Procurement is under pressure to deliver on two fronts: cutting costs and advancing sustainability goals. Balancing these demands has only got harder in a period of supply chain uncertainty and developing regulatory climate. How can organisations make progress on sustainability without compromising cost and availability of stock? Where can trade-offs be found? And on top of this, how do you stay compliant as ESG regulations evolve? 

A senior procurement leader from national retailer Co-op shares how their team is tackling this balancing act on the frontline. And, get practical advice on how to engage suppliers and bring them with you on the journey to managing compliance and meeting your sustainability goals.

Session supported by EcoVadis

Carrot or the stick – what’s the best way to get supplier engagement on sustainability? This (light) debate brings two contrasting opinions to the table. 

Making the case for the softer approach is Stephen Rose MCIPS, head of supply chain services at air traffic controller NATS, and an advocate for building strong supplier relationships. 

Countering is Becky Annison, head of engagement at the legal body Chancery Lane Project, who will explain why adding ESG clauses into contracts is the most effective tool in your arsenal.

It is in procurement’s gift to drive social value in supply chains and ensure that spending drives positive, lasting social impact. But what does meaningful social value look like in practice? 

In this session, hear why procurement can drive social mobility by working with suppliers to set real living wage standards. TfL shared how they created apprenticeship and workplace opportunities for women and underrepresented communities in the engineering sector. And, get top tips on shaping social value-based tender questions and how you measure and report impact.

Session supported by Procure Partnerships Framework

As the urgency to meet decarbonisation targets increases, procurement and supply professionals play a critical role in driving meaningful emissions reductions. But how do you reach and engage those hard-to-reach suppliers? What can procurement functions do to support SMEs and those organisations that don’t have existing capabilities to capture their emissions data, let alone manage it? And, how do you equip category managers and buyers with effective tools to have meaningful conversations with suppliers? 

Two procurement sustainability leaders will reveal how they are addressing these challenges and hear directly from an SME engaged in their own Scope 3 journey to better understand the supplier perspective.