Sustainable Procurement: An Astrapto Guide to Ethical Purchasing
A primer for positive impact from your organization's spending
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Astrapto means to illuminate and this course sheds light on the social and environmental issues organizations encounter in their supply chains and offers recommendations for ethical procurement. Every organization purchases something so every organization has an opportunity to make a positive impact on people, planet, and profit through responsible sourcing.
This course is perfect for any one in any type or size of organization who wants to learn more about how to improve environmental and social performance in daily operations. No expertise or experience in sustainability is required. It is ideal for general managers, small business owners, corporate procurement staff, sales teams, and anyone who wants better understand sustainability and take practical steps in the right direction.
Participants will learn to engage stakeholders, conduct a sustainable procurement audit, create ethical purchasing policies, and set goals to improve social and environmental performance. The course does not require any specialized skills or knowledge in procurement or sustainability. It invites learners to consider the implications of the purchases they can influence and offers practice steps forward.
The course includes information on sustainability topics such as circular economy, plastics and single-use items, toxic chemicals, carbon emissions, humane working conditions, supplier diversity, and buying local. There are several handouts you can download with additional resources and worksheets and guidance for preparing for and performing a sustainable procurement audit.
Course outcomes
- Recognize the social and environmental impact of procurement through supply chain research.
- Develop a research process for finding purchasing data needed to make informed decisions.
- Conduct a sustainable purchasing audit.
- Establish sustainable purchasing goals, policies, and practices.
Click the arrow below the Course Curriculum below to see the full list of lessons.
Click the arrow to expand the course curriculum list.
This course contains 20 lessons with handouts. Lesson videos are designed to be bite-sized and the corresponding handouts and audit template guide you through applying what you learn.
Learn more about Astrapto here or sign up for a free monthly impact office hours session here. And check out our other courses here.
Your Instructor
Dr. Aurora Dawn Benton is Founder and Chief Change Agent of Astrapto LLC, which offers courses, coaching, and consulting to advance sustainability in hospitality, events, travel, and other services industries. Her passion is to make sustainability practical and positive for people whose job title is not sustainability, but who have a passion to drive positive impact in and through their organizations. Astrapto’s impact ranges from measurable and significant reductions in food waste to landfill to engaged and excited employees seeking opportunities to impact their communities. Aurora’s clients include World Wildlife Fund (Hotel-Kitchen), Centerplate, Baltimore Convention Center, Green Seal (hotel eco-certification), the Events Industry Council, and various hotels and restaurant groups. Aurora loves helping people realize their potential while discovering a greater purpose for good in business. She has helped over 100 college students launch green teams! She has been a thought leader and volunteer in industry organizations, including the Events Industry Council and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Aurora has a doctorate degree in Social Impact Management and has a Sustainable Event Professional Certificate.