SUSTAINABILITY
He adds : “ Talk to your suppliers , build a checklist of questions and a process for verifying any claims you make . A key principle is transparency . If a business commits to fully transparent declarations about their sourcing , then it makes it harder for them to greenwash and consumers will respect that .”
Making sustainable procurement mainstream Although organisations could take the approach of ensuring sustainability managers have sufficient standing to have the casting vote in sourcing and procurement decisions , Underdown believes that mainstream is the way forward .
“ All companies should have strong environmental policies and their employees at all levels should be empowered to implement them ,” he said .
But mainstream sustainability is an approach that requires top-down support . Underdown adds : “ Mainstreaming sustainable procurement needs strategic direction and buy-in across the business . By committing to transparency , completing a full life cycle assessment of what you are sourcing and understanding your supplier ’ s suppliers ’ suppliers , you can be sure to make any claims with confidence .”
Adding to Uderdown ’ s comments , Pardee says : “ Taking advantage of the opportunities created by the need to tackle the world ' s social and environmental problems is likely to be ‘ disruptive ’ in many industries . If handled poorly , disruptions have the potential to destroy successful firms . If handled well , they can lead to sustained competitive advantage . Understanding this will help companies make a case for investing in sustainability as an essential strategic response in the face of accelerating change .” procurementmag . com 143