The Sustainable Procurement Pledge

2026 WSPD - Opening Session
2026-03-25 09:30 - 10:00 (Europe/Berlin)
4:30-05:00 EDT | 09:30-10:00 CET | 16:30-17:00 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free): Registration Link +++
Kick off the 5th annual World Sustainable Procurement Day (WSPD) with a powerful opening session celebrating five years of global impact and setting the stage for 24 hours of learning, exchange, and action. In a complex geopolitical and economic landscape, sustainable procurement continues to matter more than ever — and WSPD is where the global community comes together to share, collaborate, and work at scale like nowhere else. The SPP Global team will guide you on how to navigate the world’s largest free virtual procurement event, ensuring you leave ready to apply insights in your own work.
Hear from Anne-Claire Howard, Director of Procurement at UNOPS, who brings a public procurement and multilateral perspective that highlights how cross-sector collaboration drives real impact. This opening session kicks off a day designed to equip participants with insights, inspiration, and practical ways to act — showing the world that the procurement community is here, working hard, and delivering at scale.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.

Sustainability that Pays: Leadership Perspectives on ROI
2026-03-25 12:00 - 13:00
07:00-08:00 EDT | 12:00-13:00 CET | 19:00-20:00 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free!): Registration link +++
This session brings together procurement leaders from organizations recognized for advancing sustainable procurement. The conversation will stay practical and experience‑led, focusing on how sustainability creates real business value—and how that value is shown inside and outside the organization.
Participants will explore:

What sets these leaders and organizations apart, and which mindsets or choices enabled sustainability to become operational.

Why many companies still struggle, and where the biggest capability, incentive, or measurement gaps appear.

How each organization’s sustainability value proposition has taken shape—whether formalized or grown organically.

How teams, capabilities, incentives, and culture support everyday sustainable decisions.

Which investments have mattered most and where value is actually being created and measured.

What has progressed well, what remains challenging, and the hurdles to proving value in complex supply chains.

You’ll walk away with:
A clear, experienced-based understanding of what truly makes sustainability commercially meaningful—grounded in the real approaches and lessons shared by procurement leaders.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.

Small but Mighty: The Suppliers Behind Resilient Supply Chains
2026-03-25 14:00 - 15:00
09:00–10:00 EDT | 14:00–15:00 CET | 21:00–22:00 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free!): Registration link +++
This session highlights the strategic value of SMEs in sustainable procurement and risk-resilient supply chains. It brings research, supplier perspectives, and a corporate case study together to explore how engaging SMEs can deliver both business continuity and community impact.
Key discussion points include:

Research insights on the economic and social importance of SMEs globally and locally, and why they matter for corporate supply chains
The value SMEs bring to large organisations, including innovation, agility, specialised capabilities, and local expertise
Common barriers SMEs face when working with large corporates, such as access to capital, payment terms, certification requirements, and onboarding challenges
A corporate case study from IHG Hotels & Resorts demonstrating how partnering with an SME network mitigated supply chain risk while supporting regional economies

Participants will leave feeling inspired to take actionable steps to integrate SMEs into their sourcing strategies through creative, collaborative solutions that strengthen both resilience and impact.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.

Critical Minerals: Confronting the Hard Truths of the Just Energy Transition
2026-03-25 21:00 - 22:00
16:00–17:00 EDT | 21:00–22:00 CET | 26 March, 04:00–05:00 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free!): Registration link +++
As demand for critical minerals accelerates with the expansion of clean technologies and rising geopolitical competition, environmental and social risks across value chains are intensifying. This session explores what these realities mean for businesses — and for procurement professionals navigating time pressure, power imbalances, limited transparency and human rights risks.
Key discussion points include:

The role critical minerals play in the net-zero transition and the social impacts linked to mining expansion
The complexity of long value chains and the challenges of traceability and transparency
Questions of accountability for environmental and social performance across the sector
What workable solutions look like when balancing social risk with supply securitisation
Specific actions procurement professionals can take to contribute to a just transition

Participants will gain motivation and a practical framework to better balance ESG risks and supply security, supported by stakeholder engagement, internal alignment and collective action.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.

Empowering Procurement: simplifying sustainability action with skills, tools, and training
2026-03-25 22:00 - 23:00
17:00–18:00 EDT | 22:00–23:00 CET | 26 March, 05:00–06:00 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free!): Registration link +++
This session focuses on how to strengthen capability within procurement organizations and unlock greater impact through empowered supplier managers. The speakers will share practical experience, tools, and lessons learned from their own journeys.
Participants can expect to explore:

How the speakers have built procurement capabilities and the outcomes achieved
The value and results of enabling supplier managers
Practical tools and resources available to support capability building, incl. collaboratively developed Scope3 procurement training materials
Tips and insights from real-world experience

You will leave with clear reasons why building capability matters, practical tips on how to get started, and access to resources.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.

Turning Scope 3 Ambition into Action — Building Governance to Drive Real Progress
2026-03-26 00:00 - 01:00
25 March, 19:00-20:00 EDT | 26 March 00:00-01:00 CET | 07:00-08:00 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free!): Registration link +++
Delivering meaningful Scope 3 decarbonization requires more than ambition — it requires effective governance that enables cross-functional ownership and sustained action. Sustainability teams often struggle to secure engagement and buy-in from other functions, manage trade-offs and translate climate objectives into coordinated action across the organization.
In this session facilitated by Impact Pathways, procurement and sustainability professionals engaged in the Scope 3 Peer Group will introduce a practical Scope 3 governance framework developed by Peers for Peers. Understanding this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, the framework reflects what is working in companies, regardless of industry, business model or Scope 3 maturity. Participants will hear directly from procurement leaders who are rolling up their sleeves, shaping the framework and applying it to drive progress within their own organizations and supply chains.
Participants will leave with insights on why governance is necessary to enable and accelerate Scope 3 progress, examples of how companies are approaching cross-functional ownership and accountability, and practical considerations for strengthening internal alignment on value chain decarbonization.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.

Partnering for Impact: Advancing Sustainable Procurement Together
2026-03-26 01:00 - 02:00
25 March, 20:00-21:00 EDT | 26 March 01:00-02:00 CET | 08:00-09:00 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free!): Registration link +++
This session explores how organizations are moving from basic ESG reporting to sustainability intelligence – shifting from high‑level visibility to deeper, decision‑grade insights that enable action across decarbonization, data transparency, supplier collaboration, and AI‑enabled procurement.
Participants will explore:

The macro landscape and regional drivers shaping sustainable procurement priorities
How procurement teams operationalize decarbonization and emissions management through Scope 3 levers such as category strategies, supplier requirements, and performance management
What “decision‑grade” supplier ESG data looks like in practice – data quality, standardization, comparability, refresh cadence, and auditability – plus how carbon analytics and spend analytics come together with governance intact
Practical approaches to supplier collaboration that go beyond compliance, including shared improvement programs and the network effect
Where AI and technology deliver real sustainable procurement outcomes
How and why procurement leaders keep sustainability embedded during disruption

You’ll walk away with:
A practical blueprint to operationalize sustainable procurement, helping your organization progress from ESG reporting to sustainability intelligence by improving data confidence, embedding insights into procurement workflows, strengthening supplier collaboration, and using technology and AI to make sustainability a day‑to‑day decision rather than a parallel compliance task.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.

Connecting the Health System Value Chain: Procurement-Led Collaboration for Sustainable Transformation
2026-03-26 02:00 - 03:00
25 March, 21:00-22:00 EDT | 26 March 02:00-03:00 CET | 09:00-10:00 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free!): Registration link +++
This session explores how top‑down global health commitments and bottom‑up procurement practice come together to drive sustainable transformation across the Health System Value Chain. It shows how international ambition—such as the COP26 health commitments—meets real‑world implementation through coordinated action from policymakers, connectors, and practitioner communities.
In this session, participants will hear about:

Top‑down ambition: How ATACH is mobilising governments and policy drivers to advance climate‑resilient and sustainable health systems.
Connecting mechanisms: How Health Proc Europe’s Alliance for Procurement Impact links buyers and suppliers to translate global goals into practical, scalable solutions.
Bottom‑up practice: How SPP’s practitioner communities are contributing hands‑on insights to co‑create and test a Sustainable & Resilient Procurement Toolkit – and how you can get involved!
How different actors across the value chain experience ambitions, challenges, and opportunities for collaborative action.
The conditions and mechanisms needed to bridge global commitments with day‑to‑day procurement realities.

You will walk away with a clear understanding of how global commitments can move from high‑level ambition to practical, measurable change—powered by procurement‑led collaboration. You’ll also learn how to engage in the HPE–SPP collaboration to strengthen knowledge transfer and build ESG‑driven resilience across the Health System Value Chain.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.

AI in Procurement: Upskilling People and Capabilities
2026-03-26 04:00 - 05:00
25 March, 23:00–00:00 EDT | 26 March, 04:00–05:00 CET | 11:00–12:00 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free!): Registration link +++
This session explores how digital transformation and AI are shaping Procurement ESG activities, and what it takes to manage and govern these emerging enablers effectively. It focuses on the knowledge, skills and governance frameworks required to deploy and utilise AI-driven solutions in procurement sustainability.
Key discussion points include:

The digital transformation journey, from process automation to AI-powered orchestration
Opportunities to deploy AI to transform Procurement Sustainability processes
Governance frameworks for current digital applications and how they must adapt to govern AI solutions
Emerging technology backbones and orchestration layers, and how emissions data can be leveraged

Participants will be encouraged to embrace and adopt AI for its transformative potential, building digital skills within procurement rather than relying solely on IT teams to drive this change.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.

International Financial Institutions as Catalysts for MENA & Gulf Sustainable Procurement
2026-03-26 06:00 - 07:00
01:00-02:00 EDT | 06:00-07:00 CET | 13:00-14:00 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free!): Registration link +++
Join Mr. Hady Agina as he moderates an in-depth discussion on the evolving landscape of sustainable procurement in MENA and the Gulf region. This session will explore how major International Financial Institutions, including the World Bank and key Islamic banks, are embedding sustainability into procurement policies, the rationale behind these shifts, and the tangible impact on regional projects and supply chains. Participants will gain insights into the measures IFIs are taking to promote responsible sourcing and the broader implications for governments, businesses, and sectors across the Gulf. Don’t miss this opportunity to understand the trends shaping procurement practices and how sustainability is becoming a central driver of investment and development.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.

CPO fireside chat: Procurement in a BANI world
2026-03-26 08:00 - 09:00
03:00–04:00 EDT | 08:00–09:00 CET | 15:00–16:00 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free!): Registration link +++
This session reaffirms that Chief Procurement Officers remain firmly committed to the sustainability agenda despite regulatory shifts and global disruptions. It explores how challenges such as decarbonization, inequality, and increasing corporate liability and risk have become core business imperatives embedded in strategy.
Participants will explore:

The evolving sustainability agenda over the past five years and what it now means for procurement and business strategy toward 2030
The “Resilience or Responsible?” dilemma, including progress to date (Scope 1 and 2 reductions, renewable energy adoption, collaboration) and how these efforts have strengthened supplier relationships and operational resilience
Key enablers of impact, persistent barriers to transformation, and what must accelerate in the coming years
How to simplify and operationalise sustainability by embedding it into core systems and processes, adapting to legislation, leveraging data, AI and digitalisation, and strengthening transparency, scenario planning and innovation
The return on investment of sustainability, procurement’s strategic role, and when tangible ROI becomes visible
The case for stronger procurement collaboration, including change management, resilience, risk mitigation, and new skills and capabilities
A business-focused, forward-looking discussion that avoids political polarisation

You will leave with a clear message: CPOs remain strongly committed to sustainability. It is embedded in core strategy and must be proactively managed to secure resilience, compliance, and long-term value creation.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.

2026 WSPD Closing Session - Around the table: what the reports say
2026-03-26 10:00 - 10:30
05:00-05:30 EDT | 10:00-10:30 CET | 17:00-17:30 SGT | +++ Register here (it’s free!): Registration link +++
Join us to close the 5th annual World Sustainable Procurement Day with a fast-paced, insight-packed session that brings this year’s theme  Action over Noise  to life. Five years in this community has moved from building a vision to activating a global community.
SPP is a reality, and WSPD is where that community steps into the spotlight.
In a dynamic round robin, SPP partners will share one or two key takeaways from their latest reports and studies, offering a clear snapshot of where sustainable procurement stands today, where we are going and where action is already happening. This session helps map the landscape of research and resources shaping real progress that can help you on  your journey.
And the cherry on top, Thomas Udesen, Co-Founder of SPP. From the spark of inspiration to the thriving global community we see today, Thomas has been at the heart of shaping and driving SPP. Join us to hear his reflections, challenges to all of us, and his infectious passion for doing more, faster, and with greater impact, a finale sure to deliver plenty of goosebump moments.
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WSPD is run as an SPP community event. We are very happy to bring this event to the global procurement community for free of charge for the 5th consecutive year. If you haven’t done so already, please consider joining the SPP Community. Your support enables us to continue delivering events, content and unique opportunities such as WSPD. Join us, if you share the values of The Pledge and our goal of making sustainable procurement the default. https://www.spp.earth/join/#the-pledge/We grow stronger with every person that joins.
We have the bold vision of building a global community of procurement professionals engaging in radical collaboration to drive sustainability at scale. Our SPP safe, non-commercial spaces and platforms make this possible – and WSPD is one of these spaces. We ask attendees for active, respectful participation and to refrain from sales pitches and solicitation. Please read and adhere to the SPP Netiquette (www.spp.earth). And as always, if we can do anything to strengthen SPP spaces for you, let us know.
The session will be recorded and shared on the SPP YouTube channel: Sustainable Procurement Pledge – YouTube – by participating you consent to being recorded.
