Green Procurement Playbook 2025

Foreword For years, Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) have focused primarily on quality, cost and delivery. However, today expectations have evolved – and so have demands on the procurement function. Supply chains are tested almost daily by geopolitics, economic volatility, extreme weather and more. At the same time, stakeholders are asking harder questions. Boards, for example, are looking for risk protection through resilience and transparency, while still seeking progress on both economic returns and climate goals. Chief executives are under increasing pressure to act. Organizations may have little control over global disruptions, but they can shape how they respond. In many of these situations, procurement has a critical role to play. Rather than remaining a cost- driven, transactional function, procurement holds a growing strategic influence over a company’s success – however it is measured. Leveraging procurement to turn sustainability ambitions into business results is an effective strategy. CPOs are central to driving sustainability because of four unique strengths: their reach across multiple internal teams; their visibility into data on products, demand and supply; the relationships they maintain with suppliers; and their credibility as a key function with a seat at the table. When done well, sustainable procurement does not compete with growth, but strengthens it. It also reduces exposure, unlocks innovation and helps future-proof the business. We have designed this playbook to support CPOs and their teams in the transition towards sustainable procurement. The report draws on expert practitioner voices, lessons from leading organizations and practical tools to assess where organizations stand and what they can do next. The Stages of Excellence Assessment (Chapter 2) helps identify what to prioritize and where to focus, while the building blocks offer concrete ideas to move from ambition to action. However, frameworks alone will not create change. Leadership will. We believe it is imperative to actively discuss sustainable procurement with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Board – otherwise, progress towards business and climate goals risks stalling. “Procurement talking to procurement” has a limited runway. The organizations making the most significant progress are those where CPOs have driven successful change within their function and are now informing strategy, shaping investments and helping define what sustainability looks like beyond procurement alone. Given impending corporate targets and regulatory milestones, the procurement leaders of today have the opportunity and duty to shape the future. We have included a brief note below for CEOs, introducing the playbook’s core messages and purpose. We encourage its broad use to support conversations with executive leaders – to spark alignment, secure support, build momentum and help strengthen the position of procurement as a key enabler of any organization’s sustainability journey. It is time to move from discussion to impact – and to continue building momentum.Pedro Gomez Head of Industry Agenda, Centre for Nature and Climate; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic ForumImran Dassu Senior Partner and Global Lead, Sustainable and Responsible Sourcing, Kearney Green Procurement Playbook: The CPO’s Guide to Delivering Value for Business and PlanetOctober 2025 Green Procurement Playbook: The CPO’s Guide to Delivering Value for Business and Planet 3