Build Your Responsible Procurement Policy: A Complete ESG Guide

In a world of escalating climate and social challenges, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are now essential pillars of any organization’s strategy. At the heart of this transformation lies a responsible procurement policy – a powerful lever for both public and private enterprises aiming to combine economic performance with a positive impact on society and the environment.

Far from mere regulatory compliance, adopting a sustainable procurement approach is a significant opportunity. It not only meets the growing expectations of consumers and stakeholders but also generates tangible benefits: cost reduction, risk optimization, enhanced brand image, and innovation. This article guides businesses step-by-step through developing and deploying a responsible procurement policy, exploring the challenges, advantages, key stages, and available tools for a successful strategy.

Understanding Responsible Procurement: Definition and Challenges

Procurement drives every business, directly influencing its ability to produce, innovate, and grow. By integrating social and environmental responsibility, procurement transforms into a major strategic lever.

Defining Responsible Procurement: Beyond Price and Quality

Responsible procurement, also known as sustainable procurement, goes far beyond traditional criteria like price, quality, and delivery time. It proactively integrates ethical, social, and environmental requirements throughout the entire life cycle of acquired products and services. This means considering the purchase’s impact on:

• The environment: Reducing carbon footprint, using renewable resources, limiting waste, promoting the circular economy (recycling, reuse), choosing short supply chains, and limiting energy consumption.
• Social aspects: Respecting human and labor rights (fair working conditions, absence of forced or child labor), promoting diversity and inclusion, occupational health and safety, and local development.
• Ethics and governance: Combating corruption, transparency, fair business practices, integrity, and consumer respect.

The goal is to choose products and services that, throughout their design, production, transport, use, and end-of-life, generate the fewest negative impacts on the planet and society. This holistic approach aims to create shared value for the company and its stakeholders.

The Direct Link to a Company’s CSR/ESG Approach

Responsible procurement is intrinsically linked to a company’s CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) or ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) approach. CSR represents a company’s voluntary contribution to sustainable development challenges. It involves integrating environmental and social concerns into their operations and interactions with stakeholders.

The procurement function, as the entry point for goods and services into an organization, is a powerful lever for realizing these commitments. It translates the company’s CSR policy into concrete, measurable actions. A responsible procurement strategy helps to:

• Define challenges: Identify priority social, economic, and environmental issues for the company and integrate them into supplier selection criteria.
• Align practices: Ensure the supply chain reflects the company’s CSR values and commitments, from product design to distribution.
• Measure impact: Evaluate the carbon footprint and overall impact of procurement, and establish indicators to track progress.

Adopting a responsible procurement policy means making the procurement function a strategic player in the company’s CSR policy, thereby strengthening its consistency and credibility.

Evolving Regulations: Public Procurement and the Private Sector

The interest in sustainable procurement isn’t solely driven by ethical or image considerations; it’s increasingly shaped by an evolving regulatory framework. Historically, public procurement led the way, but the private sector is now fully involved.

• Public Procurement: In France, the National Sustainable Procurement Plan (PNAD 2022-2025), led by the General Commission for Sustainable Development, sets ambitious targets. It aims for 100% of public procurement contracts to include an environmental consideration and 30% to include a social consideration by 2025. This measure forces public buyers to rethink their selection criteria. In June 2022, the Council of the European Union also affirmed its desire for more sustainable European public procurement, signaling a fundamental trend.
• The Private Sector: The PACTE Law of May 22, 2019, marked a major turning point. Article 1833 of the Civil Code now requires companies to consider social and environmental issues in their corporate purpose. While implementation is still evolving for some private companies, this law lays the groundwork for a growing obligation to integrate CSR, and by extension responsible procurement, at the heart of their strategy. Many multinational companies are already subject to non-financial reporting obligations (extra-financial performance statements), which often include supply chain performance.

Anticipating this legislation is crucial. Companies that integrate a responsible procurement policy today not only comply with current expectations but also prepare for future regulations, transforming a potential constraint into a competitive advantage.

The Multiple Benefits of a Sustainable Procurement Policy

Far from being a mere constraint, implementing a sustainable procurement policy offers significant benefits for businesses. These advantages span several dimensions, from pure economics to long-term business viability.

Economic Benefits: Cost Reduction, Performance Optimization, and Better Returns

Contrary to popular belief, responsible procurement can generate substantial savings. The World Economic Forum even estimates a cost reduction of 9% to 16% for companies adopting this approach. How is this possible?

• Reduced Consumption: By prioritizing energy-efficient equipment, products with less packaging, or optimized services, companies lower their energy, water, and waste management bills.
• Supply Chain Optimization: Using short supply chains or local suppliers reduces transport costs and associated carbon footprint, while improving responsiveness and flexibility.
• Product Durability: Opting for more robust, repairable, or circular economy products (recycling, reuse) extends their lifespan, reducing purchase frequency and replacement costs.
• Innovation and Returns: Close collaboration with committed suppliers can stimulate innovation, leading to more efficient and profitable solutions. Revenue generated from purchasing new, greener products can also boost income through recycling or valorization programs.

These savings, combined with better resource management, help optimize operational performance and overall business returns.

Enhanced Brand Image and Reputation

In an era of transparency and collective awareness, a company’s image is invaluable capital. A responsible procurement policy is a powerful driver for improving this image. By promoting values related to sustainable development and environmental protection, a company strengthens its reputation and positions itself as a committed player.

• Customer Attraction: Consumers are increasingly sensitive to brands’ ethical and environmental practices. A responsible approach attracts and retains customers who care about the impact of their own purchases.
• Employer Brand: Talent, especially younger generations, seeks employers whose values align with their own. A strong CSR policy, including responsible procurement, enhances the company’s attractiveness to future employees.
• Stakeholder Relations: A solid reputation facilitates relationships with investors, business partners, public institutions, and civil society, strengthening the company’s trust and legitimacy.

The company thus becomes an example, a source of inspiration, generating a positive and lasting perception.

Reduced Supplier and Operational Risks

The supply chain is often a source of major risks: supplier failures, stockouts, or ethical and environmental issues that don’t meet expectations. A responsible procurement policy proactively manages these risks.

• Supply Chain Security: By selecting suppliers with robust CSR practices, companies reduce the risk of disputes, quality issues, or regulatory non-compliance. A thorough assessment of suppliers’ financial health and ethical practices is essential.
• Reduced Reputational Risks: Collaborating with suppliers who don’t meet ethical standards (forced labor, pollution) can lead to media scandals and severely damage a company’s image. Responsible procurement minimizes these exposures.
• Anticipating Failures: By maintaining transparent dialogue and regular monitoring with suppliers, companies can anticipate potential problems and implement corrective action plans before they become critical.
• Regulatory Risk Management: By aligning with current legislation and standards (PNAD, PACTE Law, ISO 26000), companies protect themselves from penalties and fines related to non-compliance.

This meticulous approach to supplier selection and monitoring ensures better risk management for the entire procurement process.

Competitive Advantage and Long-Term Viability

In an increasingly saturated and competitive market, differentiation is key. A responsible procurement policy can become a major competitive advantage.

• Differentiation: Pioneer companies in this field stand out from competitors, attracting customers and partners who value sustainability.
• Innovation: The search for more responsible solutions drives innovation, whether through new materials, improved manufacturing processes, or circular economic models. This capacity for innovation is a growth engine.
• Market Access: An increasing number of public and private tenders integrate CSR criteria. Companies with a responsible procurement policy are better positioned to win these contracts.
• Sustainability: By integrating sustainability challenges, companies ensure their long-term viability. They are better prepared for regulatory changes, climate shifts, and societal expectations, guaranteeing resilience and future growth.

In summary, adopting a responsible procurement policy means investing in your company’s future, building sustainable performance, and securing a leading position in your market.

Key Steps for a Successful Responsible Procurement Strategy

Implementing a responsible procurement policy is a structured process that requires a methodical approach. Here are the essential steps for an effective and sustainable strategy.

1. Audit Current Procurement: Assess Carbon Footprint and Existing Practices

Before initiating any transformation, understanding the current state is imperative. The first step is to conduct a thorough audit of the procurement function and its current impacts. This analysis helps identify strengths, weaknesses, and, most importantly, opportunities for improvement.

• Information Gathering: This involves cataloging all purchased products and services, volumes, suppliers, and associated costs (including hidden costs like transport or energy).
• Carbon Footprint Assessment: Measuring the environmental impact of procurement is crucial. This involves analyzing greenhouse gas emissions related to product manufacturing, transport, and end-of-life. Key questions arise: What is our current carbon footprint impact? Can certain purchases be replaced by greener alternatives?
• Practice Analysis: Examine existing purchasing processes. Is there poor procurement management? Do purchased products comply with standards? Are tracking and delivery optimal? What optimization approach should be taken?
• Risk Identification: Identify suppliers or procurement categories with high ethical, social, or environmental risks.

A procurement consultant can support this audit phase, providing external and objective expertise to define the roadmap for transitioning to more responsible procurement that complies with regulations like the National Sustainable Procurement Plan.

2. Define Clear Objectives and Measurable Actions

Once the current situation is assessed, it’s time to set the course. Defining precise, quantifiable, and realistic objectives is fundamental to guiding the responsible procurement strategy. These objectives must align with the company’s overall strategy and CSR commitments.

• Set Priorities: Based on the audit, identify procurement categories where impact and improvement potential are highest.
• SMART Objectives: Objectives must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example: “Reduce CO2 emissions from supply transport by 20% within 3 years” or “Integrate 50% local suppliers within 2 years.”
• Concrete Actions: For each objective, list specific actions to implement. This may include redesigning specifications, sourcing new suppliers, implementing training, etc.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Define metrics to track progress and evaluate action effectiveness. These indicators can relate to cost reductions, avoided emissions, percentage of labeled purchases, number of CSR suppliers, etc.

This step is crucial for transforming good intentions into concrete results and ensures that the responsible procurement policy doesn’t remain a dead letter.

3. Engage Leadership and Raise Awareness/Train Employees

A responsible procurement policy cannot succeed without strong, visible leadership commitment and the mobilization of all teams. It’s a company-wide project that must be collectively driven.

• Leadership Involvement: The strategy must be defined at the highest level of the company. Leadership commitment sends a strong signal internally and externally, demonstrating that this approach is a strategic priority.
• Company-wide Awareness: All employees, whether directly or indirectly involved in the procurement process, must be aware of sustainable development issues and the new policy. This includes procurement teams, of course, but also finance, production, marketing, and other departments.
• Specific Training: Buyers and other key stakeholders must receive CSR training to understand sustainable procurement challenges, learn to integrate CSR criteria into their decisions, evaluate suppliers on these dimensions, and adapt to new practices.
• Tool and Procedure Updates: General purchasing terms must be revised. Tools (procurement management software, dashboards) must be adapted to reflect new criteria and facilitate monitoring.

Mobilizing teams ensures that the responsible procurement policy is understood, adopted, and applied daily, thereby guaranteeing its longevity and effectiveness.

4. Integrate Procurement Policy into the Product and Service Life Cycle

A truly responsible procurement policy isn’t limited to supplier selection or transactions. It must integrate into the entire product or service life cycle, from design to end-of-life.

• Upstream (Design and Raw Materials): Collaborate with R&D teams to design eco-friendly products using sustainable, recycled, or low-environmental-impact materials. The choice of raw materials is a crucial step in reducing the overall environmental footprint.
• Production: Ensure that suppliers’ manufacturing processes comply with strict environmental and social standards (energy and water consumption, waste management, working conditions).
• Transport and Logistics: Prioritize low-emission transport modes, optimize routes, and reduce packaging.
• Usage: Select products that are durable, repairable, and consume little energy or resources during their use phase.
• End-of-Life: Plan for the recycling, reuse, or recovery of end-of-life products, ensuring that suppliers offer suitable solutions.

This “cradle-to-grave” approach maximizes the positive impact of the responsible procurement policy and truly embeds the company in a sustainable development approach. It requires close collaboration with suppliers and all supply chain stakeholders.

To better visualize these steps, here is a diagram of the process:

Choosing Suppliers Aligned with Your ESG/CSR Values

Supplier selection is arguably the most critical step in implementing a responsible procurement policy. Collaborating with partners who share your ESG/CSR values is essential for the consistency and effectiveness of the approach.

Evaluate Potential Suppliers’ ESG/CSR Approach

It’s not enough for a supplier to claim to be “sustainable.” A rigorous evaluation of their ESG/CSR approach is essential. This involves asking the right questions and verifying commitments.

• Questionnaires and Audits: Implement supplier self-assessment CSR questionnaires, covering their environmental practices (energy, water, waste management), social practices (working conditions, diversity, health and safety), and governance (ethics, anti-corruption). On-site audits may be considered for strategic or high-risk suppliers.
• ESG/CSR Policy: Ask suppliers to present their own ESG/CSR policy, objectives, and performance indicators. A company committed to responsible procurement must be interested in its partners’ values and ensure their products meet quality and ethical requirements.
• Supply Chain Commitment: Ensure the supplier themselves encourages their subcontractors to adopt responsible practices, creating a ripple effect.

This evaluation provides a clear view of each supplier’s ESG/CSR commitments and performance, beyond mere declarations of principle.

Verify Criteria: Ethical, Social, Environmental, Financial

Supplier selection must be based on a balanced set of criteria, integrating ESG/CSR dimensions and more traditional aspects. Each criterion must be measurable and verifiable.

• Ethical and Social Criteria: Respect for human and labor rights (ILO standards), decent working conditions, fair wages, absence of child labor, employee health, and safety.
• Environmental Criteria: Resource management (water, energy), waste and pollution reduction, use of sustainable or recycled materials, carbon impact of transport and production, reduced and recyclable packaging.
• Financial Criteria: While ESG/CSR criteria are paramount, a supplier’s financial health remains crucial for ensuring the longevity of the relationship and supply chain stability. Examining the organization’s financial strength is a prerequisite for any commitment.
• Quality and Performance: Product or service quality criteria, as well as the supplier’s ability to meet performance requirements (deadlines, volume), remain fundamental. Sustainable procurement should not compromise quality.

A multi-criteria evaluation matrix helps objectify the selection process and compare suppliers equally, considering all relevant dimensions.

Use Reputation and Labels as Decision Aids

To facilitate evaluation and selection, a supplier’s reputation and the existence of labels or certifications can be valuable indicators.

• Reputation: Conduct online research, consult customer reviews, and engage with other companies that have worked with the supplier. A solid reputation for social and environmental responsibility is a guarantee of trust.
• Labels and Certifications: Numerous labels (e.g., Fairtrade, EU Ecolabel, Blauer Engel, etc.) and certifications (e.g., ISO 14001 for environmental management, SA 8000 for social accountability) attest to compliance with certain standards. They simplify evaluation as they often involve third-party audits and regular verification. However, it’s essential to understand precisely what each label guarantees.
• Adherence to Charters or Initiatives: Some suppliers adhere to sectoral charters or international initiatives (e.g., UN Global Compact). This demonstrates their commitment and willingness to progress.

These elements are useful complements to internal evaluation, offering external benchmarks for reliability and compliance.

Vigilance Against “Greenwashing”

“Greenwashing” is a marketing practice that presents an environmentally responsible (or socially responsible) image that doesn’t reflect the reality of a company’s actions. It’s crucial to be vigilant to avoid associating with partners who could harm the credibility of your own initiatives.

• Examine Evidence: Don’t settle for declarations. Request concrete data, audit reports, verifiable certifications, and performance indicators.
• Cost and Consistency: Be wary of “too good to be true” offers or sustainable products with surprisingly low prices. Verify consistency between stated values and actual practices (e.g., a supplier claiming to be eco-friendly but whose factories are known for pollution).
• Transparency: A truly committed supplier will be transparent about their challenges, progress, and limitations. Excessive opacity can be a warning sign.

Constant vigilance and thorough verification are the best defenses against greenwashing, ensuring that chosen partners are true allies in your responsible procurement efforts.

The Crucial Importance of Supplier Relationships

Beyond initial selection, the longevity and effectiveness of a responsible procurement policy depend on the quality of supplier relationships. Constructive and transparent collaboration is a key success factor.

Establish Transparent Dialogue and a Trusting Relationship

Trust and transparency are the pillars of a sustainable supplier relationship. It’s essential not to view suppliers as mere service providers, but as full partners in the ESG/CSR initiative.

• Open Communication: Establish regular, honest dialogue about mutual expectations, challenges, and ESG/CSR objectives. Share company values and clearly explain why responsible procurement is important.
• Constructive Feedback: Provide regular feedback on their performance, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. Support suppliers in their own ESG/CSR journey if needed.
• Mutual Commitment: Establish contracts that integrate clear ESG/CSR clauses and shared objectives. This creates a formal framework for collaboration.

This approach fosters an environment where both parties can work together to achieve common goals, strengthening supply reliability and quality.

Implement Continuous Supplier Performance Monitoring

The supplier relationship doesn’t end with a contract signature. Regular performance monitoring is essential to ensure ESG/CSR commitments are met and that collaboration remains aligned with company objectives.

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Define specific KPIs for ESG/CSR aspects (e.g., waste reduction, energy consumption, social incident rate). These indicators must be regularly tracked and analyzed.
• Periodic Evaluations: Conduct formal supplier evaluations (annual or bi-annual) based on defined KPIs and objectives. This provides a real-time assessment of the situation and influences future decisions.
• Audits and Controls: For strategic or high-risk suppliers, external audits can be commissioned to verify compliance with standards and commitments.
• Collaboration Platforms: Using dedicated platforms (like supplier portals in procurement management software) facilitates information sharing, monitoring, and document management.

This monitoring quickly identifies discrepancies, prevents failures, and allows for corrective measures before problems escalate.

Share Common Values to Reduce Risks

Value alignment between a company and its suppliers is a powerful risk reducer and opportunity catalyst. When both parties uphold the same principles, collaboration is smoother and more resilient.

• Conflict Prevention: Shared values reduce the risk of misunderstandings, disputes, or unethical behavior that could lead to stockouts or reputational damage.
• Supply Chain Resilience: In a crisis (environmental, social, economic), partners aligned on the same values will be more inclined to collaborate to find solutions, ensuring supply continuity.
• Collaborative Innovation: Sharing values fosters an environment conducive to innovation. Suppliers are more inclined to propose sustainable solutions, co-develop new products or processes, and actively contribute to continuous improvement.

In essence, strong supplier relationships, built on shared values, transform the procurement function into a true driver of value creation and risk reduction for the company.

Gains in Longevity and Collaborative Innovation

A healthy and sustainable supplier relationship generates benefits that extend far beyond a simple commercial transaction. It paves the way for longevity and innovation.

• Longevity: By building long-term partnerships with reliable and committed suppliers, companies secure their supplies, reduce dependence on single sources, and strengthen their resilience to market fluctuations.
• Collaborative Innovation: Suppliers, experts in their field, can be a valuable source of innovation. By involving them from the design or development phase, companies can leverage their expertise to create more sustainable, higher-performing, and more competitive products or services. This co-creation is a major competitive advantage.
• Process Optimization: Close collaboration identifies inefficiencies and optimizes joint processes, leading to time, quality, and cost savings for both parties.
• Mutual Benefits: Suppliers who share the same values can also benefit from this relationship by improving their own practices, gaining visibility, and accessing new markets. It’s a “win-win” situation.

Establishing these strategic relationships is therefore an investment that pays off in terms of economic, environmental, and social performance.

Tools and Standards to Facilitate Implementation

The transition to responsible procurement, while complex, is greatly facilitated by established standards and powerful technological tools. These resources provide a framework, methods, and concrete means to structure and manage the approach.

Introducing ISO 26000 and its Seven CSR Principles

ISO 26000 is an international reference for Social Responsibility of Organizations (SRO), with businesses being a major player. Published in 2010, it doesn’t aim for certification but offers guidelines to help organizations understand and implement a CSR approach. It is particularly relevant for applying a responsible procurement policy, as it provides a global framework for integrating sustainable development.

ISO 26000 is structured around seven core principles of the CSR approach:

1. Organizational Governance: How the company is directed and controlled, with an emphasis on transparency, ethics, and accountability.
2. Human Rights: Respect for and promotion of fundamental rights, including no child labor, prohibition of discrimination, and freedom of association. For procurement, this involves verifying supplier practices.
3. Labor Practices: Establishing fair, safe, and healthy working conditions, social dialogue, and skills development. This extends to supplier employees.
4. The Environment: Environmental protection, pollution prevention, sustainable resource use, and climate change mitigation. A fundamental pillar for sustainable procurement.
5. Fair Operating Practices: Combating corruption, fair competition, and respect for property rights.
6. Consumer Issues: Protecting consumer health and safety, and providing fair and transparent information on products and services.
7. Community Involvement and Development: Engagement in the economic and social development of local communities, supporting education and culture.

By relying on ISO 26000, companies can build a robust responsible procurement policy, aligned with recognized standards and covering all dimensions of sustainability. Another standard, NF X50-135-1, complements this by facilitating the operational implementation of a CSR policy.

Explaining Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): An Impact Estimation Method

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a scientific and standardized method (ISO 14040 and 14044) that quantitatively evaluates the potential environmental impacts of a product, service, or activity throughout its entire life cycle, “from cradle to grave.” It’s an essential tool for a responsible procurement policy, as it offers an objective view of the consequences of sourcing choices.

LCA considers all incoming flows (raw materials, energy, water) and outgoing flows (emissions into air, water, soil, waste) at each stage of the life cycle:

• Raw Material Extraction: Impacts related to the extraction and processing of natural resources.
• Manufacturing: Impacts of production processes, including energy consumption and waste generation.
• Transport: Impacts related to the delivery of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished products.
• Distribution: Impacts related to the marketing and availability of products.
• Usage: Impacts generated by the product during its use phase (e.g., energy consumption of an electrical appliance).
• End-of-Life: Impacts related to the collection, treatment (recycling, incineration, landfill), and disposal of the product.

LCA allows comparing the environmental impact of two products with the same function but different compositions or manufacturing processes (e.g., a plastic product vs. a biomaterial product). It helps identify “hotspots” in the life cycle—stages where the impact is most significant—thus allowing efforts to be concentrated on improvement. While LCA can be complex to perform and has some limitations (cost, data requirements), it is a valuable decision-making aid for reducing environmental risks and guiding procurement choices toward truly more sustainable solutions.

Recommend Using Procurement Management Software (SaaS)

Integrating CSR into procurement increases process complexity. To effectively manage this, companies are turning to technological solutions. SaaS (Software as a Service) procurement management software has become indispensable for structuring, optimizing, and enhancing procurement processes, including those focused on sustainability.

Tools like Weproc are specifically designed to support a responsible procurement strategy and facilitate supplier relationships. They provide complete visibility and increased control over the entire procurement cycle, from requisition to invoice.

Adopting such software offers several advantages for implementing a sustainable procurement policy:

• Information Centralization: All data related to purchases, contracts, suppliers, and invoices are gathered in one place, facilitating access and analysis.
• Process Optimization: Automating recurring tasks frees up buyers’ time, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities, such as supplier ESG/CSR evaluation or researching innovative solutions.
• Improved Collaboration: These platforms facilitate internal (between departments) and external (with suppliers) communication, ensuring better coordination.
• Risk Reduction: Better visibility and rigorous monitoring of contracts and supplier performance help prevent failures and ensure compliance.

By integrating procurement management software, companies gain the necessary means to drive their responsible procurement strategy with efficiency and agility.

Describe Key Tool Features: Portal, Analytics, Contracts

Modern procurement management software offers a range of essential features to support a responsible procurement policy. Here are the most relevant ones:

These features, combined with ease of use for employees, enable the evolution of procurement practices and the achievement of set objectives. Updating dashboards within procurement management software is essential for successful daily application.

Maximize your business partner management with a modern, innovative solution like Weproc. Implement a responsible procurement policy in your company and transform your procurement into a strategic lever for performance and sustainability.

Implementing a responsible procurement policy is a strategic initiative fully aligned with current sustainable development and business performance challenges. Far from being a mere obligation, it is a powerful lever for cost reduction, brand image improvement, risk management, and innovation.

By following the key steps – audit, objective definition, team mobilization, rigorous supplier selection, and integration into the product life cycle – companies, both public and private, can build a truly sustainable procurement strategy. Standards like ISO 26000 and digital tools such as procurement management software (like Weproc) provide the framework and means to turn this ambition into reality.

Engaging in responsible procurement means choosing a path that ensures regulatory compliance, strengthens competitiveness, and guarantees long-term business viability. It’s an investment in a future that is more environmentally respectful and socially just, where every purchase becomes an opportunity to create shared value. Don’t doubt the creation of a responsible procurement policy; it is not only possible but essential for your organization’s future prosperity.