How procurement is leading the move towards circular models

We all know it: companies can’t keep buying and consuming resources the way we did in the past. The linear “take, make, dispose” model is already straining under its own weight — scarcity, regulations, and growing pressures force us to act differently.

So… this is where procurement enters the scene in a whole new role.

In a recent article by Katia Picaud Bello and Hervé Legenvre published in Harvard Deusto Business Review, we see how the procurement is becoming a key for designing and delivering a more circular, adaptable, and resilient supply chain.

Here’s what this means in practice:

Sourcing from responsible suppliers and secondary markets: Buyers are developing relationships with suppliers of recycled materials which is often a messy, fragmented market. They make sure these materials or remanufactured products meet their companies’ technical needs.

Managing data flow: It’s not enough to buy; you need to know exactly what you’re buying and to share this information with clients and recyclers. That means collecting, verifying, and sharing data about materials’ composition, Carbon footprint and what to do at the end-of-life cycle. This is a challenging but decisive role for purchasing. Without reliable data, designing for circular is nearly impossible.

Creating new collaborations: To close the loop, buying teams are working directly with waste handlers and innovators outside their traditional supplier base. It’s a whole new ecosystem of collaboration that buyers need to discover and mobilise.

This shift is more than just a change of tasks — it’s a change of mindset. To make it happen, we need buyers who are innovators, collaborators, and data-savvy.

As Hervé Legenvre, regularly highlight, this is a huge opportunity for procurement to become a true driver of industry transformation in their companies.

The future belongs to those who can connect, innovate, and adapt. And buyers are at the core of this movement.

Read the article on El rol del departamento de compras en la transición hacia modelos de abastecimiento circulares | Harvard Deusto las revistas