Purchasing and Negotiation Training

Robert Menard, Certified Purchasing Professional, Certified Professional Purchasing Consultant

Editor’s note: this is the seventh of eight chapter previews of the new workbook and manual, Green Purchasing and Sustainability, that will be available to order in July 2011.  To see all chapter previews, click here. 

In this chapter we will unify everything we lave learned to create a comprehensive, practical, and user friendly plan that serves the interests of our company and the sustainability movement at large. 

Now that we have studied many ways that green purchasing can and should lead and manage sustainability initiatives enterprise wide, we are in a position to present the hard “How-To’s” of writing a green purchasing plan.  Before doing so, three essential prerequisites must be in place:

1. Vigorous management buy-in
2. Active, announced support, and
3. Enforcement authority 

Without these, the plan will be relegated to less than priority status or fail outright for lack of participation. 

 Whether green purchasing has direct or indirect control or influence over energy, the 3Rs construction & facilities, chemical/environmental, and CSR, it must also rise to the challenge of writing and leading implementation of the plan.  Talent that might otherwise be in a position to do so, such as Human Resources and Organizational Development, lack the background, knowledge, and skill sets needed to competently plan, manage and implement it.

 As we develop how to craft a green procurement plan, we will draw upon the specifics we have already mastered in previous chapters so as to create a template of how an organization may draft its own customized plan.  Where applicable, we will cite references for taking additional steps. 

 For purchasing pros that have been around a while such as baby boomers, many have been involved in writing policies and procedures for green purchasing, and perhaps ISO, and even best practices.  For others, volunteering to take on these growth and leadership opportunities will differentiate you from others who either fear a challenge or lack the knowledge beyond purchasing operations. 

 To this point, we have cited many mini-sustainability plans.  For instance, the 3Rs apply to all products from raw material to waste streams and energy conservation or avoidance of waste or loss have been detailed. 

The green procurement plan must be as practical and applicable as possible.  Since purchasing is a dollars and numbers driven profession, we will quantify elements of the plan to the greatest extent possible.  At the very least, we will draw attention to areas so that individuals will know to obtain further information resources.

A green procurement plan is really a sustainability plan for the entire enterprise because most of the gains will have cost savings attached.  It is a mixture of policies and procedures, training & instruction manual, and step by step “how to” assembly guide.  It draws upon organizational talent, content expertise, and management skills.  Since the plan’s greatest sustainability gains will come at the hands of green purchasing, we need to be the ones crafting this document and leading its implementation. About the only areas where green purchasing needs much assistance are CSR, to a greater degree, and Chemical/Environmental, to a lesser degree.