Three years ago, CERN published its Environmentally Responsible Procurement (CERP) Policy, marking a pivotal step towards integrating sustainability into procurement activities across the Organization. 

A lot has happened since then: more than 30 pilot procurement projects have tested and refined the practical implementation of environmentally responsible procurement. A dedicated e-learning course is available to personnel to raise awareness and understanding of the role we all play in reducing the impact of procurement on the environment. What’s more, a supplier sustainability due diligence tool has strengthened our understanding of the importance of managing supply chain risks and opportunities. In parallel, joint workshops with the departments, a supplier engagement methodology and a dedicated supplier engagement programme have supported the integration of sustainability considerations into CERN’s procurement activities. A CERN procurement emissions dashboard has also been developed to improve the visibility and the management of procurement-related greenhouse gas emissions, which account for more than one third of CERN’s total carbon footprint. 

After two years of implementation, a comprehensive review has been conducted through a gap analysis comparing CERN’s current practices with international standard ISO 20400:2017 on sustainable procurement. By benchmarking against leading organisations and companies, as well as a growing community of advanced sustainable procurement practitioners, this review has naturally guided the expansion of CERP beyond environmental considerations to progressively integrate social and governance aspects too, transforming CERP into the CERN Sustainable Procurement (CSP) Project.

This transition requires a proactive approach whereby each and every one of us reflects on and questions each stage of the procurement process: Why do we buy? What do we buy? Who do we buy from? How do we buy? This approach not only aligns with ISO 20400 standards but also serves to increase the resilience of our supply chain and our operations, ensuring optimal risk management, as well cost efficiency, for the Organization’s benefit as a whole.

To support this journey, IPT has launched a new procurement website featuring a dedicated sustainable procurement corner, where you can explore practical resources, tools, guidance, dashboards and updates. Take a tour to learn more about our procurement framework that reflects CERN’s values: responsible, resilient, innovative and forward-thinking.