Net Zero Procurement Framework for Local Authorities & Councils
Local authorities face immense pressure to achieve net zero. Our Net Zero Procurement Framework is designed specifically for the public sector to track and reduce the most challenging emissions: those in your supply chain.
Decarbonising the Supply Chain – The Double Bind
As a local authority, you face a unique challenge: you’ve committed to net zero, but the majority of your emissions come from services you procure, many of which are statutory obligations you cannot simply stop purchasing. And because suppliers deliver critical functions (residential care, waste collection, highway maintenance), you cannot change them overnight.
Yet without engaging suppliers, net zero remains impossible.
The Four Challenges of Local Authority Procurement
Most authorities recognise that procurement represents a large portion of their footprint, but few have systematic frameworks to address it. Common barriers include:
- Uncertainty about where to start with hundreds of suppliers
- Concern about cost increases or service disruption
- Lack of internal capacity to manage supplier engagement
- Fear of setting unrealistic expectations or encountering resistance
Our Consultancy Approach for Councils Achieving Net Zero Compliance
We don’t hand you a framework document and wish you luck. We partner with you to develop, implement, and embed a Net Zero Procurement Framework tailored to your authority’s context. This means:
Co-Development: We work alongside your procurement, sustainability, finance, and leadership teams to build a framework that fits your political environment and operational reality
Stakeholder Engagement: We facilitate sessions with members, cabinet leads, and senior officers to build buy-in before implementation
Practical Implementation Support: We help you draft tender language, train procurement officers, manage supplier communications, and navigate pushback