Sustainable Procurement Disclosure Index

An index assessing the level of transparency of ASX 200 businesses in reporting their sustainable procurement practices.

What is the Sustainable Procurement Disclosure Index?

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With growing public awareness of sustainable development, businesses face increased scrutiny regarding their approach to and performance in sustainable procurement. Many large corporations publish sustainability procurement statements to communicate their commitment to sustainable sourcing. However, these statements often lack alignment with other indicators or disclosures on sustainability. This index aims to provide a systematic and objective assessment of businesses' transparency in reporting sustainable procurement practices, based on globally accepted ethical norms and standards. The goal is to empower the Australian public to make informed sustainability-conscious decisions.

Key findings

The research team generally found low levels of reporting

This could be attributed to low awareness of Global Reporting Initiative indicators, or that reporting is non-mandatory

Levels of disclosure have little relationship with firm size

Ie. Larger companies do not necessarily disclose more than smaller companies, or vice versa

ASX 200 companies tend to report more in governance and environmental aspects

Within the Global Reporting Initiative reporting framework

19 companies (11%) received a 5-star rating, representing a broad cross section of industries

5 companies were given a 1-star rating

Explore the Sustainable Procurement Disclosure Index

Methodology

Read about our research method, study approach, SPDI and the 5 star rating and find references.

About the project

Find out about the project background, rationale, key research questions, framework and how we define key terms.

Explore the data

Delve into the index and see how companies in the ASX 200 performance.

Broader SPDI insights

Beyond the key findings, find out more about the results and impacts of the SPDI

SPDI Methodology

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The RMIT SPDI is constructed based on a framework derived from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) definition of sustainable procurement, the MSCI Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Index Framework, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, and the United Nation’s SP indicators. The index is presented using a numeric value, indicating the extent of disclosure, and a 5-star rating scale, reflecting the comprehensiveness of disclosure. Initially, it is applied to evaluate the level of sustainable procurement disclosure among the top 200 companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange top 200 companies (ASX 200) based on their market capitalisation.

Associated articles

Next steps

The SPD Index is supported on an ongoing basis by RMIT's College of Business and Law. For Australia, year-on-year data will be released in February of each year. However, information may also be published ad hoc, as new data becomes available. The project team aims to replicate the SPD Index and SPDI methodology in other countries in the future.

Connect with us

For general enquiries please email the SPDI Project Team at: SPDI@rmit.edu.au

For media enquiries please contact news@rmit.edu.au

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.