Thinking about turning your business into a greener one? If yes, then you’ve probably looked at your energy use, waste, and maybe even your transport. But. Do you know, there’s one area that can make a big difference and most of the time gets overlooked. It’s what you buy and who you buy it from.
This is where green procurement comes in. This process involves choosing products, services, and suppliers that meet your needs but also meet strong environmental standards. Well, this is not about just ticking a box or chasing trends, but it’s about building a supply chain that helps your business run smoothly while also lowering its impact on the planet.
Why Green Procurement Matters
Every purchase you make is a message to the marketplace when you own a business. If you pick suppliers who are more efficient, less wasteful, and have good environmental practices, then that is the standard in the market. And definitely, that influence accumulates over time.
It is not only a good thing for the people, but it might come in handy when it comes to branding. Customers, partners, and even employees become increasingly hesitant to deal with businesses until they can prove to have an ethical mindset about how the company they deal with operates. It will add to trust and open new possibilities in the future by highlighting that you are serious about sustainability.
Step 1: Your Goals Should Be Clear
Choose what you really want to attain before effecting a change. Do you want to:
- ● Cut down on packaging waste?
- ● Reduce the carbon footprint of your supply chain?
- ● Work mainly with suppliers who are certified for their environmental practices?
Ensure it is measurable enough for tracking your progress. An example of this might be a goal to have 30% of your supplier spend going to certified green businesses in the next two years.
Step 2: Understand Where You Are Now
You can’t build a better system without knowing your current one. Take some time to review:
- ● Your biggest suppliers and what you spend with them.
- ● Which ones already have environmental certifications or policies.
- ● What products and services you buy most often.
This will show you quick wins and long-term opportunities. You might find that some suppliers are already doing a lot of good work; you just haven’t been using that to your advantage.
Step 3: Create a Simple Green Procurement Policy
Establishing a policy that is clear policy will assist your company in adhering to its objectives. It also tells the suppliers what you are. Keep it short, but it should be specific:
- ● Decide clearly which environmental certifications you want to recognize (ISO 14001 or EMAS).
- ● Make sure which product type preferences you want (recyclable, reusable, or energy efficient).
- ● Ensure that your suppliers know that environmental performance is in line with the other parameters you consider when selecting partners (i.e, cost, quality).
- ● They are enforceable and should be shared with your own team and your suppliers.
Step 4: Bring Your Suppliers On Board
Turning your business green isn’t something you have to do alone. Your suppliers play a big role. Talk to them openly:
- ● Familiarize them with your new objectives and why these are important to your company. ● Ask whether or not they can work to your standards or meet your standards.
- ● Be ready to share resources or offer a piece of advice to help them get certified or to make their process smoother.
Co-operation rather than substitution of the suppliers enables you to maintain healthy relations with them and may result in permanent changes.
Step 5: Choose with the Right Criteria
When you’re comparing suppliers, don’t just look at price and delivery. Include environmental factors like:
- ● Sustainable materials and packaging.
- ● Energy efficiency in their operations.
- ● Waste management practices.
- ● Proof of environmental certifications.
With time, this will be second nature as part of your overall style of decision-making.
Step 6: Set Targets and Check Progress
When there is no measuring of results, momentum is easily lost. Strike a balance between realistic goals to be met and set your goals frequently. Some targets might be:
● Increase certified suppliers of products by 10% year on year.
● Reduce single-use packaging by 20% in year one.
● Swap all company-branded products to recycled materials and measure by 12 months.
Check on your progress after every few months. When you are losing ground, examine where you are flexible and do not change your priorities.
Step 7: Train Your Team
It is your workforce that needs to comprehend the green procurement process and the significance of green procurement. It can be an even brief training session. Cover:
- ● How to check if a product or supplier’s “green” claim is genuine.
- ● Which certifications are trustworthy.
- ● Why is it important to consider the entire impact on a product’s life, the efficient production to disposal.
As everyone will know why these changes are happening, they will be more inclined to cooperate with them.
Step 8: Put Standards into Contracts
If you’re serious about green procurement, make it part of your agreements. This could mean:
- ● Suppliers must meet certain environmental criteria.
- ● They need to provide updates on their sustainability efforts.
- ● They agree to work on improvements where needed.
Having these terms in writing shows you’re committed and helps suppliers take it seriously.
Step 9: Share and Celebrate Your Wins
Give people an update when you make progress. It may be a team update that you are sharing internally, a story of how a certain supplier is doing, or a small paragraph in your annual report.
And, success should be celebrated, as this keeps motivation levels up, and as you celebrate success, it lets your customers know that your talk is backed up by action as well.
Step 10: Keep Going
Transforming your company into a green company is not a once-in-a-lifetime project. It is a continuous process. Markets are dynamic, and there is new technology and ever-improving environmental standards. Read your policy at least once a month, revise your targets, and seek new opportunities to perform better.
The Business Benefits
There are business owners who are of the opinion that going green will cost them money. Most times, it saves them from spending. Your economy can be achieved either by saving on energy costs or by cutting down on wastage, or even by buying durable products.
It will also make sure that you are guarded against vulnerabilities like changing rules or the open pressures to the unfriendly activities. In addition to the fact that becoming green will assist in minimizing the risks, it will also produce a competitive advantage over the customers or partners who are committed to sustainability.
When You Need Extra Support
When you are ready to transform your life and do not know what or how to do, there is nothing bad about seeking assistance. Sustainability consultants may take the opportunity to review your existing suppliers, establish realistic aims, and take you through the process in stages. They also have the capability of improving the performance of your suppliers at a greater rate.
The correct guidance not only saves your time but also prevents errors and/or facilitates the shift towards a greener business.
Concluding Remarks
Green procurement is one real means of getting your business greener without compromising quality or efficiency. You just need to take smaller steps and involve your team and suppliers in the process. In the future, your supply chain will clearly show the difference in your budget as well as your mark on the world.
Do a bit and keep building and taking your team and suppliers along the way. Long term, you will be able to see the difference in your supply chain, on your budget, and on your mark on the world.