Recap of the Dutch Sustainable Procurement Forum 2025 – Procurement as an engine of change
At our recent Dutch Sustainable Procurement Forum in Amsterdam, we brought together dozens of procurement professionals for a day of knowledge sharing and inspiration. Sustainability has stopped being an afterthought for procurement; it is increasingly at the heart of strategic decision-making. The day focused on the transition from traditional procurement to data-driven, future-oriented sustainability strategies.
Keynote: The future of procurement: from specialists to smart sustainability accelerators – by Vincent Delke (University of Twente)
Vincent Delke, assistant professor at the University of Twente, opened the day with an inspiring keynote on the role of science in making procurement more sustainable. He presented a recently developed dashboard that gives organizations insight into the climate impact of their activities, including a projection of expected temperature increases. In addition to technological innovation, Delke also zoomed in on changing laws and regulations such as the CSRD. One of his key observations: the procurement function is evolving. Where previously generalist profiles were sufficient, there is now an increasing need for specialists with technological and analytical skills. A powerful call to redefine the role of the buyer.
Roadmap to sustainable procurement – by Fulco van Esveld (Adjust Consulting)
Fulco van Esveld brought a strategic view of sustainable procurement from Adjust Consulting. The combination of procurement maturity with sustainable long-term goals was highlighted in this session. According to him, the ideal procurement professional is not only a negotiator, but also a:
- Strategic thinker
- Stakeholder Manager
- Analyst
- Legal savvy
- Culture Bearer
The sustainable transition requires not only new tools, but also new leadership. Fulco emphasized that procurement managers and CPOs must act as change managers: focused on collaboration, continuous improvement and guiding suppliers in this journey.
Supplier management: onboarding, qualification and risk management – with IntegrityNext & Onventis
Bastian Stroucken and Raymond Langendoen provided a session on effective supplier management, from onboarding to risk management. Their message was clear: without current and reliable data, sustainable supplier management remains a difficult task. With the right data, sustainability benefits include:
- Enriching supplier data with ESG insights
- Real-time monitoring for risks such as human rights violations and environmental issues
- Comply with CSRD, LKSG, EUDR and other regulations
An important conclusion: only with a combination of internal and external data can the correct selection of suppliers be made and risks truly minimized.
Using spend data for the CSRD – by Tarik Fahlane
Tarik Fahlane showed how organizations can use spend data to better measure their carbon emissions (with a focus on Scope 3). Manual measurement proves inefficient and error prone. Tarik explained that spend analytics, coupled with emissions factors and current data sets, are the key to reliable reporting. The CSRD places new demands on data transparency. Companies that invest now in automation of spend and emissions data gain a head start in terms of reporting as well as strategic decision-making.
How sustainability is changing procurement decision-making – by Cedrich Joch
Cedrich Joch reminded the audience of a powerful fact: two-thirds of an organization’s ESG impact lies with suppliers. The evolution of sourcing criteria underscores this. Where price, quality and delivery used to rule the roost, we now see sustainability, risk management and compliance weighing more and more heavily. With a live demo from Onventis, Cedrich showed how modern sourcing decisions are supported by integrated ESG data. Transparency and collaboration with suppliers are essential to making future-proof choices.
Conclusion: Tomorrow’s procurement professional is an enabler of sustainable growth
The common thread through all the sessions? The procurement professional is no longer a cost saver, but a strategic driver of change. Data, technology and collaboration are indispensable in this process. Key insights of the day:
- Procurement roles shift toward technological specialization
- Sustainability is not an afterthought, but a core value
- Effective transformation requires new leadership and change management
- Without tooling and reliable data, sustainable intention remains stuck in good intentions
We thank all the speakers and participants for their valuable contributions and look back on a day full of knowledge, insights and inspiration. The sustainable future of procurement has begun, and it is up to all of us to shape it.
