Drafting and implementing a “Sustainable Procurement Manual” in accordance with ISO 20400 is a useful tool for achieving continuous improvement in an environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001 or EMAS, or in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in accordance with Ecovadis, SMETA or Forética.
What do they contribute?
Sustainable purchasing brings benefits for both businesses and the social and environmental context:
- It helps reduce their environmental impact by choosing products and services that promote efficient use of resources, reduce carbon emissions, and minimise waste generation. By selecting suppliers committed to sustainable practices, companies contribute to caring for the planet. Requesting an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) or Ecolabel is one way to achieve this.
- It improves corporate reputation. Companies that adopt sustainable purchasing are perceived as responsible and ethical, which can strengthen their image with customers and other stakeholders. It can open up new market opportunities and increase customer loyalty.
- It allows for long-term risk reduction. By fostering relationships with suppliers who follow fair labour practices and comply with environmental regulations, companies can avoid supply chain disruptions and potential legal penalties.
- It encourages innovation. Companies are incentivised to seek out more efficient and environmentally friendly products and solutions, which can result in a competitive advantage and a push towards a circular economy.
ISO 20400 requirements on "sustainable procurement"
The ISO 20400 standard focuses on key performance indicators (KPIs) for manufacturing, but does not directly address sustainable procurement requirements. However, for a sustainable procurement standard such as ISO 20400, the key requirements are geared towards integrating sustainability principles into the supply chain.
The main requirements of a standard such as ISO 20400 include:
- The integration of sustainable criteria into the procurement process, ensuring that decisions take into account environmental, social and economic aspects.
- Organisations must evaluate and select suppliers based on their environmental impact and labour practices, such as the use of recycled materials, reduction of emissions, and respect for human and labour rights.
- Developing purchasing policies and strategies that align procurement activities with the company’s sustainability objectives. This involves assessing the life cycle of the products or services purchased and promoting transparency in the supply chain, encouraging open communication and continuous improvement with suppliers.
In summary, ISO 20400 seeks to ensure that purchasing is responsible and that organisations use their purchasing power to positively influence society and the environment, while maintaining profitability.