmental certification are important factors in our selection process.
17. We prioritize suppliers who use sustainable materials and recyclable packaging for their products.
18. We are willing to pay a premium for medical products with a lower environmental impact.
19. Evidence of pollution or non-compliance with environmental regulations would be
20. Biodiversity impact is an emerging factor we consider in our supply chain.
21. We evaluate suppliers' water usage and wastewater management practices.
22. We encourage/require suppliers to have circular economy initiatives (e.g., device refurbishment).
23. The environmental footprint of logistics and transportation is part of our assessment.
Social (S) Factors:24. We conduct due diligence to ensure our suppliers uphold human rights and fair labor practices in their operations.
25. The ethical sourcing of materials (e.g., conflict minerals) is a concern for our company.
26. A supplier's commitment to employee health and safety is a significant consideration.
27. Incidents related to product safety or quality would severely damage our trust in a supplier.
28. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the supplier's workforce is evaluated.
29. Community engagement and positive social impact of the supplier's operations are valued.
30. Patient access and affordability of medicines/products are part of our social responsibility considerations.
31. Data privacy and security for connected health devices are critical social factors.
32. Transparent business practices and strong anti-corruption policies are essential for us to engage with a supplier.
33. Data security and privacy practices are critically evaluated, especially for suppliers of digital health solutions.
34. Supply chain transparency and traceability are important for risk management.
35. We prefer suppliers that have diverse and independent governance structures.
36. Executive compensation linked to ESG performance is viewed positively.
37. Shareholder rights and engagement practices are noted.
38. Ethical guidelines for AI and algorithm transparency in health tech are a new governance priority.
39. Robust systems to prevent "greenwashing" are important for credibility.
Market & Sourcing Impact:40. A strong ESG profile can make a supplier from an emerging market (e.g., China) more attractive to us.
41. ESG issues have directly caused us to switch or disqualify a potential supplier in the past.
42. We provide training or guidelines to our existing suppliers to help them improve their ESG performance.
43. We believe robust ESG practices are indicative of a supplier's overall reliability and long-term viability.
44. Cost remains a more decisive factor than ESG performance in our final procurement decisions. (Reverse score)
45. Strong ESG performance is a key factor for strategic partnership and long-term contracts.
Part 4: Challenges and Perspectives on Specific Regions (Q46-Q50, 5 questions) 46. What are the biggest challenges in implementing ESG-based procurement? (Multiple choice) A. Higher costs for sustainable products B. Lack of reliable and standardized ESG data from suppliers C. Difficulty in verifying suppliers' self-reported information D. Complexity of managing ESG across deep supply chains E. Internal lack of expertise or resources F. Navigating different regional regulations and expectations
47.How do you perceive the ESG performance of medical product suppliers from China compared to those from other regions? (Single choice) A. Generally lagging behind B. On par with other major manufacturing regions C. Improving rapidly D. We do not evaluate based on region E. Not sure
48.What kind of ESG information or certification from a Chinese supplier would you find most credible? (Multiple choice) A. Internationally recognized certifications (e.g., ISO 14001, SA8000) B. Third-party audit reports from reputable agencies (e.g., SGS, BV) C. Detailed sustainability reports aligned with global standards (GRI, SASB) D. Transparent disclosure of supply chain information E. Government-issued compliance records F. Positive ratings from major ESG rating agencies (e.g., MSCI, Sustainalytics)
49.Which upcoming ESG regulation (e.g., EU CSDDD) concerns you the most in terms of supply chain compliance? (Single choice) A. EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) B. EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) C. EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) D. U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) E. Others
50.Overall, do you believe the emphasis on ESG in procurement is? (Single choice) A. A fundamental and permanent shift that creates long-term value B. A positive trend, but the balance with cost is delicate C. A necessary compliance burden D. An overhyped trend that adds complexity without sufficient benefit Part 5: Open-Ended Questions (10 questions)
51. In your view, which ESG factor (E, S, or G) is currently the most decisive in selecting a medical product supplier? Why?
52. Could you share an example where a supplier's ESG performance positively influenced your sourcing decision, or conversely, where a failure led to termination?
53. How do you balance the tension between cost competitiveness and ESG standards when sourcing from cost-sensitive regions?
54. What are your expectations for suppliers in improving their ESG disclosure and performance over the next 3-5 years?
55. Do you believe current global ESG standards adequately address the specific challenges of the healthcare industry (e.g., bioethics, single-use plastic waste)? Please elaborate.
56. What role should digitalization (e.g., blockchain, IoT) play in enhancing ESG transparency in the medical supply chain?
57. How does your company assess the "Social" component of ESG when dealing with suppliers from different cultural and regulatory backgrounds?
58. In your opinion, what is the single biggest obstacle for Chinese medical suppliers to improve their ESG image in your market?
59. How will evolving ESG regulations (e.g., EU's CSRD) reshape your future sourcing strategy and geographic preferences?
60. What advice would you give to a medical supplier who wishes to become a preferred partner for ESG-conscious companies like yours?