In addition to purchasing-related activities, procurement professionals are ideally positioned to play an important role in championing sustainability throughout their organization due to their proximity to the supply chain.
Their role can include responsibility for the following organizational activities:
- Training and development within the organization for correct behaviors and practices
- Creating a culture capable of delivering a sustainability strategy
- Notifications of regulatory and other required changes to ensure up-to-date policies
- Reporting on corporate social responsibility topics both internally and externally
- Assist in designing a reverse logistics system to take advantage of recyclable and returnable materials
Procurement personnel have the opportunity to advocate for sustainability standards while mitigating risk across the entire supply chain.