Package Description

ABOUT THE EVENT

Professionally managed purchasing offers immense leverage to drive change on a global scale, addressing issues such as global warming, and many other environmental, social, and economic outcomes. In the US alone, institutional purchasing of goods and services represents more than $10 trilllion of annual spend. And every contract used by a corporation, government, university or health system to purchase goods or services represents and opportunity to reduce or reverse negative impacts - on climate, environment, worker health, and safety-- and to increase positive benefits - community development, robust supplier relationships, worker health and safety, transparency, and equity.

Yet all too often sustainability and climate leads pursue standalone projects, and purchasing professionals pursue cost savings, while the huge opportunity that purchasing offers to drive change into core business operations goes unaddressed. Often language and culture gaps between the different disciplines hinder effective collaboration.

This 90 minute interactive presentation will highlight how critical sustainability goals can (and must) be supported by procurement strategy. We will also explore the pressures and competing objectives that may keep procurement teams from effectively (or enthusiastically) supporting sustainability initiatives.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Understand how purchasing address climate change and sustainability
• Become familiar with barriers preventing procurement from engaging with sustainability
• Explore successful strategies for engaging procurement-related stakeholders
• Identify key stakeholders for collaborative action within your organization