A new course from The Climate School, AXA’s climate training product, tackles the challenges of sustainable sourcing and procurement. Designed specifically for corporate buyers, ‘Sustainable Procurement’ offers actionable strategies to create a sustainable relationship with suppliers.
In this new course, buyers will discover the central role they play in supporting their company’s social responsibility efforts and reducing environmental impact. The course helps buyers understand that environmental procurement must go beyond simply sourcing at the best price, and outlines new methodologies to help re-evaluate and rethink the procurement process.
According to McKinsey, between 80 to 90 per cent of greenhouse-gas emissions from businesses are “Scope 3,” meaning they occur indirectly across the value chain. Upskilling procurement professionals on sustainability could make a huge different to the climate crisis.
The course includes a series of five-minute videos featuring practical guidance on why the role of the buyer is key in the sustainable transition; the future of sustainable procurement; how to establish a responsible procurement policy; ways to be a more responsible purchaser (including how to buy less!) and how to get your suppliers involved and create a sustainable relationship with them.
Beyond these topics, the course also investigates best practices for meeting Scope 3 targets and sets up a framework to explore issues related to biodiversity, resources, pollution, human rights concerns, duty of vigilance, social dialogue and working conditions. It aims to help buyers think critically about every step of the supply chain.
“By providing short, scientifically sound and actionable lessons, our new “Sustainable Procurement” course empowers corporate buyers to make unique and meaningful contributions to their organisation’s sustainability strategy,” Celli Lloyd, UK Country Launcher, AXA Climate, said. “It is our hope that as more buyers and other procurement professionals come to view their role as an opportunity to transform their own company’s sourcing practices, it will have a ripple effect across entire supply chains.”
To offer the course and address the many facets of sustainable purchasing, many experts have been mobilised. Among them include specialised consultants François Girard, Claire de Hautecloque, Anaïs Feldman, and Romain Cocault, as well as numerous purchasing professionals who act responsibly within their company, including Anne-Claire Lescoffit from Air Liquide, Dennis Bakx from The HEINEKEN Company, Thomas Roemer from Covestro, and more.
