Planning and Forecasting
Assesses how clearly and consistently buyers communicate their order plans in advance.
Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI)
Fully anonymous for suppliers, dive deeper into responsible purchasing practices
The Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) is a comprehensive survey that evaluates how buyer companies’ Tier 1 purchasing practices impact suppliers. Developed in close collaboration with suppliers, the BBPPI highlights practices that support sustainable, profitable, and fair supply chain partnerships.
The BBPPI survey opens each year on April 1.
What Does the BBPPI Measure?
The BBPPI evaluates seven key purchasing practices that have the greatest impact on suppliers’ ability to operate efficiently, ethically, and sustainably. Each category reflects what suppliers say matters most to their long-term success and fair treatment.
Cost and Cost Negotiation
Evaluates whether pricing covers all production needs, including design details and fair worker compensation.
Payment and Terms
Measures if suppliers are paid on time and in full, according to agreed contract terms.
Design and Development
Looks at the accuracy and timeliness of technical details, and whether suppliers are fairly included in product development.
Sourcing and Order Placement
Explores how buyers incentivize compliance and manage order fluctuations from month to month.
Management of the Purchasing Process
Checks whether buyers allow sufficient, stable production time and stick to agreed timelines.
Win-Win Sustainable Partnership
Examines buyers’ internal alignment on social goals and efforts to reduce audit duplication.
Why Suppliers Participate
Your insights are essential to improving how brands and retailers do business.
By rating your buyers, you help:
- Improve workflow predictability and workforce stability
- Reduce unexpected costs and delays
- Support practices that align with your own sustainability and social goals
- Shape stronger partnerships and fairer contract terms
- Hold buyers accountable—confidentially and safely
Find a video online: https://www.youtube.com/embed/oI739rwM6qg?si=X9DiilKfZ6mwzLie?&controls=0
What Buyers Receive
Companies that subscribe to the BBPPI receive:
- A confidential scorecard and report
- Clear analysis of strengths and focus areas
- Custom recommendations to improve purchasing practices
- Year-over-year tracking to monitor progress
- Benchmarks against industry peers
These insights can also support due diligence and ESG reporting, and help align teams internally—from sourcing to sustainability to the C-suite.
Subscriber companies are encouraged to use the results to spark internal learning, guide supplier collaboration, and build a company-wide culture of responsible purchasing.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you’re a supplier ready to share your voice, or a brand looking to lead on responsible purchasing—BBPPI is your starting point.
Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) Report, 2025
Purchasing practices performance in Apparel, Footwear and Household Textile Supply Chains.
November 11, 2025
Learn more about Better Buying
Better Buying’s Methodology
Learn about the methodology behind the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) and the Better Buying Partnership Index (BBPI).
Better Buying Partnership Index
The Better Buying Partnership Index (BBPI) is a short, anonymous, subjective survey of the quality of buyer-supplier partnerships, consisting of 12 subjective questions, which opens for supplier ratings on October 1, 2025.
Better Buying
Cascale’s acquisition of Better Buying tools and methodologies reflects our commitment to advancing responsible purchasing practices and promoting fair, accountable, and socially just supply chains.