The Business Case for Circular Procurement - Business in the Community

The Business Case for Circular Procurement

Explore key product categories where businesses can apply circular procurement principles, with practical steps to reduce waste and unlock environmental and commercial value.

The Business Case for Circular Procurement

Adopting a circular approach to procurement allows businesses to become more sustainable while delivering business benefits. This guide takes a closer look at key product categories organisations should address, provides practical steps for implementing the principles in your business, and makes the business case for doing so. 

This guide was written with expert input from the global energy and environmental consultancy Ricardo Energy & Environment. It was made possible with funding from â€¯ProCirc project, an EU funded Interreg, project active until June 2023, which funded and tested circular economy pilots and procurement practices to reduce raw material waste and COâ‚‚ emissions. This guide was first published in February 2022 and republished in June 2026.

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The business case for circular procurement 

In a circular economy, materials and resources are kept in use for as long as possible, at as high a value use as possible.  

Procurement is one of the major levers with a role to play in the transition to a circular economy. Circular procurement is about making the right choices throughout the procurement process to enable, encourage, and enforce circular business model decisions throughout your supply chain. It can drive the decision-making and purchasing process to bring benefits across the triple bottom line categories: 

  • Environmental benefits, for example, through reducing carbon emissions and waste. 
  • Financial and commercial benefits, including reducing purchasing costs and avoiding unnecessary procurement costs and time. 
  • Social benefits, such as supporting sectors often led by small businesses or third sector organisations. It could also mean tackling barriers to employment through skills development and employment of traditionally marginalised people. 

Further resources

Further resources to futureproof your business can be found on the Futureproofing Business Resource Hub (coming summer 2026).  

How Business in the Community can support your organisation  

We are supporting BITC members to set net zero targets, with practical delivery plans to reduce emissions, improve resource efficiency, and protect nature. We have the resources, expert advice, and support from other members to help. 

If you are a BITC member, speak to your relationship manager about an environmental advisory services package to receive bespoke support for your business. 

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