Sustainable procurement: ready for the August 2026 deadline?

After several name changes for sustainable procurement over the years depending on the level of interest shown in it⁽¹⁾, it is back in the spotlight, in particular due to the deadline for compliance set for 21 August.

The ISO 20400 standard defines sustainable procurement as “procurement that has the most positive environmental, social and economic impacts possible over the entire life cycle” and procurement that “aspires to minimise negative impacts as much as possible”. Committing to a sustainable procurement policy (current purchases or raw materials) means taking into account ecological and social issues over the entire life cycle of the product or service being purchased and encouraging sobriety (resources and energy) while continuing to meet a need.

Sustainable procurement trends

In the 2024 edition of its barometer, ObsAR⁽²⁾ outlined that sustainable procurement is no longer reserved for large companies or large public organisations, but that it is starting to become embedded in small and medium-sized structures. They even estimate that sustainable procurement will be “regarded as essential for the coming years”.

The barometer also shows that commitment to sustainable procurement is driven by considerations that sometimes vary between the private and public sector. In the private sector, the top 3 reasons for making a commitment are firstly to reduce environmental impacts (41%), then to meet customer expectations (33%) and finally to strengthen the supplier relationship (31%). While in the public sector, the issue of compliance with regulations comes top, equal with reducing impacts, particularly environmental (53%); improving social impact (42%) is next.

Within organisations, sustainable procurement is mainly addressed through the perspective of greenhouse gas reduction and the circular economy and is less focused on protecting the environment (biodiversity and pollution). For example, the circular economy is seeing the emergence of a reuse/repurposing channel in the furniture sector. And decarbonisation is gradually starting to be integrated throughout the supply chain. At the same time, sustainable procurement is also addressed through social and societal topics such as working conditions, human rights and health and safety.

Another notable development is that structures' Procurement and CSR Departments are increasingly co-coordinating the Sustainable Procurement approach. In this respect, this is the direction taken by the strategic partnership to strengthen the links between the C3D (College of Sustainable Development Directors) and the ADRA (Association of Purchasing Directors and Managers) signed at the end of March.

What regulatory and standards framework?

A regulatory and standards framework and several reference documents have been in place since the 2000s. But in terms of the regulatory side, sustainable procurement was pinpointed again in the AGEC Act (Anti-Waste Act for a Circular Economy) of 2020, the Climate and Resilience Act of 2021, and then the Green Industry Act of 2023. In fact, Article 58 of the AGEC Act sets two distinct and cumulative objectives for promoting products derived from reuse or repurposing and products incorporating recycled material. And Article 35 of the Climate and Resilience Act requires public buyers to provide for an environmental award clause and criterion in all contracts and concessions, and a clause relating to social matters and employment for lots above European thresholds to award a contract, excluding defence and security.

In other words, reconciling environmental, social and economic dimensions has truly become a principle of public procurement in 2021. After sustainable food products and renewable energy, article 35 will be applicable to all sectors by 22 August 2026 at the latest. Finally, the Green Industry Act of 2023 accelerates taking environmental criteria into account in both public procurement and public support schemes.

Standards NF FD X50-135 (2009, revised in 2012) and ISO 20400 (2017, confirmed in 2023) provide guidelines for how sustainable development issues should be integrated in the Procurement function. At the same time, reference documents have become indispensable, such as the Sustainable Supplier Relations Charter created in 2010, which became the Sustainable Supplier Relations & Purchasing Charter (RFAR) in 2021⁽³⁾, or the RFAR public label which promotes organisations demonstrating advanced maturity in the sustainable management of their purchases⁽⁴⁾.

A 3^rd PNAD (National Sustainable Procurement Plan) in France

After the first two national Sustainable Procurement plans in France (2007 and 2014), the third 22-action plan set two quantified objectives for the period 2022-2025: 100% of public procurement contracts must include at least one environmental provision ("green clause") by 2025 (vs less than 20% in 2020) and 30% must include at least one social provision (vs less than 16% in 2020). The idea is “to help buyers familiarise themselves with these levers before they come into effect”.

How do you go about it?

Choosing one purchase rather than another can help reduce the company's impact on biodiversity, limit energy consumption or promote the circular economy or decarbonisation. Moreover, among the criteria most often cited by buyers are the carbon footprint, energy consumption, impact on biodiversity, GHG emissions, water and waste management and the recovery of materials.

Before starting, the buyer must be well aware of their practices and therefore take stock of the incoming and outgoing flows in their structure (company or local authority). This inventory can, for example, group products and services into strategic purchasing families and suppliers. This gives the opportunity to assess the environmental impacts associated with each family and to measure the environmental performance of the company's suppliers. The buyer who undertakes the process can also map ESG risks for the purchases. But this is in the early stages.

Different tools or solutions have been implemented since the 2000s to help professionals in their choices. This ranges from environmental labels to energy labels via bio-based products.

Ultimately, engaging in a sustainable procurement policy is no longer unfamiliar territory today. But, as in many areas, drive still struggles with a lack of time and resources. In this regard, it should be noted that the French government provides small and medium-sized enterprises with a correspondent who listens to their specific problems, directs them to the right contacts, answers their questions relating to public procurement and informs them of ministries⁽⁵⁾ needs.

1) It was referred to as green purchasing in the early 2000s, then sustainable purchasing before being called sustainable procurement.

2) The ObsAR association was created in 2010 to promote good sustainable procurement practices. The 16th edition of its barometer is underway in spring 2026. Find out more: https://www.obsar.asso.fr/

3) The RFAR charter has nearly 3,200 signatures as of early April 2026. See https://www.economie.gouv.fr/mediateur-des-entreprises/la-charte-relations-fournisseurs-et-achats-responsables

4) To apply for this label: https://www.economie.gouv.fr/médiateur-des-entreprises/les-missions/les-achats-responsibles

5) Email address: correspondentpme@developpement-durable.gouv.fr