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Today I'm talking to Matthew Yamatin. I found him through the Sustainable Procurement Pledge.

He published a case study on how Thermo Fisher engages with both customers and suppliers on renewable electricity adoption. Fascinating and a great topic for the show. So I invited him on to discuss all things renewable electricity. Matt has a background as an environmental engineer. He has worked with sustainability and renewable electricity across the US and China, and he's now sustainability program director at Thermo Fisher.

He's both passionate and incredibly knowledgeable about renewable electricity. So this was a fantastic discussion and we really got to nerd out. We talk about how to adopt renewable electricity programs in the supply chain, both power purchasing agreements and suppliers installing on-site generators. We'll touch on the state of the renewable electricity sector, what's going on with SBTI and the greenhouse gases protocol when it comes to recognizing renewable electricity.

We'll talk about something called the DUCT Curve, and we'll even comment on geopolitics and China versus the US, which is particularly interesting, as it was only a few weeks ago when we recorded this that China announced their first ever climate targets and the US abandoned the Paris Agreement.

This is a really good one.

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In this conversation, Thomas Johnsen discusses the evolving landscape of sustainable procurement and its implications for academia and industry. He highlights the impact of recent regulatory changes, the importance of sustainability in procurement decisions, and the various research themes being explored in academia. The discussion also delves into the complexities of supplier relationships, compliance strategies, and the need for a broader definition of sustainable procurement that encompasses environmental and social factors. Thomas also discusses the complexities of sustainable procurement, emphasizing the importance of understanding supply risk, compliance, and the role of procurement in driving sustainability initiatives. He highlights the pressures from stakeholders and regulations that compel companies to adopt sustainable practices. The discussion also covers best practices for ensuring supplier compliance, the challenges of managing sub-tier supply chains, and the significance of collaboration and data triangulation in achieving sustainability goals. Johnsen concludes with advice on starting a sustainable procurement journey, stressing the importance of gradual progress and collaboration with peers.

Takeaways

• Sustainable procurement is increasingly relevant in academia.
• Regulatory changes are impacting discussions in sustainable procurement.
• Monitoring compliance in supply chains is a key research area.
• Supplier relationships are crucial for ensuring compliance.
• Power dynamics affect how companies enforce sustainability standards.
• Collaborative practices can enhance sustainability efforts.
• Visibility of research in the business world remains a challenge. Supply risk varies based on the number of alternative suppliers.
• Procurement's influence on sourcing decisions can be limited by other departments.
• A significant portion of emissions is linked to procurement activities.
• Best practices include systematic monitoring and supplier training.
• Collaboration with suppliers is essential for developing eco-solutions.
• Cascading strategies can help manage sub-tier suppliers effectively.
• AI and data analysis are crucial for sustainability compliance.
• Starting small and collaborating with others is key to sustainable procurement.

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