Baking sustainability into procurement: A recipe book for success

Sustainability is the secret ingredient for commercial advantage, resilience and innovation. But how do you move beyond compliance and truly bake sustainability into every supplier relationship? This white paper, created by The Gap Partnership and Ever Sustainable, delivers a practical framework for procurement teams ready to transform their approach and unlock new value.

The paper opens with a bold question: Could the secret ingredient in sustainability be how we negotiate? Drawing on years of experience and research, the authors, Dan Anderson and Martha McPherson reveal that while most procurement professionals understand sustainable procurement and have strategies in place, many struggle to execute effectively. The missing link? A mindset shift, from seeing sustainability as a risk-reducing compliance task to recognising it as a strategic lever for value creation.

Even market-leading businesses often leave value untapped in their supply chains, risking their ability to meet corporate sustainability targets. The foundation of effective supplier engagement lies in adopting the right mindset and method, and then applying these consistently, just like following a recipe for a perfect bake.

The heart of the white paper is a practical framework that helps procurement teams identify and optimise their relationships with suppliers at three distinct levels:

1. Level 1: Compliance and cost allocation | The mise en place
   This is the foundation, where the focus is on ensuring suppliers meet ESG standards and negotiating sustainability-related costs. While these engagements reduce risk, they don’t add incremental value. The paper offers tactical tips for making compliance processes more effective, such as setting clear timelines, using measurable metrics, and leveraging peer comparisons to encourage lagging suppliers to up their sustainability game.
   
   
2. Level 2: Mutual benefit initiatives | Collaborative recipes
   Here, procurement teams move beyond mandates to unlock shared value. Initiatives like joint logistics, collaborative packaging and improved demand forecasting can deliver both environmental and commercial upsides. The authors stress the importance of open information sharing, flexibility in negotiations and sequencing conversations to avoid deadlocks. Practical advice includes using digital platforms to crowdsource supplier ideas and building stakeholder maps to manage complex supply chain changes.
   
   
3. Level 3: Transformational projects | The showstopper bake
   The most ambitious level involves deep, strategic partnerships and significant upfront investment. Examples include joint ventures and co-development of new products. Success at this level requires top-to-top alignment, cross-functional involvement, and a “total value” mindset. The paper shares case studies, such as Sainsbury’s and CHEP’s collaboration to reduce pallet movements, which saved thousands of transport miles and unlocked new commercial value.

No recipe is complete without troubleshooting tips. The white paper identifies five common challenges that can hold back a perfect bake: siloed sustainability, negotiator knowledge gaps, short-term focus, compliance mindsets and internal misalignment. Practical solutions include targeted training, appointing sustainability champions and leveraging AI tools to streamline ESG processes.

This white paper is more than a theoretical treatise, it’s a hands-on recipe book for procurement teams who want to rise above compliance and bake sustainability into the heart of their commercial strategy. With real-world case studies and a wealth of practical tips, it’s designed to help organisations future-proof their supply chains and gain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.

Ready to elevate your procurement strategy? For a preview of our latest white paper, enter your details below and access the first few pages. Want the full copy? Email Dan Anderson at [email protected] and discover how to make sustainability your next strategic advantage.