Supplier ratings focus on external supplier behaviour, while maturity models assess an organisation’s internal capabilities to drive responsible sourcing over time. Tools like the Sustainable Procurement Maturity Tool (SPMT) help bridge this gap by evaluating an organisation’s readiness and capability to embed sustainability effectively.

Introduction: A Turning Point for SMEs Europe's 26.1 million SMEs represent the backbone of the EU economy (European Commission SME Performance Review, 2025), yet they face mounting pressure to demonstrate sustainability credentials. The Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME), officially adopted by the European Commission on July 30, 2025 (EC Press Release IP/25/1843), marks a watershed moment for smaller businesses striving to integrate sustainability an

Today's procurement landscape demands a fundamental shift. For Chief Procurement Officers, sustainability has evolved from a compliance checkbox to a critical driver of enterprise value. Yet many organisations struggle to translate sustainability ambitions into procurement decisions that deliver measurable business outcomes. The challenge isn't whether to integrate sustainability, it's how to do it strategically, systematically, and profitably. Transformative Procurement Chan

Public procurement serves as a powerful instrument for innovation and sustainability, accounting for nearly 14% of the European Union’s GDP. Yet, despite its scale and transformative potential, procurement that truly drives innovation remains the exception rather than the norm.