Western University wins international award for pioneering sustainable procurement programme

Western University has been honoured with the 2025 Leadership Award by the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council for its innovative approach to embedding sustainability into its procurement practices, setting a benchmark for universities worldwide.

Western University’s procurement transformation, built to ensure “every purchase counts,” has gained international recognition after winning the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council’s 2025 Leadership ...

Award for Overall Program. The accolade, bestowed by the global non-profit that promotes procurement as a lever for positive environmental and social outcomes, praised Western for embedding sustainability into the mechanics of purchasing across the institution. According to the SPLC, the university’s programme stands out for its comprehensive approach to sustainable sourcing, supplier engagement and risk management.

Developed by Western’s procurement services team within Financial Services, the initiative expands more than a decade of prior sustainability work and folds environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into day‑to‑day buying choices. Kristen McGill, director of procurement services, described the recognition as affirming for the team that partnered with campus units and external stakeholders to raise expectations for responsible purchasing. “It’s a testament to the breadth and depth of our program and the extent Western has embedded sustainability into all of our procurement practices, systems and tools,” she said. “The more exciting part is the opportunity to share our progress and approaches and, hopefully, inspire other institutions to follow similar practices.”

At its core, the programme redefines value beyond price, prioritising products and services with lower environmental footprints and stronger social and ethical credentials while still seeking best overall value. “In a decentralized purchasing environment, this becomes a shared responsibility,” McGill said, noting that ESG and ethical criteria are now required considerations in supplier selection, including environmental impacts and human rights practices.

The programme’s measures include a Supplier Code of Conduct, mandatory sustainability evaluations in sourcing processes, training modules on modern slavery awareness and procurement tools that steer buyers to preferred, verified suppliers. Western’s Mustang Market platform highlights sustainable options such as Forest Stewardship Council paper and carbon‑neutral sugar‑sheet stock, and the university encourages purchasers to favour local, Indigenous and equity‑deserving enterprises to support regional economic development and reduce transport emissions.

According to Western’s own account, procurement reforms also align with institutional commitments set out in the strategic plan Towards Western at 150, which frames sustainability as a campus priority and commits the university to net‑zero campus operations by 2050. The plan emphasises community partnerships, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and using Western’s research strengths to tackle climate change and social inequality.

Beyond campus, Western plays a leadership role nationally. McGill co‑chairs CASPAR, an inter‑university working group that advances procurement best practice, modern slavery awareness and ESG education across Canadian universities. The SPLC also spotlighted Western’s training and supplier engagement as features that helped secure the award. “This issue is of growing concern in the global supply chain, though it might be new to staff, who might not always consider it in the same way they think about environmental impact when making their purchases,” McGill said, urging staff to use online resources and training to deepen their awareness.

University communications point to practical steps for staff seeking to purchase more responsibly: consult the Sustainable Procurement Guide, use Mustang Market and preferred vendor lists, and apply “before you buy” checks and eco‑label verification when evaluating products. McGill stressed that individual choices add up: “We all use supplies. Just being cognizant of the type of paper you’re using and asking questions about the other products you rely on helps.”

The SPLC awards, which recognise organisations and individuals demonstrating innovation and measurable impact in sustainable purchasing, place Western among a cohort of leaders from public and private sectors. According to the council, winners are chosen for demonstrable integration of sustainability into core procurement practices and for driving positive environmental, social and economic impacts across their supply chains.

Western’s recognition underscores a trend within higher education to treat procurement as a strategic instrument for campus sustainability and social responsibility. By codifying expectations for suppliers, building staff capacity and linking purchasing to broader institutional climate and equity goals, the university aims both to reduce its own operational impacts and to model practices that other post‑secondary institutions can replicate.

Source: Noah Wire Services