Photo credit- Green Connect

Social procurement is the process of sourcing goods and services in ways that deliver measurable social, economic or environmental impact. By partnering with certified social enterprises—businesses driven by a mission to create change—you can achieve your responsible business goals.

Social enterprise can help you:

• Unlock social value
• Drive employment outcomes for the long term unemployed
• Tackle entrenched disadvantage
• De-risk your supply chain
• Create environmental benefits

Become a business for good by embedding social enterprise in your supply chain.

5 benefits of social procurement

There are many benefits to embedding social procurement as part of your business. Here are our top five reasons.

1. Transform lives and communities- Social procurement tackles social challenges by creating jobs for marginalised groups, empowering disadvantaged communities, and funding initiatives that drive social equity and environmental sustainability.
2. Build a resilient supply chain- Social enterprises are local business that can help reduce your reliance on global suppliers-mitigating risks and disruptions while delivering high-quality, sustainable solutions. They can also be more agile and pivot quickly in delivering solutions.
3. Earn customer loyalty and trust- Today’s consumers value impact. Social procurement positions your organisation as a values-driven leader, strengthening customer loyalty and enhancing brand reputation- all while creating real change for communities and the planet
4. Win government contracts- Governments across Australia are prioritising businesses that demonstrate social and sustainable values in their procurement activities. Adopting social procurement can give you a competitive edge in securing lucrative public-sector contracts.
5. Attract and retain top talent- Purpose-driven organisations are magnets for top talent. Employees want to work for organisations making a difference. Demonstrate your commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and build a workplace culture of pride and engagement by embedding social enterprises in your supply chain.

Social procurement is a lever organisations can use to support their ESG commitments and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) objectives. It’s a tangible way to show leadership in sustainability and social responsibility while achieving long-term growth.

Getting started

1. Identify opportunities- Evaluate your procurement needs—social enterprises supply in various categories from catering and cleaning to logistics and landscaping.
2. Build partnerships- Seek to understand and work collaboratively with social enterprises. This will help create a successful partnership for the long-term, achieving your responsible business goals.
3. Measure and share your impact- The majority of organisations don’t measure the tangible impact outcomes of their spend. We offer the Social Spend Report- to help you demonstrate your positive contribution to communities and the planet.

Social procurement in action

• Mirvac & Green Connect: Reduced waste and supported ethical labour through sustainable partnerships.
• Natura Pacific & Yarrabilba: Combined biodiversity conservation with employment for incarcerated individuals.
• Icon & Assembled Threads: Created PPE while building a circular economy and providing jobs for marginalised workers.

Partner with Social Traders

We are a leading industry body for social enterprise and responsible business, established in 2008. We provide deep expertise to help you deliver and report on your responsible business goals. And we can connect your organisation with certified social enterprises to create meaningful impact.

What you’ll gain:

• Access to a national network of certified social enterprises.
• Expert advice on integrating social procurement into your business.
• Impact measurement tools to track and share your success.