I work for a company that resells and recycles used electronics. As we work with larger and larger suppliers, it's become necessary to file for compliance with RIOS, R2, and other environmental certification organizations. A large part of what this entails is purposefully sacrificing our ability to handle hazardous materials in ways that are entirely legal, to gain credibility with other companies as being 'green'. That reputation is worth a lot, to the point where we've invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in time and fees for the certification, never mind the lasting cost to our operations standards. It's not a perfect match for the scenario you're suggesting, as the standards are targeted, and the certification organizations themselves do provide some services. Its intended effect is arguably closer to advertising than manipulation, but it still boils down to exploiting 3rd party verified limitations in negotiation.