Executive summary Top executives increasingly recognize that procurement can help achieve corporate sustainability goals while driving long-term business value. Regulators, customers, investors and employees expect companies to deliver on sustainability without compromising the business’s value, and procurement leaders are in a unique position to turn ambition into action. The World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Kearney, has created this playbook to support CPOs and senior executives ready to take that step. It brings together contributions from over 100 leaders at global events, as well as 30 interviews with CPOs from companies operating in a variety of industries and regions.1 The guidance contained in this report is general, rather than industry- or sector-specific. To help procurement leaders identify where they stand and where to go next, Chapter 2 includes a Stages of Excellence Assessment. The aim is not to prescribe, but to guide – helping teams reflect on their current maturity, uncover gaps and focus on the initiatives that matter most in their context. There is no single path forward for sustainable procurement. While a linear green procurement journey may seem intuitive, the reality is complex. Success requires progress across multiple dimensions, often simultaneously. The playbook identifies eight building blocks critical to embedding sustainability into procurement. Chapter 3 describes each in detail, supported by practical examples and lessons from leading organizations. The first building block is not necessarily the first step organizations must take; instead, the choice and sequence can be based on the current situation.All eight building blocks emphasize the following points: Focus on environmental impact – While sustainable procurement encompasses social and governance dimensions, this playbook intentionally focuses on the environmental aspect, or “green procurement”. It looks in detail at the challenges and actions related to decarbonization, resource efficiency and environmental impacts across the supply chain. Relevance beyond procurement – Although the primary audience for this playbook is CPOs, it is designed for any executive helping to shape how their organization buys, from sustainability and operations to finance and strategy. Driving this change is not the job of one function alone; it takes leadership across the business. Sustainability is everyone’s responsibility. Executive-level guidance – Companies can already draw from a wealth of material on the operational aspects of green procurement. This playbook instead centres on the leadership needed to mobilize senior stakeholders, influence decisions and elevate procurement as a strategic function within the organization, ensuring environmental priorities are fully embedded. Whether organizations are just beginning or already advancing efforts on green procurement, this playbook is designed to spark ideas, strengthen alignment and provide a clear view of what is next. It seeks to encourage CPOs to keep championing this agenda and amplifying the impact it can have, both for their organizations and for the planet. Green Procurement Playbook: The CPO’s Guide to Delivering Value for Business and Planet 5

Green Procurement Playbook 2025