How to Turn Sustainable Procurement into a Growth Lever
Procurement teams in UK businesses face competing pressures. Costs need controlling. Risks are multiplying. Supply chains must stay resilient. At the same time, buyers are expected to meet stricter environmental and social standards. This creates a challenge for many SMEs: how do you make procurement more responsible without undermining the commercial basics?
A webinar taking place on 20 October 2026 aims to show how sustainable procurement can address both sides of that equation. The session, hosted by Trellis Group, will introduce a new global framework designed to help companies turn sourcing decisions into measurable business value. Speakers include representatives from S&P Global and the United Nations Global Compact, and the focus is firmly on practical application rather than theory.
For businesses working toward net zero, responding to buyer expectations, or navigating supply chain volatility, the session offers insight into how procurement strategy can support wider business goals. It also signals a shift in how sustainability is being discussed: less as a separate workstream, and more as a core part of commercial resilience.
Procurement under pressure from multiple directions
Procurement has never been a simple function. However, the last few years have added layers of complexity that many businesses are still working through. Supply chain disruption became routine during the pandemic. Energy costs spiked. Inflation squeezed margins. Meanwhile, regulatory expectations around carbon reporting, due diligence, and supply chain transparency have all increased.
UK SMEs in particular often find themselves caught between these forces. Buyers in both public and private sectors now include sustainability criteria in tenders. Consequently, suppliers must demonstrate credible environmental and social performance to win or retain contracts. Yet the same businesses are also managing tight budgets and limited internal resources to meet those expectations.
The webinar frames sustainable procurement as a way to manage this tension. Rather than treating sustainability as an add-on or a compliance exercise, the session argues that it can protect margins and reduce risk. This framing reflects a broader change in how procurement is positioned within business strategy. It is no longer seen purely as a cost centre. Instead, it is increasingly understood as a function that shapes resilience, innovation, and long-term value.
The session will take place at 1:00 pm Eastern Time on 20 October 2026. It is part of Trellis Group's 2026 events programme. Registration is open through the Trellis website.
New framework developed with UN and procurement coalition
The centrepiece of the webinar is the Global Sustainable Procurement Framework. This tool has been developed jointly by the United Nations Global Compact and the Coalition for Sustainable Procurement. According to Trellis Group, the framework is intended to help organisations translate procurement decisions into outcomes that can be tracked and reported.
Frameworks of this kind serve several purposes. They provide structure for organisations that lack in-house expertise. They help standardise reporting across different geographies and sectors. They also offer a reference point that can be used in supplier conversations, tender responses, and stakeholder communications.
The framework is described as hands-on rather than aspirational. It includes guidance on risk management, supplier engagement, and performance measurement. These are areas where many SMEs struggle, particularly when trying to extend sustainability requirements beyond tier-one suppliers. The challenge is not just setting standards, but embedding them in everyday procurement decisions without adding unsustainable administrative burden.
Anna Zaleski Mori, Head of Sustainable Supply Chains and SMEs at the United Nations Global Compact, will speak at the session. Her role focuses specifically on small and medium-sized enterprises, which make up the majority of supply chains globally but often have less capacity to meet emerging sustainability standards. This suggests the framework is designed with scalability in mind, not just large corporates.
Andrew Baer, Head of Sustainable Procurement at S&P Global, will also present. S&P Global operates across financial markets and data services, and its procurement function covers a complex international supply base. His participation indicates that the framework is being tested and applied by organisations with significant commercial footprints. Grant Harrison, VP and Executive Director of Trellis Impact at Trellis Group, completes the speaker lineup.
Practical tools for risk management and supplier performance
The session will cover how leading companies are using data and technology to improve procurement outcomes. Specifically, it will look at how artificial intelligence and traceability data are being applied to manage risk and track supplier performance. These are areas where the gap between ambition and capability is often widest for SMEs.
Traceability is particularly relevant for businesses working on Scope 3 emissions reporting. Scope 3 covers indirect emissions in a company's value chain, including those generated by suppliers. Measuring these emissions accurately requires data from suppliers, which can be difficult to obtain. Traceability tools can help by mapping supply chains and identifying where emissions are concentrated. This makes it easier to prioritise action and demonstrate progress.
AI is being used in procurement to identify risks that might otherwise go unnoticed. For example, AI tools can monitor supplier financial health, compliance records, or exposure to climate risks. They can also highlight patterns in procurement data that suggest inefficiency or duplication. For SMEs, these tools can provide a level of insight that would be difficult to achieve manually, especially when managing a large or fragmented supplier base.
The webinar will also discuss supplier partnerships, particularly those involving small and medium-sized enterprises. SMEs make up a significant proportion of most supply chains, but they often face barriers to meeting sustainability requirements. These can include lack of knowledge, limited access to finance, or competing priorities. Building partnerships that support SMEs to improve their performance can therefore strengthen the entire supply chain.
This approach aligns with sustainable procurement support that focuses on collaboration rather than simply imposing requirements. It recognises that suppliers need support to meet higher standards, and that investing in supplier development can reduce risk and improve quality over time.
What UK businesses need to consider
Several key points emerge from the webinar's content that are directly relevant to UK SMEs. First, sustainable procurement is being positioned as a commercial function, not just an ethical one. This matters because it changes the internal conversation. If procurement improvements can be justified on financial and risk grounds, they are more likely to receive budget and senior-level support.
Second, the focus on frameworks and data tools reflects the reality that most businesses cannot develop these systems in-house. Using standardised frameworks reduces duplication and makes it easier to communicate performance to customers and investors. It also helps level the playing field between large and small organisations.
Third, the emphasis on supplier collaboration is significant. Many UK SMEs are both buyers and suppliers. They need to meet the sustainability expectations of their own customers while also managing their own supply chains. Understanding how to engage suppliers constructively, rather than simply auditing them, can improve outcomes on both sides of that relationship.
Fourth, the timing matters. The UK is moving toward mandatory climate-related financial disclosures for a wider range of companies. Requirements around due diligence in supply chains are also tightening. Procurement will be central to meeting these obligations. Businesses that treat procurement as a strategic function now will find compliance easier later.
Finally, the session highlights how technology is changing what is possible in procurement. Tools that were prohibitively expensive or complex five years ago are now more accessible. This creates opportunities for SMEs to close the gap with larger competitors, but it also raises the baseline expectation for what good procurement looks like.
What the session will cover in detail
Attendees will learn how to apply the Global Sustainable Procurement Framework to their own sourcing decisions. The session will explain how the framework structures risk assessment, supplier selection, and performance tracking. It will also show how procurement data can be used to identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements.
The speakers will discuss how companies are using AI to strengthen risk management. This includes monitoring suppliers for financial instability, regulatory non-compliance, or exposure to climate-related risks. Participants will also hear how traceability data is being used to map supply chains and measure Scope 3 emissions more accurately.
Another focus will be building supplier partnerships that support innovation. This includes working with SMEs to improve their environmental and social performance. The session will explore how collaboration with smaller suppliers can drive innovation, reduce risk, and improve supply chain resilience.
The webinar will also address how to turn procurement activity into measurable business outcomes. This means linking procurement decisions to metrics that matter to senior management, such as cost, risk, and revenue protection. For many businesses, this is where the gap lies: sustainability activities happen, but the business case is not clearly articulated.
Key details about the webinar
- The session is titled "How to Turn Sustainable Procurement into a Growth Lever" and takes place on 20 October 2026 at 1:00 pm Eastern Time.
- It is hosted by Trellis Group as part of their 2026 webinar programme and will be delivered online.
- The main focus is the newly launched Global Sustainable Procurement Framework, co-created by the United Nations Global Compact and the Coalition for Sustainable Procurement.
- Speakers include Andrew Baer from S&P Global, Anna Zaleski Mori from the UN Global Compact, and Grant Harrison from Trellis Group.
- Topics will include using AI and data for risk management, traceability in supply chains, and building partnerships with SME suppliers.
- The session is designed for procurement professionals, sustainability managers, and business leaders responsible for supply chain strategy.
Why this matters for UK SMEs now
Procurement is becoming a frontline issue for businesses navigating sustainability requirements. Public sector suppliers already face carbon reduction commitments through PPN 06/21 and similar policies. Private sector buyers are increasingly including environmental and social criteria in their supplier assessments. Consequently, procurement performance is now directly linked to revenue, not just cost.
Many SMEs still treat procurement as a transactional function. Purchase orders are raised, suppliers deliver, invoices are paid. However, this approach leaves value on the table. It also exposes businesses to risks that could be managed through better supplier relationships, more structured risk assessment, and clearer alignment between procurement and business strategy.
The webinar's focus on frameworks, data, and collaboration reflects what businesses need to make progress. Frameworks provide structure without requiring organisations to start from scratch. Data tools make it possible to track performance and demonstrate progress. Collaboration with suppliers turns procurement into a two-way relationship that can drive improvement on both sides.
For businesses working toward net zero, procurement is often the largest source of emissions. Scope 3 emissions typically dwarf direct emissions from operations. Therefore, reducing emissions in the supply chain is not optional. It is essential. Understanding how to engage suppliers, collect data, and track progress is central to meeting carbon reduction targets.
The session also highlights how procurement intersects with other business priorities. Supply chain resilience has been tested repeatedly in recent years. Businesses that have strong supplier relationships, clear visibility of their supply base, and structured risk management processes have coped better. These are all areas where sustainable procurement practices add value, whether or not sustainability is the primary driver.
We work with businesses on carbon reporting compliance and understand how procurement decisions affect Scope 3 emissions. The challenge is not just measuring emissions, but influencing them. That requires procurement teams to have the tools, frameworks, and relationships needed to drive change with suppliers. This webinar offers insight into how that is being done in practice.
Where to find more information
The webinar is listed on the Trellis Group events page. Registration details and the full agenda are available through their website. The session is free to attend, though spaces may be limited.
The United Nations Global Compact publishes guidance on sustainable procurement and supply chain management through its website. Resources include frameworks, case studies, and toolkits designed for businesses of different sizes. The UN Global Compact site also provides information on the Coalition for Sustainable Procurement and related initiatives.
For UK businesses, government guidance on procurement and sustainability is available through the gov.uk website. This includes information on public sector procurement policy, carbon reporting requirements, and supply chain due diligence. The Crown Commercial Service also publishes resources for suppliers working with the public sector.
Businesses looking for training on Scope 3 emissions and supply chain sustainability can explore options through SBS Academy training, which covers practical skills for carbon measurement and supplier engagement.