In The Last Oracle, Sam joins a US based fracking company that is drilling for oil on the environmentally sensitive Greenland ice shelf. Sam soon clashes with the CEO and is re-deployed to Daingerfield Oil’s renewable energy division where it is assumed that his career will stultify for the foreseeable future. But as the world edges towards a disastrous environmental tipping point, a group of politicians and vested interests seek to profit from the climate chaos that will follow. Sam Jardine must embark on a life or death negotiation with the rich and powerful, the outcome of which the future of the planet will depend.

We cannot all be heroes like Sam Jardine, but we can all make a massive difference to the world around us. Procurement is becoming central to the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) trend that is sweeping the corporate world.

With the rise of the giant Ethical Investment funds, no ASX 200, S&P 500 or FTSE 100 companies can ignore the demand to be good corporate citizens. Those that do, risk their share price falling as the ethical investors place their business elsewhere.

The most obvious example where procurement has been central to ESG movement is the Modern Slavery Act in the UK and which is soon to be introduced to the Australian Parliament. I was at a CIPSA Conference in 2015 when Twiggy Forrest, the CEO of Fortescue Metals, first raised the concept and received a ringing procurement endorsement of his crusade to end slavery in our supply chains.

Then there is the growth of Social Enterprises. These are companies that exist to employ physically and socially disadvantaged members of our community and whose goods and services contribute to the growth of our economy. None of these fine organisations expect hand-outs and they compete with the very best. If the Procurement teams of large organisations were to direct even 1% of their expenditure towards these social enterprises, imagine what a difference it would make to society!

Then there is Procurement’s fight against corrupt practices, anti-money laundering and sanctioned countries and organisations. If Procurement were to exercise a zero-tolerance approach to these insidious activities, it would go a long way towards destroying them altogether.

And finally, there is my personal passion which is encouraging the use of environmentally sustainable products throughout the supply chain.  Procurement should be leading the way in buying solar panels or sourcing energy from renewable sources. We should insist on recycled products and developing alternatives to damaging chemical products. We should be encouraging the use of Skype meetings and video conferences and discouraging wasteful travel.

You don’t have to be Sam Jardine to make a world of difference. By doing your job in the most responsible and ethical way possible, you can make procurement a profession fit for heroes!

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