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Procurement Terms

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B
Business Requirements Analysis

Business Requirement Analysis involves the systematic identification, evaluation, and documentation of a company's fundamental needs. These needs may pertain to a customer-oriented product or service, known as Direct Procurement, or to the operational necessities of the business itself, referred to as Indirect Procurement. A well-executed analysis outlines the essential business criteria, leading to quantifiable outcomes and guiding the specifications for suppliers to streamline the procurement process.

Specialism:
Category Management Sourcing Sustainability
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C
Carbon Footprint
Carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), released directly or indirectly through the activities of an individual, organization, or product. It quantifies the impact of human activities on climate change. The carbon footprint takes into account emissions from various sources, including energy consumption, transportation, manufacturing processes, waste generation, and land use. It is typically measured in units of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Assessing and reducing carbon footprints is essential in mitigating climate change and promoting sustainable practices by identifying areas for emission reductions, adopting cleaner technologies, and making informed decisions to minimize environmental impact.
Specialism:
Sustainability
Circular Economy
A circular economy is an economic model that aims to maximize resource efficiency, minimize waste generation, and promote sustainable practices. It seeks to move away from the traditional linear "take-make-dispose" model by emphasizing the reuse, repair, recycling, and regeneration of products and materials. In a circular economy, resources are kept in use for as long as possible, and the value of products and materials is retained through their lifecycle. It promotes closed-loop systems, encourages sustainable design and production, and fosters collaboration among stakeholders to create a more resilient and environmentally friendly economy.
Specialism:
Sustainability
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Circular Procurement
Circular procurement is an approach to procurement that aims to minimize waste, conserve resources, and promote a circular economy. It involves selecting products, materials, and services that are designed for durability, repairability, and recyclability. Circular procurement emphasizes the use of renewable resources, encourages the adoption of eco-design principles, and prioritizes suppliers that implement sustainable practices, such as product take-back programs and material recycling. By incorporating circular principles into procurement decisions, organizations contribute to closing the resource loop, reducing environmental impacts, and promoting the efficient use and reuse of materials, fostering a more sustainable and regenerative economy.
Specialism:
Procurement Strategy Sustainability
E
Ethical Procurement
Sustainable Procurement is the commitment to considering environmental, social, and governance factors (ESG) in procurement decisions. These factors should be applied across all aspects of the procurement cycle. It means that the procurement processes comply with environmental laws, fair labor practices, resource consumption targets, and other core principles of ESG. These factors are becoming more important to overall business performance due to increased consumer requirements for sustainable goods and services. Due to this, sustainable factors are now a key pillar of the business requirements gathering activities.
Specialism:
Category Management Risk Management Sourcing Supplier Management Sustainability
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G
Green Procurement
Sustainable Procurement is the commitment to considering environmental, social, and governance factors (ESG) in procurement decisions. These factors should be applied across all aspects of the procurement cycle. It means that the procurement processes comply with environmental laws, fair labor practices, resource consumption targets, and other core principles of ESG. These factors are becoming more important to overall business performance due to increased consumer requirements for sustainable goods and services. Due to this, sustainable factors are now a key pillar of the business requirements gathering activities.
Specialism:
Sustainability
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Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gas monitoring, sometimes described as Scope 1, Scope 2 or Scope 3, refers to the practice of tracking and measuring the emissions of greenhouse gases that are generated by a company's operations, including its supply chain, production processes, and transportation. This involves gathering data on the consumption of energy and raw materials, as well as emissions generated during production and transportation activities. The purpose of greenhouse gas monitoring as a business is to identify areas of high emissions and develop strategies to reduce them, with the ultimate goal of mitigating the impact of climate change. This practice is becoming increasingly important for businesses as governments and consumers demand greater accountability and action on climate change.

The emissions are split into 3 ‘scopes’:

Scope 1 – Are direct greenhouse gas emissions from company-owned or controlled sources, such as emissions from combustion in boilers or vehicles.

Scope 2 – Are indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, heat, or steam consumed by the organization.

Scope 3 - Are indirect emissions from activities outside of the organization's control, such as emissions from the production of purchased materials, employee commuting, or waste disposal.

Specialism:
Category Management Procurement Strategy Sourcing Sustainability
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L
Life Cycle Analysis
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), also known as Life Cycle Assessment, is a methodology used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with a product, process, or system throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal or end-of-life. It considers the environmental inputs, outputs, and potential impacts at each stage, including resource use, energy consumption, emissions, waste generation, and ecological consequences. LCA quantifies and assesses these impacts using a systematic approach, taking into account factors such as material sourcing, manufacturing, transportation, product use, and disposal. The goal of lifecycle assessment is to provide insights into the environmental performance of a product or process, identify areas for improvement, and support sustainable decision-making by considering the full life cycle impacts.
Specialism:
Sustainability
R
Responsible Procurement
Sustainable Procurement is the commitment to considering environmental, social, and governance factors (ESG) in procurement decisions. These factors should be applied across all aspects of the procurement cycle. It means that the procurement processes comply with environmental laws, fair labor practices, resource consumption targets, and other core principles of ESG. These factors are becoming more important to overall business performance due to increased consumer requirements for sustainable goods and services. Due to this, sustainable factors are now a key pillar of the business requirements gathering activities.
Specialism:
Category Management Risk Management Sourcing Supplier Management Sustainability
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S
Scope 1

Greenhouse gas monitoring, sometimes described as Scope 1, Scope 2 or Scope 3, refers to the practice of tracking and measuring the emissions of greenhouse gases that are generated by a company's operations, including its supply chain, production processes, and transportation. This involves gathering data on the consumption of energy and raw materials, as well as emissions generated during production and transportation activities. The purpose of greenhouse gas monitoring as a business is to identify areas of high emissions and develop strategies to reduce them, with the ultimate goal of mitigating the impact of climate change. This practice is becoming increasingly important for businesses as governments and consumers demand greater accountability and action on climate change.

The emissions are split into 3 ‘scopes’:

Scope 1 – Are direct greenhouse gas emissions from company-owned or controlled sources, such as emissions from combustion in boilers or vehicles.

Scope 2 – Are indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, heat, or steam consumed by the organization.

Scope 3 - Are indirect emissions from activities outside of the organization's control, such as emissions from the production of purchased materials, employee commuting, or waste disposal.

Specialism:
Category Management Procurement Strategy Supplier Management Sustainability
Learn more