The useful question is what changes for users, developers or buyers, and whether the announcement stays industry context or becomes something people can actually use.

Three years ago, CERN introduced its Environmentally Responsible Procurement (CERP) Policy, initiating a shift toward sustainability in procurement. Over 30 pilot projects tested practical applications, while an e-learning course and supplier sustainability due diligence tool were introduced to enhance awareness and risk management. Joint workshops, a supplier engagement methodology, and a dedicated programme further integrated sustainability into procurement activities, supported by a procurement emissions dashboard to track greenhouse gas emissions, which constitute over a third of CERN’s total carbon footprint.

After two years of implementation, a gap analysis compared CERN’s practices with ISO 20400:2017 standards for sustainable procurement. The review, benchmarked against leading organizations, guided the expansion of CERP to include social and governance dimensions, transforming it into the CERN Sustainable Procurement (CSP) Project. This evolution reflects a broader commitment to aligning procurement with international best practices and enhancing supply chain resilience.

The transition to CSP requires a proactive approach, prompting stakeholders to critically assess procurement decisions at every stage. Questions such as the purpose, nature, source, and method of procurement are central to this process, ensuring alignment with ISO 20400 standards. This approach aims to bolster supply chain resilience, improve risk management, and maintain cost efficiency, benefiting CERN’s operations as a whole.

To facilitate this shift, CERN’s IPT launched a new procurement website featuring a dedicated sustainable procurement corner. The platform offers practical resources, tools, guidance, dashboards, and updates, reflecting CERN’s values of responsibility, resilience, innovation, and forward-thinking. The website serves as a central hub for stakeholders to engage with the evolving procurement framework.