CIPS MENA–EcoVadis roundtable identifies regulation, CFO alignment, and supplier partnerships as central to sustainable progress
Procurement leaders from across the UAE are embracing a new era of responsible sourcing, moving decisively beyond traditional sustainability initiatives to embed ethical and environmental principles throughout supply chains. The theme took centre stage at a recent Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) Roundtable hosted by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) MENA in partnership with EcoVadis.
Held in Dubai, the roundtable brought together senior procurement leaders from prominent organisations to discuss how the UAE is setting new standards for sustainable procurement. The country’s evolving regulatory landscape—underpinned by the UAE Federal Decree Law—was cited as a key catalyst for embedding sustainability at the heart of corporate procurement strategy.
Speakers highlighted that lasting change depends on supplier education, collaboration, and transparent communication of business value. Participants also agreed that internal training and capability-building will be vital to maintaining progress and attracting top procurement talent.
Salem Bafaraj of ADNOC discussed the potential to link responsible sourcing programmes with the In-Country Value (ICV) framework, while several attendees emphasised the growing role of CFOs in championing sustainability-driven procurement. The ability to translate sustainability performance into measurable financial advantage—such as access to more favourable funding—was described as a major untapped opportunity.
Natasha Schulz of Dubai Holding and Sofiya Poland of ALEC also shared insights on the region’s potential to establish a global benchmark for responsible sourcing and corporate sustainability.
“Responsible sourcing is a strategic imperative. Procurement leaders are uniquely positioned to drive measurable change by embedding sustainability into every layer of the supply chain. What we’re seeing in the UAE is not incremental, it’s transformative,” commented Sam Achampong, Regional Director, CIPS MENA.
The session closed on an optimistic note, with participants encouraged to recognise both small and large achievements as a way of maintaining enthusiasm and accelerating responsible procurement adoption across industries.
