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Too often, procurement is viewed as a transactional function, siloed from wider business strategy. In today’ s competitive environment, that mindset is increasingly unfit for purpose. The truth is that procurement will be essential to achieving Net Zero. What’ s needed now is a bold rethink that positions procurement not just as a tactical function, but as a strategic engine for resilience, innovation, and long-term value creation.

Transport and logistics is one key area where a new approach can deliver significant gains.

As logistics becomes more complex, procurement plays an increasingly crucial role in reducing transport emissions – a vital step in meeting net-zero commitments, while adding value to business. But with net-zero targets now only three vehicle procurement cycles away, action must be taken now.

An evolution is needed. The future of procurement must be leaner, greener, and smarter. The good news is that the appetite for transformation is clear, but so are the barriers.

Leaner: From rigid processes to agile partnerships

Procurement leaders are grappling with growing complexity. Think about legacy systems, fragmented processes, and rigid contract structures. These barriers don’ t just slow things down, they stifle innovation and make it much harder to adapt quickly to emerging opportunities.

Indeed, our research shows that 63 percent of UK logistics and supply chain leaders believe current procurement processes are too rigid to allow for true innovation. Why? Because organizations often set these processes in stone long before defining what needs to be procured.

In a world where technology, customer expectations, and sustainability targets are evolving fast, this rigidity can be a serious liability, preventing more ambitious solutions from being considered, let alone implemented. This can result in unnecessarily high spending.

One example of what is needed in transport procurement is moving away from fixed closed-book contracts, as these can be inflexible and limit the adaptability of supply chain dynamics. To stay competitive, organizations must evolve their procurement strategies to embrace digital tools and foster agility. That means building flexibility from the outset.

Greener: Aligning procurement with sustainability goals

The journey to Net Zero starts with procurement, but as Wincanton’ s research reveals, there’ s a critical disconnect between ambition and action.

Encouragingly, 83 percent of UK supply chain, transport, and logistics decision makers recognize that logistics is key to achieving their net-zero goals and lowering emissions. However, 79 percent say that logistics decisions are still primarily costled, and 66 percent say that cost pressures are actively sidelining their net-zero commitments. As a result, 54 percent of businesses say they will struggle to hit their net-zero targets.

While fleet decarbonization is one of the most tangible routes to lowering transport emissions, only 25 percent believe alternative fuel vehicles will be affordable within the next four-to-six years. This is a stark

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