Sustainability in procurement: A seven-step roadmap

Words by Saleem Rizvi and Chris Taylor

Historically, sustainability in procurement has often been overlooked or only included as a tick-box exercise without achieving real impact. But this is rapidly changing. What actions should senior business and procurement leaders be taking to make tangible sustainability impacts?

“Sustainable procurement” – baking sustainability into all procurement practices and activities – is often no longer an offshoot of procurement, but rather is becoming a new normal. Organisations are under mounting pressure from different directions to show a commitment to sustainability: regulatory changes are upping reporting requirements and stakeholders are looking for strong sustainability credentials. Procurement is uniquely positioned to revolutionise the supply chain, so shifting to a new modus operandi will be vital for organisations to meet their sustainability targets.

So, whether you are looking to introduce sustainable procurement into your organisation or check that you are on the right path, this step-by-step guide sets out a roadmap for making sustainability in procurement a reality.