Empower your organisation’s responsible purchasing practices
Sustainable procurement is now a core part of how organisations manage risk, protect brand reputation, and build resilient supply chains. ISO 20400:2017 guides businesses that want to integrate environmental, social, and ethical considerations into every stage of their purchasing activities. It supports procurement teams as they move from a transactional approach to a strategic model that drives lasting value.
Intertek helps organisations adopt ISO 20400 by combining global sustainability expertise with local market understanding. Our specialists work with you to improve transparency, strengthen governance, and align procurement practices with your wider sustainability goals.
About the ISO 20400 guidance standard
ISO 20400:2017 is the first international standard focused entirely on sustainable procurement. It offers practical guidance for organisations that want to align their purchasing decisions with responsible business practices. The standard covers key areas such as environmental management, social impact, labour rights, ethical conduct, and supply chain governance.
ISO 20400 does not set mandatory requirements. Instead, it provides a flexible and adaptable framework that can be used by organisations of any size and in any sector. It supports the integration of sustainability considerations into every stage of the procurement cycle, from policy development and risk assessment to supplier selection and performance monitoring.
The standard encourages lifecycle thinking, stronger stakeholder engagement, and ongoing improvement. Implementing ISO 20400 helps organisations improve transparency, reduce supply chain risk, and enhance responsible sourcing performance.
Why your organisation should implement ISO 20400
Adopting ISO 20400-aligned practices enables your organisation to:
- Integrate sustainability across procurement strategy, policy, and operations
- Demonstrate commitment to responsible sourcing and ethical supply chains
- Enhance supplier relationships and long-term value creation
- Reduce reputational, operational, and environmental risks
- Support circular-economy and low-carbon procurement objectives
- Meet stakeholder and regulatory expectations for sustainable business conduct
How Intertek supports your ISO 20400 journey
With our global network of sustainability specialists and auditors, Intertek delivers comprehensive support to help organisations align with ISO 20400 guidance through a structured three-step approach:
Training
Tailored sessions to build internal capability and strategic understanding of sustainable procurement:
- Top Management Awareness Training - Strategic workshops for senior leadership on how sustainable procurement aligns with corporate objectives and sustainability goals.
- General Awareness Training - Practical overview of ISO 20400 principles, terminology, and application for procurement teams and key stakeholders.
Gap Assessment
A structured baseline evaluation to determine your organisation’s current maturity in applying sustainable procurement practices:
- Current State Assessment - Detailed review of existing procurement policies and processes against ISO 20400 guidance.
- Weakness and Root Cause Analysis - Identification of gaps in governance, implementation, or supplier engagement.
- Action Planning - Development of a customised roadmap to strengthen sustainability integration and performance.
Certificate of Conformance
Although ISO 20400 is a guidance standard and not certifiable, Intertek provides an independent Conformity Assessment to validate your alignment with the standard’s principles:
- Formal Certificate of Conformance as evidence of responsible procurement alignment.
- Ongoing continuous-improvement monitoring to ensure sustained progress.
- A three-year audit cycle with periodic reviews to verify implementation and results.
Tailored solutions for your sector
Whether your organisation operates in manufacturing, energy, food & beverage, retail, logistics, or public procurement, Intertek’s experts understand your sector’s specific risks, opportunities, and market drivers. We translate ISO 20400 guidance into practical, actionable steps that help you build credible, sustainable, and transparent supply chains.
Your path to credible sustainable procurement
- Conduct a baseline gap assessment against ISO 20400.
- Engage key stakeholders to identify and prioritise sustainability issues across the supply chain.
- Develop and implement a sustainable procurement strategy aligned with organisational objectives.
- Integrate sustainability requirements into supplier selection, contracts, and performance monitoring.
- Measure, report, and improve procurement outcomes over time.
- Obtain an independent Intertek Certificate of Conformance to demonstrate credibility and commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
ISO 20400 is the first international guidance standard on sustainable procurement. It provides a structured framework to help organisations integrate environmental, social and economic sustainability considerations into procurement policies, strategies and processes. It is applicable to all types and sizes of organisations and all categories of procurement.
No. ISO 20400 is not a certifiable standard and does not contain requirements. Instead, it provides guidance on principles, governance practices, and integration approaches. While the standard cannot be certified, organisations can undergo an independent conformity assessment, such as Intertek’s Certificate of Conformance.
Any organisation, whether public or private, large or small, can benefit from ISO 20400. The standard applies to organisations that want to improve the sustainability of their purchasing decisions, strengthen supply chain due diligence, or align procurement activities with wider sustainability commitments.
Sustainable procurement means integrating sustainability considerations into the procurement process to achieve the most positive environmental, social and economic impacts possible over the life cycle of goods and services. This includes addressing issues such as human rights, labour conditions, environmental impacts, fair operating practices, and community development across the supply chain.
The standard provides guidance on:
- Sustainable procurement principles
- Governance and leadership commitment
- Integrating sustainability into procurement strategy and policy
- Understanding supply chains and market capabilities
- Risk and opportunity assessment
- Embedding sustainability criteria into specifications and supplier selection
- Contract management, performance monitoring and continual improvement
ISO 20400 is directly aligned with ISO 26000. It operationalises ISO 26000’s social responsibility principles and core subjects within the procurement function—ensuring that purchasing practices support responsible behaviour across supply chains.
Implementing ISO 20400 guidance helps organisations:
- Strengthen supply chain resilience and transparency
- Reduce ESG-related risks and liabilities
- Improve supplier collaboration and innovation
- Support circular-economy and low-carbon objectives
- Build stakeholder trust and enhance brand reputation
- Drive long-term value creation through responsible sourcing
Although the standard is procurement-focused, effective implementation requires support from top management, sustainability teams, legal and compliance, operations, finance, and other functions. It promotes organisation-wide alignment to ensure procurement decisions reflect strategic sustainability goals.
Yes. ISO 20400 complements ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ISO 45001 (health and safety), ISO 50001 (energy), and ISO 26000 (social responsibility). It enhances these systems by embedding sustainability considerations into procurement practices.
Most organisations begin with:
- A gap assessment to understand current alignment
- Stakeholder engagement to identify key sustainability issues
- Development of a sustainable procurement policy and strategy
- Training for procurement teams and leadership
- Integration of sustainability criteria into procurement processes
- Independent conformity assessment to demonstrate commitment
Intertek can support you at each stage with training, assessment and recognition.
