Sustainability skills for procurement professionals
Procurement professionals are the key enablers of a sustainable built environment. They are not expected to be experts in sustainability but to operate effectively, they must have working knowledge on a range of topics. Improve your knowledge in an industry where sustainability is becoming a core competence.
It is estimated that 70% to 80% of a main contractor’s revenue goes to the supply chain, so procurement professionals are the gatekeepers to a sustainable built environment. These resources will help to improve sustainability knowledge in the context of procurement.
Access resources in three ways:
- Take a course at levels 1-5 – see below
- Browse resources to see what suits you best
- Navigate resources using the ISO 20400 procurement process
- Planning
- Integrating Sustainability into the Specifications
- Selecting Suppliers
- Managing the Contract
- Reviewing & Learning
Get a CPD certificate for every e-learning module taken and receive a course certificate for passing the prescribed number of modules in a learning course.
Introduction to Sustainable Procurement
Shaun McCarthy of Action Sustainability tells us what sustainable procurement is, and why it’s important to the business world.
Level 1 – A generic course comprising four e-learning modules and a video. It gives you the basics and should be applicable to all procurement people. You need to pass all four modules and view the video to get a certificate.
Level 2 – Covers some of the sustainability challenges you are likely to encounter in your work and the knowledge you gain will help you overcome them. You need to pass 5 out of 9 modules to get a certificate.
Level 3 – Covers some of the more advanced issues you may come across such modern slavery risks. There is also an opportunity to practice your leadership skills. You need to pass 3 out of 5 modules to get a certificate.
Level 4 – Goes into more detail on specific issues such as social value and supply chain mapping. You need to pass 2 out of 4 modules to get a certificate.
Level 5 – Has a focus on the whole supply chain where we introduce subjects such as lean construction and the circular economy. You need to pass 4 out of 7 modules to get a certificate.
View CoursesTake the course
You can take a course at Levels 1-5 depending on your current level of knowledge and what you feel you need to learn. You don’t have to pass one level to move on to a higher level. It is your choice.
Problem Solving and Continuous Improvement
Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement
E-learning Module
30 minutes
Fairness Inclusion and Respect
FIR on site: Why it matters and how to achieve it
E-learning Module
60 minutesSustainable Procurement
Practitioner’s Guide to Sustainable Procurement
Document / Presentation
90 minutes
“The demands on procurement professionals are forever changing. Although we don’t expect procurement people to be experts in sustainability, they must be expected to have a working knowledge. These resources help you to learn what you need to know at your own pace.”Dale Turner FCIPS, Director of Procurement and Supply Chain, Skanska UK and founding member of the School Board
Key topics associated with procurement
Procurement professionals should be aware of the following topics, each containing useful resources to access alongside this learning path.
Procurement that has the most positive environmental, social and economic…
Supply chain management involves proactively developing and implementing supply chains…
With 40.3 million victims estimated by the Global Slavery Index…
A global perspective
The social enterprise business of our delivery partner, Action Sustainability Community Interest Company supports a global community of practice in sustainable procurement.
ISO 20400
Engage with the School
Interested in additional resources? Want to attend an event or complete an assessment? Just start here.
Sustainability case studiesOur team
The Procurement Special Interest Group is managed by the Supply Chain School and headed by Dale Turner of Skanska.
Our Partners
The School is a collaboration between clients, contractors and suppliers who have a mutual interest in building the skills of their supply chain. They pay for the School, so it's all FREE for you.
