Advancing Sustainability Through Procurement: Five Steps to Sustainable Impact

[_Miles_Manion_]

In today's world, sustainability has become more than just a buzzword. It has evolved into a necessity that spans compliance, legislation, and reputation. As organisations strive to make a positive impact on the environment, one crucial area that is often overlooked is procurement.

The process of purchasing goods and services has a significant environmental footprint. It pulls on the threads of supply chain, technology and more, each one creating its own ripple effect across sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) mandates. However, with the right approach, procurement can also be a powerful driver of sustainability.

The key steps to advancing sustainable impact through procurement, with a focus on the expertise and tools provided by HPE, include:

Step 1: Assessing Supply Chain Impact

A sustainable procurement journey requires that procurement understands the impact of the supply chain on the environment. This can be assessed by taking stock of suppliers and evaluating their sustainability practices. Armed with this knowledge, procurement can identify potential areas for improvement as well as areas where your organisation can make the most significant impact through sustainable decision-making.

HPE offers comprehensive assessment tools and expertise to help you gain insights into your supply chain's sustainability performance.

Step 2: Establishing Clear Sustainability Goals

Establishing clear and ambitious sustainability goals is vital for driving meaningful change. HPE's sustainability framework includes reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, and minimising waste, and provides organisations with a benchmark against which to measure and align sustainability objectives. By setting ambitious benchmarks, you will inspire your organisation and suppliers to commit to the highest standards of sustainability.

HPE can assist you in defining and aligning your goals with our framework, ensuring a strong foundation for your sustainability journey.

Step 3: Engaging Suppliers in Sustainable Practices

Sustainable procurement is only possible if it is a cohesive effort across the organisation. This is why it’s important to engage your suppliers in conversations about sustainability and encourage them to adopt environmentally friendly practices that have long-term benefits. By working together with your suppliers, you can create a resilient and responsible supply chain.

HPE's Supplier Code of Conduct is a valuable resource that can help to guide you through these collaborations and can help both parties work towards shared sustainability objectives.

Step 4: Integrating Sustainability into Procurement Processes

To truly embed sustainability into your organisation, it is essential to integrate it into your procurement processes right from the start. Be sure to also consider environmental criteria, and not just cost and quality, when making purchasing decisions.

HPE can help you to develop sustainable procurement policies and procedures that ensure every purchase supports your Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. By purchasing with purpose, you can make a significant impact on sustainability.

Step 5: Monitoring and Measuring Progress

Sustainability is not just a once-off initiative—it’s an ongoing journey that requires continuous monitoring and improvement for it to have a positive long-term impact. By regularly measuring and tracking your progress towards achieving your sustainability goals, you can identify areas for improvement, celebrate successes, and uncover achievements that you can share with stakeholders.

HPE offers innovative technology solutions that can help you track and analyse your sustainability metrics more effectively, enabling you to make data-driven decisions to drive sustainable impact.

Conclusion

By following these five steps, your organisation can leverage the power of procurement to advance sustainable impact. With HPE's tools and expertise, you can assess your supply chain, set clear sustainability goals, engage suppliers, integrate sustainability into procurement processes, and monitor your progress effectively.

Sustainable IT procurement is one of the most impactful and effective ways to meet sustainability goals. Purchase with purpose and partner with HPE to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to a sustainable future.

Miles Manion
Hewlett Packard Enterprise

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