Sustainability in procurement and the role of technology
Abstract
This paper elaborates on relevant dimensions regarding the implementation of sustainability practices in procurement based on a holistic framework. The importance of procurement in corporate decarbonisation activities is also addressed. It is argued that Scope 3.1 emissions, those emissions generated by purchased goods and services, have the most obvious connection to the procurement organisation and often account for the majority of all corporate emissions. Thus, this paper describes potential calculation methods to assess the Scope 3.1 emissions as well as potential reduction levers that procurement managers can initiate to contribute to their organisation’s reduction targets. Moreover, the current technology landscape to support sustainability goals is examined and requirements that future tools should meet to add value from a sustainability and procurement perspective are developed.
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Author's Biography
Florian Sommer is an experienced procurement transformation professional with line management and extensive consulting experience as well as expertise in multiple sectors, working for German and international small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as Fortune 500 companies. For the last years, he has focused on the implications of sustainability and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG)-related topics for procurement organisations. He helps his clients to establish procurement ESG strategies and strategic roadmaps, to gain carbon transparency in the supply chain as a first step for decarbonisation and to ensure compliance with new ESG-related regulations. His special area of expertise is the use of technology to translate emission transparency into a true supplier emission performance management.
Tanja Fischer is a Senior Consultant in industrial procurement with a focus on sustainability in procurement, especially on carbon accounting and decarbonisation measures along the value chain. She has helped clients in various sectors to achieve carbon transparency and identify emission hotspots.
Citation
Sommer, Florian and Fischer, Tanja (2022, September 1). Sustainability in procurement and the role of technology. In the Journal of Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement, Volume 5, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.69554/KVCK3522.
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