The challenge
As recognised leaders in the lighting industry, Eagle Lighting wanted to go further by demonstrating their sustainability leadership to suppliers and customers. To do this, they opted to focus on responsible procurement to better link their supply chain and communications with their sustainability values. Working closely with the company’s stakeholders, we helped Eagle Lighting develop a responsible procurement framework.
Eagle Lighting is one of Australasia’s biggest lighting solutions companies. They are in business to improve people’s lives with lighting solutions that positively impact the natural environment and urban spaces. With over 140 staff across Australia and New Zealand, the company provides locally manufactured and customised lighting for many uses, from schools and offices to public spaces.
Read about our work with Eagle Lighting on circular economy
A responsible procurement framework: putting sustainability values into practice
A responsible procurement framework helps an organisation influence its supply chain and put its corporate responsibility values into practice. By making responsible procurement part of their corporate strategy, organisations can lead by example and set expectations that encourage their partners to ‘raise the bar’ on sustainability practices.
How we helped Eagle Lighting
Step one: engaging with internal and external stakeholders
We ran a workshop with Eagle Lighting’s management team, covering the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The workshop resulted in a high-level sustainability framework and priority areas (based on five core SDGs) where Eagle Lighting will focus its sustainability work.
The SDGs were closely linked to themes like energy efficiency, low-impact products, and collaboration across the supply chain. These are areas where Eagle Lighting’s business activities can contribute positively to environmental and social outcomes.
We then asked Eagle Lighting’s external stakeholders to tell us their sustainability priorities by interviewing six Eagle Lighting customers. This work revealed that customers consider Eagle Lighting to be a knowledgeable, reliable, and trustworthy organisation to work with.
Step two: developing a responsible procurement framework
Using the SDGs as a foundation, thinkstep-anz and Eagle Lighting developed a framework for action. The company’s expectations for their suppliers sit at the heart of this framework. For example:
- To help the business make progress on SDG 7, Eagle Lighting expect their suppliers to invest in renewable energy and energy-efficient products and solutions.
- To reduce inequalities (SDG 10), they are calling on their suppliers to employ a diverse team and build relationships with businesses that contribute to local communities.
This framework is delivered through a suite of new tools and processes. First up is a supplier code of conduct which sets out clearly what Eagle Lighting expect of their suppliers, and the evidence they need to provide to show they are meeting the company’s clear standards. A questionnaire follows, asking suppliers to explain how they run their business. Finally, a new screening process requires the Eagle Lighting team to filter potential suppliers based on this information.
How our work is enabling Eagle Lighting to succeed sustainably
Building relationships with stakeholders
The stakeholder engagement process proved an excellent opportunity for Eagle Lighting to hear from their employees, business partners, and community. It revealed that all parties see the business as leaders in their field. Staff and customers want the company to continue to lead by taking visible action and communicating about sustainability.
All stakeholders supported Eagle Lighting’s ambition to promote sustainable practices through its supply chain. The responsible procurement framework helps the company build on its strong supplier partnerships, increasing the change they wish to see in their industry.
Supporting continuous improvement
Eagle’s Head of Operations Peter Prodromos says the company has built its responsible procurement framework into its ISO system, which is audited by an independent third party. This will help ensure the business continues to improve.
Reducing long-term supply risk and costs
Better understanding their supply chain and identifying areas for improving will reduce long-term risks and costs.
Communicating a sustainability vision and strategy
Eagle Lighting have cemented their sustainability strategy for the coming years. The company can now communicate their sustainability vision with confidence, including on their new-look website. They can also move forward with their ambitious sustainability plans. (More on this soon!)
January 2022