Coro’s Blog: On Purpose

Have your say: Public invited to provide input on new international standard for sustainable procurement

Published on January 5, 2016

Over the past two years, the International Standards Organization (ISO) has been working to develop an international standard for sustainable procurement (ISO 20400). “Sustainable procurement” is defined as procurement that delivers long-term social, economic and environmental benefits.

I have been providing feedback on the draft standard as a member of Canada’s sustainable procurement technical committee for the Standards Council of Canada. My comments have focused primarily on these areas:

• social sourcing considerations
• sustainability risks and opportunities within the supply chain
• the supply chain as a driver of the circular economy
• supplier collaboration and engagement to improve supplier sustainability practices.

Now interested members of the public can provide feedback on the draft standard. This is a unique opportunity to influence a tool that will catalyze sustainability in markets around the world.

In Canada, the public comment process is facilitated by the Standards Council of Canada (via this link, search for ISO 20400) and in UK by BSI (via this link). Public consultation closes January 13, 2016.

Want to know more?

As the standard won’t be finalized for a year or more, here are a few resources you can tap into from my publications library:

• Sustainable Purchasing Guide
• Critical Success Factors for Sustainable Purchasing
• Sustainable Purchasing Metrics and Targets
• Supplier Engagement Strategies
• Social Sourcing 
• Transformational Sustainable Purchasing

Also, consider gathering your procurement team together to listen to this one-hour webinar with Nature’s Path on developing a sustainable procurement strategy (scroll to Sustainable Procurement under Sustainable Boards and Implementation).