- Join hosts David Arkell and John Pooley for a deep, practical conversation with sustainability strategist Bob Willard on why procurement may be the most powerful, and underused, lever for reducing emissions.
- This episode breaks down where most organizations are misfocusing their climate efforts, and why Scope 3 emissions often dwarf operational emissions. Bob explains how net zero procurement shifts purchasing from lowest price to best value, using market pressure instead of regulation to drive real change across supply chains.
- The discussion covers why suppliers respond when emissions performance actually affects bids, how governments and large buyers can create ripple effects across entire industries, and why small and medium-sized businesses must be part of the solution.
- This isn’t a theoretical conversation. It’s about using procurement as a market force to accelerate decarbonization at scale.
- If your organization talks about net zero but hasn’t looked seriously at procurement, this episode is essential listening.
- Timestamps:00:00 Welcome and Introduction01:00 Why Procurement Is Central to Climate Accountability03:40 Scope 3 Emissions and the Real Carbon Footprint of Companies06:00 Why Supply Chain Emissions Are 26× Larger Than Scope 1 and 208:30 What Net Zero Procurement Actually Means in Practice11:00 Customer Pressure vs. Regulation14:20 Why Procurement Scoring Changes Supplier Behavior17:00 The Role of SMEs in Supply Chain Emissions19:10 Government Procurement as a Market Force23:00 Creating Ripple Effects Across Tiered Supply Chains29:00 Why Climate Action Stalls Without Incentives33:30 Political Will, Economics, and Slow Progress38:00 Technology, AI, and Practical Implementation44:30 The Urgency Problem and Why Gradual Change Fails47:20 Key Takeaways for Businesses and Communities52:00 Closing Thoughts
