ABSTRACT
The strategic role of purchase and supply as a lever for sustainable development and corporate social and environmental responsibility is increasingly important. It is not only manifested in greater regulation on sustainable procurement in the public sector, including significant changes to the European Union Directives adopted in April 2014, requiring implementation within two years by European Union Member States. Private sector companies are also increasingly seeking to establish best practice sustainable procurement principles to minimise the risk of litigation. Several international standards are embedding the principles of sustainable procurement into their requirements as well. Indeed, until relatively public sector procurement procedures could not legitimately be used to advance broader social policy objectives such as environmental performance or sustainability unless a clear and objective connection could be made with 'value for money'. A key issue to be tackled by organisations over the long term will be addressing the relationship between sustainability and value creation.
