CSO-Procurement Director: Merging Sustainability with Business Performance

This new trend, which consists of the blending of the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) role with the Procurement Director role into a new Chief Purpose Officer role, enables businesses to tie together two pivotal functions to create a collaborated approach to the way the entire business operates. This shift is also driven by the need to bring in line internal procurement practices with sustainability goals, as the necessity for businesses to achieve carbon neutrality status intensifies. We’re seeing this change taking place across a range of industries but those that appear to have adopted it the most are technology, manufacturing and retail. This is unsurprising given the volumes of procurement these industries demand, coupled with the corporate responsibility need for sustainability.

This current but emerging trend indicates that businesses don’t only need to be delivering on financial performance, but they also need to demonstrate ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria. These two factors combined are vital for business resilience and future performance. Additionally, the Procurement Director role has evolved from simply being a case of cost management to broader goals such as ethical sourcing and sustainability, so this new approach weaves in seamlessly and appears to be the next logical step in the quest for carbon neutrality.

Being in the logistics sector, we welcome this emerging trend. Responsible logistics is underpinned by an approach that supports sustainable logistics, ensuring our operations minimise environmental impact while maximising economic efficiency. This, in turn, will drive adoption of sustainable practices throughout the entire supply chain, by selecting eco-friendly suppliers and complying with environmental regulations.

When businesses embed sustainability into the core business strategy, the landscape truly evolves into a unified approach. Integrating leadership roles will ensure sustainability is not only considered but put first alongside other corporate growth goals, fostering long-term, environmental resilience.

This new leadership model will benefit the logistics industry specifically by strengthening our commitment to sustainability, improving operational efficiency and satisfying stakeholders. We support this progressive trend and look forward to its wider adoption within logistics as a whole.