Listen to leading thinkers discuss the importance of impact-focused and results-driven sustainability ratings and reporting systems. Then hear from a panel of sustainable procurement practitioners about how they are leveraging product sustainability labels, supplier ratings systems, and on-the-ground verification to build meaningful impact-based programs which are then monitored and reported on for improved performance. Next, attend a workshop* to get started on sustainability labels, basic SME-friendly supplier sustainability ratings systems, or integrating sustainability requirements into your purchasing platform (e.g. ERP).

Event Schedule

NOTE: All times in EASTERN.

• Opening Remarks & Keynote: 12:00 - 1:05 pm
• Expert Panel: 1:10 - 2:40 pm
• Break: 2:45- 3:00 pm
• Interactive Workshops: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
• Social Networking: 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Speakers and Workshops

Keynote Speakers:

Ken Pucker, senior lecturer at the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a lecturer at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, and Advisory Director at Berkshire Partners (formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Timberland). Ken is the author of recent Harvard Business Review article "Overselling Sustainability Reporting", which has generated widespread debate and scrutiny in the sustainable business community. (Confirmed)

Erika Karp, Executive Managing Director, Chief Impact Officer at Pathstone, and former Founder and CEO of Cornerstone Capital Group. Erika’s leadership in developing meaningful ESG investment strategies is driven by her vision of a world where capitalism fully values all forms of capital, including human and natural capital, and where investments serve to foster a regenerative and inclusive global economy.

Panel Discussion:

Fred Gersdorff, Socially Responsible and Sustainable Supply Chains Manager at General Motors

Julia Litvak, Director of Responsible Supply Chain Management at Medtronic

Kate Williams, Senior Manager of Impact Monitoring & Evaluation at Fair Trade

Julia Wolfe, Director of Environmental Purchasing, Operational Services Division (OSD) for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Workshop (choose one):

Optimizing E-Procurement Systems for Sustainable Purchasing - hosted by the Empower Procurement at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Getting Started with Supplier Sustainability Reporting for Small Businesses - hosted by Bob Willard, Sustainability Advantage and creator of the open-source Basic Sustainability Assessment Tool (BSAT)

Evaluating and enabling product sustainability labeling - hosted by Kate Harris, Secretariat for the Global Ecolabeling Network (GEN) and featuring Alison Kinn-Bennett from the U.S. EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention

Advance registration required!

ATTENTION SPLC Members!

Members are entitled to free admission to the keynote and panel; and 50% off your workshop registration. Check your calendars for your discount code or email info@sustainablepurchasing.org. NOTE! You will need to checkout twice in EventBrite to apply both discounts.