How to apply sustainable procurement in your organisation?
Applying sustainable procurement in your organisation
Organisations face huge decisions about how to integrate their current strategy to become more sustainable. Implementing a strategy, particularly one with a change of process and policy, can cause resistance within an organisation. Organisations have a huge role to play in minimising risk of social exploitation within the supply chain, so ensuring the strategy is applied properly is key.
Things to consider when applying your sustainable procurement strategy in your organisation are:
- The integration of sustainability into training and development.
- Mindfulness of resource impact and any additional support that’s needed to deliver the strategy.
- Ensure your strategy can be delivered both strategically and operationally.
- How you can generate internal commitment.
- Any business practices that may need altering.
- Challenge the current culture within your organisation.
Tips for applying a sustainable procurement strategy
Implementing a new strategy isn’t easy for any organisation. There will be challenges along the way, but there are some tips that will help you make it a success.
- Try reaching out to other organisations to get their expertise such as Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s). These offer valuable insights when it’s difficult to get them internally.
- NGOs can also add credibility to your sustainability efforts by certifying products.
- Always remain focused on relationship quality, not quantity.
- Publish your sustainable procurement policy as a clear commitment to action.
- Ensure that senior figures visibly pursue this policy and that they demonstrate their commitment to real action and change.
- Develop a dialogue with suppliers: discuss with suppliers the possibility of a more. sustainable version of current purchases (e.g., furniture with a higher recycled content)
Sustainable procurement advantages
Other than the benefits it has on the environment and society, applying sustainable procurement will bring many other advantages.
- Sustainable supply chains minimise business disruption from environmental, social, and economic impacts.
- Supply chain sustainability is a solid basis from which to protect (and enhance) a company’s reputation and brand value.
- Cost savings may be realised through sustainable procurement by focusing on whole life costing methods for sourcing goods and services.
- More efficient and effective use of natural resources.
- Encourages innovation amongst the supply chain to think of alternative ways to manage waste and add value.
Disadvantages of applying sustainable procurement
Although sustainability has become more important in today’s world. You may experience the following challenges when applying sustainable procurement.
- Sustainable procurement requires cooperation amongst everyone in the supply chain.
- Organisations are quite resistant to change.
- The initial costs of establishing sustainable procurement policies, practices and training can be very high.
- Considerable resources are needed to follow legislative developments, changes, and train employees to the right standard.
- Shifting to a more sustainable way requires a significant amount of preparation and education.
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