Embedding sustainability in procurement planning

𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 Welcome to the third instalment of our Sustainability in Procurement Article Series, a six-week journey exploring how sustainability principles can be embedded throughout every stage of the procurement process. In last week’s article, we examined the role of market research in laying the groundwork for sustainable procurement. We discussed how clarifying internal needs, evaluating supplier capabilities and scanning industry trends help procurement teams and procurers make informed, sustainability-aligned decisions from the outset. This week, we shift our focus to the procurement planning phase, where sustainability objectives move from concept to strategy. Planning is where local government and other organisations have the opportunity to embed sustainability deeply into the procurement lifecycle, through demand analysis, supply market insights and risk assessments. It is not just about identifying environmental opportunities; it is about aligning procurement with long-term social, environmental and economic outcomes. Next week, we will explore how to effectively translate sustainable procurement plans into actionable market strategies. In the meantime, if your organisation is looking for practical support in embedding sustainability into your procurement planning or policy frameworks, please do not hesitate to reach out. Authors: Paul Muscat, Sian Phelps, Kayla Webb and Roman Counson https://lnkd.in/gBVVgdFu #Procurement #Sustainability #Government #Localgovernment #Private

𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚, 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 Welcome to the fifth instalment of our Sustainability in Procurement Article Series, a seven-week exploration of how sustainability principles can be embedded throughout every stage of the procurement process. In last week’s article, we examined how to approach the market with sustainability in mind—focusing on preparing tender documents that clearly articulate sustainability requirements through evaluation criteria, KPIs, and contract clauses. This week, we turn to the evaluation phase—the critical point where sustainability ambitions are tested against supplier proposals. This article provides guidance on establishing robust sustainability criteria, embedding them into enforceable procurement requirements, and monitoring outcomes throughout the life of the contract. We also explore practical strategies to navigate common challenges such as balancing sustainability with value-for-money, avoiding greenwashing, and ensuring consistency across procurements. Next week, we’ll focus on contract management and supplier performance. In the meantime, if you are seeking support to strengthen your evaluation frameworks or sustainability assessment methods, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Authors: Paul Muscat, Lucy White, Hugo Sherlock and Roman Counson https://lnkd.in/gbPHmVmJ #Procurement #Sustainability #Government #Localgovernment #Private

𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚, 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 Welcome to the fifth instalment of our Sustainability in Procurement Article Series, a seven-week exploration of how sustainability principles can be embedded throughout every stage of the procurement process. In last week’s article, we examined how to approach the market with sustainability in mind—focusing on preparing tender documents that clearly articulate sustainability requirements through evaluation criteria, KPIs, and contract clauses. This week, we turn to the evaluation phase—the critical point where sustainability ambitions are tested against supplier proposals. This article provides guidance on establishing robust sustainability criteria, embedding them into enforceable procurement requirements, and monitoring outcomes throughout the life of the contract. We also explore practical strategies to navigate common challenges such as balancing sustainability with value-for-money, avoiding greenwashing, and ensuring consistency across procurements. Next week, we’ll focus on contract management and supplier performance. In the meantime, if you are seeking support to strengthen your evaluation frameworks or sustainability assessment methods, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Authors: Paul Muscat, Lucy White, Hugo Sherlock and Roman Counson https://lnkd.in/gwrWXDgf #Procurement #Sustainability #Government #Localgovernment #Private

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 Welcome to the fourth instalment of our Sustainability in Procurement Article Series, a six-week article series exploring how sustainability principles can be embedded throughout every stage of the procurement process. In last week’s article, we examined the procurement planning phase, where sustainability objectives move from concept to strategy. We explored how councils and organisations embed sustainability deeply into procurement through demand analysis, supply market insights, and risk assessments, aligning procurement with long-term social, environmental, and economic outcomes. This week, we shift our focus to the critical step of approaching the market. This article provides practical guidance on preparing tender documents that clearly communicate sustainability requirements, including embedding evaluation criteria, KPIs, and contract clauses that require tenderers to address and report on sustainability throughout the procurement process. Next week, we’ll explore how to effectively evaluate sustainability criteria, requirements, and outcomes. In the meantime, if you are looking for practical support in preparing sustainable tender documentation or embedding sustainability into your market approach, please do not hesitate to reach out. Authors: Paul Muscat, Mitchell Trevaskis and Lucy White https://lnkd.in/gPY4q3Zv #Procurement #Sustainability #Government #Localgovernment #Private

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 Welcome to the fourth instalment of our Sustainability in Procurement Article Series, a six-week article series exploring how sustainability principles can be embedded throughout every stage of the procurement process. In last week’s article, we examined the procurement planning phase, where sustainability objectives move from concept to strategy. We explored how councils and organisations embed sustainability deeply into procurement through demand analysis, supply market insights, and risk assessments, aligning procurement with long-term social, environmental, and economic outcomes. This week, we shift our focus to the critical step of approaching the market. This article provides practical guidance on preparing tender documents that clearly communicate sustainability requirements, including embedding evaluation criteria, KPIs, and contract clauses that require tenderers to address and report on sustainability throughout the procurement process. Next week, we’ll explore how to effectively evaluate sustainability criteria, requirements, and outcomes. In the meantime, if you are looking for practical support in preparing sustainable tender documentation or embedding sustainability into your market approach, please do not hesitate to reach out. Authors: Paul Muscat, Mitchell Trevaskis and Lucy White https://lnkd.in/gPY4q3Zv #Procurement #Sustainability #Government #Localgovernment #Private

Sustainable procurement is reshaping how organisations across Australia manage suppliers, contracts, and compliance. In this PASA feature, explore the current state of sustainable procurement, emerging challenges, and what it means for procurement professionals. Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gdDDWz7U #SustainableProcurement #ProcurementAustralia #SustainableSupplyChains #Transformed

In this insightful six-part series, Federico Caporali explores sustainable procurement in Australia. He cuts through the jargon, delivering a pragmatic, step-by-step perspective that procurement leaders can actually use ⬇️

Environmental and economic: the profile of sustainable procurement Sustainable procurement can act as a powerful catalyst for economic transformation, capable of integrating sustainability criteria into procurement decisions, thus enabling organizations to unlock a range of economic benefits that extend beyond cost savings. https://lnkd.in/dWZUSr22 #sustainability #procurement #supplychain #riskmanagement #sourcing

❇️ Sustainable Procurement #Sustainable_procurement goes beyond cost and quality, it's the strategic integration of sustainability criteria into the entire procurement process, from supplier selection to contract management and beyond. 🔑 Key elements 🔸 Environmental Focus: Prioritizing suppliers who minimize #carbon_emissions, reduce waste and use eco-friendly materials. 🔸 Social Responsibility: Ensuring fair labor practices, diversity in supply chains, and community benefits, think anti-slavery policies and equitable supplier onboarding. 🔸 Economic Viability: Balancing sustainability with long-term cost savings through efficient resource use and risk mitigation, avoiding disruptions from resource scarcity. The GPM (Green Project Management®) emphasizes that sustainable procurement is a core sustainable project management (SPM) process group, influencing everything from planning to closure. It transforms procurement from a tactical function into a strategic driver, ensuring projects don't just deliver on time and budget but also contribute positively to global goals like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ▶️ Why It Matters In today's volatile world, ignoring sustainable procurement isn't an option, it's a risk. Here's the detail: 🔸 Environmental Imperative: Supply chains account for over 50% of global CO2 emissions in key industries like construction and manufacturing. Poor procurement choices exacerbate #climate_change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. SPM flips this by using tools like life-cycle assessments (LCAs) to evaluate suppliers' full environmental impact. 🔸 Social and Ethical Edge: With rising scrutiny on human rights (e.g., forced labor in global supply chains), sustainable procurement builds resilient, ethical networks. The GPM highlights how it fosters innovation, like sourcing from diverse, local suppliers to boost community resilience. 🔸 Economic ROI: Far from adding costs, it delivers savings. For instance, saved €1.2 billion since 2008 through sustainable sourcing efficiencies. In projects, it reduces risks from regulatory fines (e.g., EU's Green Deal mandates) and supply disruptions, with studies showing 9-16% cost reductions via optimized logistics and waste minimization. Barriers exist, such as intra-organizational resistance (e.g., siloed teams) and extra-organizational challenges (e.g., supplier transparency), but the GPM provides frameworks like #Project_Management_Offices (PMOs) to overcome them, ensuring oversight and accountability. #SustainableProcurement #SPM #ESG #GreenProjects #ProjectManagement #Sustainability

🌍 Sustainability Goals vs Procurement Goals: The Missing Link “Procurement without sustainability is blind to systemic risks — and sustainability without procurement is hollow rhetoric.” This statement captures a truth that every organization must confront: Sustainability targets and procurement objectives are not separate — they are interdependent forces shaping the resilience and reputation of every supply chain. As Jonathan O’Brien explains in Sustainable Procurement: A Practical Guide to Corporate Social Responsibility in the Supply Chain, embedding sustainability into procurement is not optional — it’s fundamental to managing risk, reducing lifecycle costs, and building long-term value. Similarly, Aichbauer et al. in Responsible Procurement highlight that “a company’s sustainability standards can only be as strong as those of its supply chain.” And Esty & Winston’s Green to Gold reinforces that organizations integrating environmental thinking into procurement and operations often lead their markets in innovation, customer trust, and profitability. 💡 In practice: When procurement prioritizes sustainability, it achieves more than compliance — it delivers strategic resilience, cost optimization, and social value. When sustainability relies on procurement, it transforms from vision to measurable impact — in every product, every supplier, and every contract.