Driving Sustainability Through Circular Procurement: Insights from ISEP's Latest Guide

The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) has published a new guide on circular procurement. This comprehensive resource equips sustainability and procurement practitioners with actionable insights to embed circular economy principles into their organisations.

Why embedding circularity in procurement? 

Procurement is a powerful tool for driving sustainability. It influences every phase of a product's lifecycle, from design to disposal. Circular procurement emphasises long-term value by incorporating principles such as durability, adaptability, and resource efficiency into purchasing decisions. This approach fosters a “closed-loop” system that minimizes waste, optimizes resource use, and significantly reduces environmental impact. 

The guide underscores the critical role procurement plays in achieving the broader goals of a circular economy. By rethinking how we acquire goods and services, organisations can reduce their reliance on virgin materials, promote innovation, and set a new standard for environmental stewardship.

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Key Features of the Guide

  1. Actionable Frameworks

    The guide provides a structured approach to adopting circular procurement. Practitioners are encouraged to start small, focusing on key areas of impact, and gradually scale efforts across their organizations.

  2. Practical Strategies

    The guide outlines five core activities organisations can undertake to incorporate circular procurement practices. This includes identifying the key or significant purchases to focus on, focusing on function rather than specific product and engaging with your supply chain.

  3. Overcoming Barriers

    Common challenges such as data availability, legal constraints, and resistance to change are addressed with practical suggestions. The guide advocates for breaking complex goals into manageable steps and highlights the importance of collaboration across value chains.

  4. Policy Insights

    A dedicated section on UK policy drivers connects practitioners with current legislation and standards.

  5. Tools and Resources

    The publication links to a wealth of supplementary materials, including metrics for success, case studies and standards.

ISEP’s new guide to circular procurement is a must-read for organisations aiming to integrate circular economy thinking into its procurement processes.

By applying these principles and working across sustainability and procurement functions, organisations can position themselves as leaders in the transition to a circular economy. Benefits of this approach include reduced costs, enhanced supply chain resilience and stronger reputation.

ISEP members can download the guide and explore how circular procurement can help your organisation here.

Non-ISEP members can purchase the document from our online shop (under 'Sustainability in Practice Guides')


Published by:
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Agnes Chruszcz

Policy and Engagement Lead

Agnes is the Policy and Engagement Lead for Circular Economy and Social Sustainability. She joined the ISEP Policy team in 2024 from a higher education institution where she managed circular economy strategy and initiatives across university operations, research and student engagement. Previous to that, she worked in consultancy developing and managing a range of projects for UK government departments, NGOs, local authorities and businesses. This focused on resource efficiency and material flows, waste management service optimisation, circular economy business models and behaviour change.