Society has become increasingly aware of environmental and human rights-related risks in global supply chains. Both governments and business are under pressure to take greater responsibility to prevent and address these risks before they impact people and the planet. The purchasing power of governments is emerging as an important lever to promote transparency and sustainability in supply chains. This includes strengthening risk management systems in public procurement to integrate Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) objectives and risk-based due diligence along global supply chains.

OECD members have long recognised the potential benefits of more sustainable and responsible purchasing practices. To advance this agenda, in 2019 the OECD launched a programme to further integrate Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) considerations and risk-based supply chain due diligence into public procurement policies and processes. The OECD Working Party of Leading Practitioners on Public Procurement and the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct jointly manage this programme.

Accounting for an average of 12% of gross domestic product (GDP) in OECD countries, public procurement is a strategic tool for achieving wider policy goals, including supporting innovation, addressing environmental challenges, mitigating inequalities, and promoting sustainable development. Public procurement can also be a means to promote responsible business conduct (RBC) and address global supply chain risks to people and the planet. Risk-based supply chain due diligence can help public buyers ensure value for money in its broader sense towards encompassing sustainability of procurement decisions.