A team exercise this week was a great reminder of procurement’s impact on the world, as we spent time surfacing and reminding ourselves of those compelling stories we continue to hear across all of the cohorts that make up the Procurement Leaders community.
Whether it be through risk and sustainability, SRM and innovation, or digitalisation, procurement organisations everywhere are deeply involved in programmes and initiatives far beyond the function’s traditional remit. CPOs and their teams are creating value, full stop.
From time to time, it’s worth reminding ourselves of these stories of impact – and to lift our heads from the seemingly constant fire-fighting that has quickly become a hallmark of 2025. It’s energising and therapeutic in equal measure.
Take, for example, the work of Swiss flavour and fragrance organisation Givaudan in establishing a new source of Vetiver grass, a key ingredient to many industries. It took two years to develop but has already transformed local communities and turned once barren land into valuable arable assets.
It’s all part of the company’s ‘Connect-To-Win’ supplier enabled innovation programme and another step towards its 2030 goal of having 100% of its goods and services sourced responsibly. (By the end of 2024, they were 53% of the way there, by the way.)
This is just one example among many. Givaudan competitor dsm-firmenich has launched Mint with Purpose, a procurement-led regenerative-agriculture programme that embraces all stakeholders – including farmers, distillers and wider communities.
With 85% of mint used in oral care and confectionery products throughout the world grown in India, dsm-firmenich’s efforts significantly improved the efficacy of farming methods – helping increase yields by 7%. What’s more, the programme deepened those trusted and mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers and smallholders still further.
Elsewhere, Heineken’s Cool Revolution Project is a procurement-led initiative that, through deep supplier collaboration, led to an on-demand fast-cooling innovation that could boost sales while also helping to improve sustainability – the technology can take a drink from room temperature to ice cold in just 20 seconds, for the thirsty among you.
I could go on, there are stories of procurement-driven impact everywhere. From new, sustainable fertiliser joint ventures to disaster-resilient telecoms networks, to circular programmes in the broadcasting sector… Stories of impact, examples of CPOs driving growth, harnessing innovation, building sustainable solutions.
In short, stories of inspiration and of innovation.
In an increasingly challenging, isolationist and cynical global landscape, it’s more important than ever to remind ourselves of – and be fuelled by – those stories that move us forward, not back.
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