An international standard to help businesses develop and implement sustainable purchasing practices and policies has been published, the first of its kind.
ISO 20400 for sustainable procurement, published by the International Organisation for Standardisation helps companies to analyse their supply chains for ethical and environmental impacts.
The standard aims to assist organsations in meeting their sustainability responsibilities by providing an understanding of:
It is hoped that through integrating sustainability in procurement policies and practices, including supply chains, organisations can manage risks and opportunities for sustainable environmental, social and economic development.
Jacques Schramm, Chair of ISO/PC 277, the project committee that developed the standard, said:
"It is no longer enough for businesses to rely on suppliers to provide them with what they want, no questions asked. Organisations benefit greatly from getting to know their suppliers – understanding what their requirements are as well – to ensure their demands are not unrealistic and that the suppliers they work with have good, ethical practices."
