corsus presents strategic approach to sustainable procurement at the Hamburg Sustainable Procurement Project Day

On 19 September 2024, the Hamburg Project Day ‘Sustainable Procurement’ took place for the first time with the aim of highlighting practical experiences and projects and networking buyers in and around the Hanseatic city. corsus contributed a presentation focussing on the strategic implementation of sustainable procurement. Specifically, Krishan Gairola presented the challenges to be expected in sustainable procurement and how they can be solved in order to achieve successful implementation and not get stuck in the ‘intention-action-gap’.

The project day was designed interactively by the organisers – including a specialist publisher, a nationwide buyers association and law firms – and offered plenty of space for exchange and networking among buyers, especially from public companies in Hamburg, with several poster sessions. The event deliberately avoided abstract discussions of the finer points of public procurement law and instead focussed on concrete solutions and strategies from practice. In the keynote speech, Werner Schnappauf from the German Council for Sustainable Development and former Minister of State picked up on this common ground and spoke out in favour of going beyond abstract regulations to understand sustainability as a fundamental attitude that permeates all honourable actions.

The strategic approach to the introduction of sustainable procurement presented by corsus was recognised by many participants. Challenges were seen, among other things, in convincing the management level. There was a plea to take a bolder approach to sustainable procurement as a whole with exemplary projects and not to be held back by concerns. For corsus, it was particularly exciting to be able to exchange ideas with pioneers of sustainable procurement in areas where there are no or only a few examples and established labeling options, such as the procurement of e-vehicles. Innovative approaches for market dialogue, climate neutrality in procurement, construction and renovation and the data-based development of procurement strategies were other key topics that were discussed in depth.

The project day is to be held annually in future and interested stakeholders from local authorities and companies are invited to participate with contributions.

corsus advises and supports cities and municipalities in the introduction and implementation of social-ecological procurement. Based on the individual starting situation on site, corsus ensures the involvement of important stakeholders, creates training courses and guidelines and gets the implementation off the ground.