Sustainable procurement

Suppliers play an important role in our efforts to implement efficient and sustainable procurement processes.

Sustainable procurement means acquiring goods and services (including works) with a focus on environmental, social and economic impact, along with cost and quality. It's about making choices that support greater sustainability goals, such as reducing our carbon footprint, promoting fair labour practices and supporting local economies.

UNOPS procures over $1 billion worth of goods and services (including works) each year on behalf of our partners. As a supplier, you play an important role in our efforts to implement efficient and sustainable procurement processes and supply chain management, which directly supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.7.

By working together on sustainability we can create meaningful change.

Why is sustainable procurement important for your business or organization?

Embracing sustainability in your operations can help you to:

Build a strong reputation and attract more customers by committing to ethical and responsible business practices.
Save costs by using energy wisely and reducing waste. This can improve your profitability and the efficiency of your operations, making you more competitive.

Reduce risks around environmental and social issues, keep your operations running smoothly and avoid legal problems.
Build a productive work environment that cares about sustainable practices. This will attract talented team members who care about the planet and the future.
Grow your access to new markets and opportunities by doing business with other organizations that are looking to add sustainable suppliers to their supply chains.
Increase your competitive advantage in different marketplaces as the shift to sustainability requirements increases.

UNOPS aims to provide good products and services at a good price, on time and from reliable sources. To do this, we collaborate with suppliers who care about the environment and their social impact, and who are committed to improving their communities.

Our suppliers help UNOPS to grow and develop the economy, society, and environment, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

What are UNOPS sustainability focus areas?

Environmental sustainability
Gender equality and social inclusion
Climate action
Labour standards
Resource efficiency
Disability inclusion
Health and safety
Environmental, social and governance management systems

What are sustainability criteria?

Sustainability criteria are requirements or specifications that can be used to assess and compare the sustainability of different goods and services.

We include sustainability criteria in our tenders and contracts to make sure our decisions have a lasting positive impact on the environment, the economy, and the people and communities we interact with.

How does UNOPS drive sustainable procurement practices?

We are guided by our Sustainable Procurement (SP) Framework. The SP Framework lays out principles and criteria to guide our supply chain team and you, our suppliers.

As a supplier, when you bid on a tender you will need to answer questions and provide documentation about your business or organization’s approach to sustainability through:

Sustainable Procurement Criteria – Tenders on our eSourcing platform include environmental, social and economic sustainability requirements and criteria that you will need to respond to.
DRiVE supplier sustainability programme – You will need to complete a questionnaire on certain tenders in the eSourcing platform so that we can evaluate your business or organization’s sustainability efforts and achievements.
UNOPS Possibilities (UP) Programme – Suppliers can participate in our supplier capacity building and social inclusion programme created to diversify the range of suppliers that we work with.
- UP Forums – Our UP Forum events take place in different countries and offer practical advice for how to enhance your sustainability efforts.

You must be prepared to respond to sustainability requirements in the bid process, including the verification stage, to be awarded a tender from UNOPS.

Resources

The benefits of sustainable practices for suppliers

Showing sustainability in your bid

Becoming a sustainable supplier

Sustainable Procurement at UNOPS

UNOPS Sustainable Procurement Framework

UN Global Marketplace Sustainable Procurement Indicators

Get in touch with our Sustainable Procurement Team

Responding to global challenges through impactful procurement

A new report highlights the significant role UNOPS procurement operations played in helping to address urgent needs and advance sustainable development in 2023.

Site Navigation

Sub Navigation - Competencies

Quick Links

Sub Navigation - Competencies

Latest

Our missions

Projects & Locations

UNOPS SPOTLIGHT

Sub Navigation - Competencies

Sub Navigation - Competencies

Our Story

Governance

Resources

UNOPS SPOTLIGHT

Sub Navigation - Competencies

Search

Popular Searches

Custom Search

Site Navigation

UNOPS SPOTLIGHT

Main Navigation

Search

Change Language

Why is sustainable procurement important for your business or organization?

What are UNOPS sustainability focus areas?

What are sustainability criteria?

How does UNOPS drive sustainable procurement practices?