CSR
25 concrete examples of responsible purchasing in business
This article details how to structure a solid approach and provides 25 concrete examples to transform your expenses into sustainable performance levers.
This article details how to structure a solid approach and provides 25 concrete examples to transform your expenses into sustainable performance levers.
Integrating an ethical and sustainable dimension into acquisition processes has become a strategic necessity. Faced with growing regulatory pressures and stakeholder expectations, businesses need to rethink their consumption.
A responsible purchasing strategy goes well beyond the acquisition of “green” products. It is a comprehensive approach that integrates environmental, social and ethical criteria at each stage of the process, in accordance with the international standard ISO 20400. In concrete terms, this means moving from a simple facial price to a Global Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach, which includes use, maintenance and end of life costs.
This politics Align expenses with CSR commitments (Corporate Social Responsibility). It involves close collaboration with suppliers to ensure respect for human rights, minimize environmental impact and promote local development. For an average business, purchases represent 50% to 70% of turnover. Acting in this position therefore influences the majority of one's carbon and social footprint.
Adopt sustainable purchasing practices generates a measurable return on investment Beyond legal compliance (AGEC law, duty of vigilance), the advantages are strategic:
For a responsible procurement strategy to be effective, it is imperative to balance three fundamental pillars. A vision that is too focused on one of them would undermine the whole process.
Here is a comparison of traditional versus responsible approaches:
The integration of these dimensions requires training buyers in new standards. It is no longer just a question of negotiating a price, but of evaluating the CSR maturity of a partner.
Deploying this strategy follows a rigorous process in four phases:
To move on to practice, here are 25 concrete actions classified by impact, to be integrated into your specifications.
The aim is to minimize the direct ecological impact of products and services.
These purchases promote reuse and boost the local economic fabric.
Buying is becoming a vector of inclusion and social justice.
Optimizing logistics and supplier relationships makes it possible to reduce the overall footprint.
Well-managed digital technology is a lever for efficiency and dematerialization.
The analysis of large companies makes it possible to understand how these strategies are concretely articulated and what results they produce.
Patagonia has placed its supply chain at the heart of its commitment. Co-founder of the Regenerative Organic Certified™ certification, the company imposes agricultural practices that rehabilitate soils and respect animal welfare. By auditing 100% of its tier 1 factories and publishing the list of its suppliers, Patagonia shows that total traceability is possible in the textile sector.
The Swedish giant has profoundly transformed its supply chain. Over 98% of the wood used is FSC certified or recycled, and the goal of 100% sustainable cotton has now been achieved. This massive purchasing policy involves the entire global forest sector, pushing suppliers to raise their standards to keep this major customer.
With its “Zero Carbon Project”, Schneider Electric is supporting its 1,000 main suppliers in reducing their CO2 emissions, with a goal of 50% by 2025. The company provides tools, training and technical expertise to support this decarbonization. It's a perfect illustration of the concept of an extended business that takes its ecosystem to the top.
As part of its digital and environmental transformation, Renault has redesigned the business card. By deploying the WEMET solutions, the group has drastically reduced its paper consumption. Beyond the zero waste objective, this strategy allows for instant contact information updates and smooth CRM integration, proving that responsible purchasing can also be a vector of commercial performance.
Set up a responsible purchasing strategy is transforming the business in depth. As we have seen through these 25 examples, each expense represents a vote for the economy of tomorrow.
From the selection of ethical suppliers to the adoption of innovative solutions such as WEMET smart cards, the levers are numerous and accessible. The main thing remains to structure the approach around specific KPIs and to mobilize employees. Businesses that master these challenges will be the resilient leaders of tomorrow.
WEMET est une worktech toulousaine qui vise à révolutionner les échanges professionnels. En 2020, son cofondateur Samuel Dassa part d’un constat :
les cartes de visite papiers ne sont pas pratiques et plus adaptées au monde du travail actuel.
Ainsi, est née la carte de visite connectée : la WeCard. Grâce à la technologie NFC, que l’on retrouve dans le paiement sans contact par exemple, elle vous permet d’échanger un large panel d’informations. La valeur clé chez WEMET c’est l’expérience utilisateur. Il était donc important pour nous de faire évoluer notre produit en innovant au quotidien mais également de vous garantir un produit qui évolue avec et tout au long de vos projets professionnels.
Première société à proposer la carte de visite connectée sur le marché français, WEMET compte aujourd’hui plus de 20 000 entreprises équipées, 200 000 utilisateurs de WeCards et plus de 10 collaborateurs.
