CLIMATE change is upon us. It is affecting all spheres of our daily lives. The adverse effects of climate change are being felt everywhere by everyone.
The increased frequency and severity of natural disasters, increased droughts, ever-rising sea levels, infrastructure damage due to adverse weather conditions, water shortages and weather-related diseases are being felt all day long.
In the world of procurement, everything is interconnected and each and every challenge that is felt somewhere will be felt everywhere, especially where there are biodiversity and depletion of natural resources challenges.
Every country and region is currently facing the burden of global warming and changing climatic conditions. If one part of the continent is suffering from drought and excessive heat waves, the other part could be experiencing devastating storms and incessant rainfalls. It is a succinct and distinct summation of the current climate challenges.
Procurement professionals across the industry divide must acknowledge that the environmental impact of practices such as raw material extraction, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, maintenance and disposal will continue to take a toll on the poor planet.
Green procurement will therefore seek to advocate for the preservation and responsible use of natural resources through the reliance of renewable or recycled materials which seek to reduce waste whenever possible.
As global awareness of environmental challenges continues to take the spotlight, so does the increasing clarion call for the use of sustainable products. This will certainly promote the transition to a more sustainable global economy.
It is not just about acquiring eco-friendly products. It must be viewed from a holistic process flow that takes into consideration the whole life cycle of a product or service, from raw material acquisition to disposal.
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Green supply chain management involves integrating sustainable practices into the supply chain process and incorporating the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle and reclaim.
The idea behind green procurement is to maximise organisational efficiency and effectiveness with the smallest possible environmental footprint, ensuring that your business is not just part of the future but leading the future.
Organisations are obligated to go green through more efficient use of finite virgin resources and conservation of energy. The business world should not only conserve natural resources, but they should also reduce the use of greenhouse gas emissions.
Green procurement best practices will also encourage organisations to establish sustainable responsible strategies for the disposal of products and materials at the end of their useful life span.
Green procurement initiatives should ideally be proactive and preventative in approach, with a singular aim to avoid or reduce environmental harm at source, rather than relying solely on reactive approaches to minimise such challenges after occurrence.
There should be an open acknowledgement that procurement decisions have far-reaching implications for natural ecosystems, marginalised communities and future generations.
It should also be recognised that environmental degradation and resource depletion impose notable effects on business organisations and society, affecting human tranquillity in the long term.
There is need for supply chain professionals to be fully-oriented with the relevant laws and regulations pertaining to waste management, emissions and sustainable sourcing. The need to avoid procurement of goods and services from those vendors that are known for engaging in unethical or exploitative practices is a no brainer.
Responsible sourcing is the foundation of any green supply chain. Procurement professionals are required to reinforce the ideals of the green revolution by sourcing resources from environmentally-responsible avenues.
Supply chain professionals will be required to collaborate with suppliers who give priority to environmentally friendly practices such as the full utilisation of renewable energy sources, prioritisation of waste reduction initiatives and the active promotion of responsible sourcing.
The establishment of a smooth process of aspiration-to-reality through partnering with the right minds is key. The goal of a green supply chain is to place more purchase orders with those supply chain partners that reduce environmental challenges emanating from industry and commerce to include pollution, deforestation, ozone depletion and global warming.
There is need to ensure that your sources are not hurting the environment, paving the way for a more sustainable tomorrow.
At its core, green procurement often represents a fundamental shift from traditional procurement evaluation practices. It will often focus on moving beyond the traditional evaluation criteria of price and quality.
There is need to incorporate environmental considerations as part of an integral decision-making variable. Often times, there is a conscious and deliberate emphasis on giving priority to environmental issues in procurement evaluation processes.
Supply chains are taking the initiative to incorporate environmental variables into procurement specifications, evaluation criteria and contract terms and conditions.
Green procurement will take into consideration the capabilities of sourcing partners based on their performance in environmentally sustainable business practices and choosing raw materials that have zero harmful environmental impact.
It is about staying relevant in a world that values planet issues. It is a long-standing business practice born out of necessity.
The most critical element of green manufacturing is reducing energy consumption. Everything in a factory from equipment and lighting to heating and cooling, requires significant energy use.
The use of renewable energy sources such as hydropower, wind energy, solar energy and biofuels are excellent alternatives for fossil fuels, thereby reducing gas emissions. Business leaders must also take note that transportation is currently the leading contributor to increased global warming, health risks, greenhouse gas emissions, significantly impacting a company’s carbon footprint.
Transportation management processes must be conducted in an environmentally-friendly way for a supply chain to be sustainable. Organisations can reduce the environmental impact of transport management through route optimisation, frugal fuel management, real-time tracking and by relocating warehouses closer to customers.
Supply chain professionals will also be required to assist in the incorporation of sustainability initiatives in the product design process by designing for energy efficiency.
Green procurement takes into consideration the entire life cycle of a product or service from the initial extraction of raw materials to production, packaging, transport, product use and disposal.
Designing products for durability and recyclability is key. There is need to take into account how products are made, how they are used and what happens when they are no longer in use. It is also equally important to explore the possibility of designing sustainable packaging options to minimise waste and reduce the ecological footprint of the organisation.
Green procurement practices will, therefore, also seek to give priority to those products with minimal packaging requirements. Organisations are encouraged to give priority to those products with packaging made entirely of recyclable, reusable or compostable materials. Achieving more with what we have, without squeezing it dry is important.
It has been noted over the years that one of the less obvious, yet profoundly effectual benefits of green procurement could be its contribution towards human safety and health.
The selection of goods and services that are free from harmful industrial chemicals and pollutants will significantly contribute to a safer and healthier environment for both employees and the communities in which they operate.
Such kind of initiatives will promote a healthier workplace by decreasing exposure to hazardous materials. Green procurement will assist in the reduction of toxins and harmful wastes that will be released into the environment.
It has been proven over the years that many diseases are as a result of environmental pollution. It therefore follows that when pollution is minimised through green procurement, people will live healthier lives.
Organisations that give priority to green procurement processes are often regarded as leaders in occupational health and safety.
It is a widely-held but seldomly expressed opinion that far from being a cost sink, green procurement can be a source of increased revenue and decreased operating costs.
Supply chain professionals soon realised that spending a little bit more on green purchases can result in saving money over time since green products often last longer and cost less to use.
Making sustainable choices will allow supply chains to optimise their resources and minimise unnecessary expenses. With every green purchase, procurement professionals are shaping a better future.
Every step and action will contribute to the bigger picture. Small green procurement changes can amount to major traction overtime. Procurement professionals must, therefore, look at every purchase through the lens of environmental impact.
The sheer scale and volume of procurement transactions have a huge potential to shape markets, encourage responsible business practices and drive sustainable practices across the industry divide.
The way an organisation procures its products and services has become a reflection of their values and their vision for the future.
Every procurement decision has the capacity to influence how resources are utilised; how much waste is created in the process and how truly an organisation is sustainable.
Organisations will lessen their dependencies on finite materials by moving green procurement from principle to practice. It is always regarded as a win-win-win scenario — good for the planet, good for people and good for business.
As climate goals tighten and regulations expand, green supply chains are no longer just a competitive advantage — they are a new baseline. The adoption of green methods reflects a commitment to environmental stewardship, building a stronger, more future-ready supply chain ecosystem. The idea is to protect this vibrant planet we call home. There is need to go beyond surface level narratives to make it count.
Nyika is a supply chain practitioner based in Harare. — [email protected].
