Fundamentals
Sustainable Procurement
ISO 20400 guidance applied to tenders, suppliers, and contracts
About this course
Why this course exists
A practical but concept-grounded course on sustainable procurement using ISO 20400, green procurement playbooks, and public-sector procurement guidance. Covers what sustainable procurement means, why it matters for risk and value, and how buyers apply it through category priorities, RFx requirements, supplier evidence, whole-life costing, KPIs, contracts, and supplier performance.
What you will learn
After this course you will be able to
- Apply the frameworks, standards, and methodologies covered in this course to real practitioner work
Course content
5 modules · 17 lessons
Walk through the modules in order or jump to a specific lesson. Each lesson is a real chapter you can open and start reading immediately.
Module 1·4 lessons
Foundations and Buying Decisions
What sustainable procurement means and how it changes the buying brief
- 0.15 min read
Sustainable Procurement and the Buying Brief
ISO_20400_2017E-Character_PDF_document.pdf, Clauses 3.38 and 4.1
- 0.25 min read
ISO 20400 Principles in Practice
ISO_20400_2017E-Character_PDF_document.pdf, Clauses 4.2-4.3
- 0.34 min read
Business Case and Procurement Mandate
WEF_Green_Procurement_Playbook_2025.pdf, Executive summary and Chapter 1
- 0.44 min read
Category Risks and Priority Heatmaps
ISO_20400_2017E-Character_PDF_document.pdf, Clauses 4.5 and 6.4
Module 2·4 lessons
Governance, Engagement, and Measurement
How organizations turn guidance into accountable procurement practice
- 1.14 min read
Accountability and Decision Gates
ISO_20400_2017E-Character_PDF_document.pdf, Clauses 5.1-5.5
- 1.24 min read
Stakeholder and Market Engagement
ISO_20400_2017E-Character_PDF_document.pdf, Clauses 6.3.1-6.3.3
- 1.34 min read
KPIs, Evidence, and Grievance Channels
ISO_20400_2017E-Character_PDF_document.pdf, Clauses 6.5-6.6
- 1.44 min read
Procurement Maturity and Readiness
WEF_Green_Procurement_Playbook_2025.pdf, Chapter 2
Module 3·4 lessons
Procurement Process Integration
Translate guidance into RFx criteria, scoring, and contract terms
- 2.14 min read
Demand Management and Needs Analysis
sustainable-procurement-guide-2024.pdf, Step 1
- 2.24 min read
Market Research and Sustainable Requirements
sustainable-procurement-guide-2024.pdf, Steps 2-4
- 2.33 min read
Whole-Life Costing and Evaluation
sustainable-procurement-guide-2024.pdf, Step 4 and Step 5
- 2.43 min read
Contract Management and End-of-Life
sustainable-procurement-guide-2024.pdf, Step 6 and Step 7
Module 4·4 lessons
Manage Supplier Performance
Use data, supplier plans, circularity, and capability building after award
- 3.13 min read
Run Supplier Decarbonization Plans
WEF_Green_Procurement_Playbook_2025.pdf, Chapter 1 and Building block 5
- 3.23 min read
Build the Supplier Dashboard
WEF_Green_Procurement_Playbook_2025.pdf, Building block 7
- 3.33 min read
Apply Category Playbooks
sustainable-procurement-guide-2024.pdf, Transitioning to a Circular Economy and High opportunity categories
- 3.43 min read
Roll Out the Procurement Program
WEF_Green_Procurement_Playbook_2025.pdf, Building block 8 and Future trends
Module 5·1 lessons
Policy Template
Create a practical policy that sets direction without over-prescribing every purchase