PSC LIVE: Sustainability – Chris Mattock, Mace
Procurement & Supply Chain: Sustainability provided a deep dive into the intersection of procurement, supply chain and sustainability.
Hosted at the QEII Centre in London, the gathering saw industry leaders discuss critical shifts in procurement strategy, aimed at embracing sustainability.
Participants engaged in a variety of dynamic sessions ranging from keynote speeches to panel discussions, fostering networking opportunities with top professionals from global corporations along the way.
On Day 2, Procurement Magazine caught up with Chris Mattock, Global Head of Sustainability in Infrastructure at Mace, who brought fresh insights related to role of procurement in driving sustainable practices.
Passionate about sustainability
Chris is a seasoned construction professional, having spent more than two decades in the industry.
His relatively recent transition from quantity surveyor to championing sustainability initiatives reflects his dedication to reducing the built environment's ecological footprint.
Chris shared: "I made the switch because it's something I'm passionate about, something I feel that, in the built environment – with the contribution we make to global emissions – we really need to improve upon."
Engaging in discussions like the Carbon Management Forum at PSC LIVE: Sustainability highlights Chris' commitment to redefining procurement's role in achieving sustainability targets.
"The reason I wanted to be on that stage and talk about procurement was because it's quite often overlooked in the construction industry," he said. "Goals and targets are set and then they're not met because the client hasn't taken their supply chain on that journey.
"Procurement is often where the biggest improvements to social value, biodiversity and reducing carbon can be made."
Integrating sustainability with procurement
At Mace, Chris spearheads initiatives to align procurement with sustainability goals.
He explained: "When we have a major client and they want to reduce their carbon, areas like concrete, steel and diesel are where we can make big reductions quite easily using tried and tested materials."
This approach ensures reduced carbon outputs, driving meaningful impacts for clients.
Highlighting the potential, Chris referenced a company's notable success: "One client achieved a 40% embodied carbon reduction through the introduction of alternative cementitious materials."
This success underlines the significance of embedding sustainability at every stage of procurement.
Chris' philosophy focuses on executing simple, yet effective methods: "It's not rock and roll, but it's the doing the simple stuff a bit differently and making sure the supply chain is on board."
Balancing sustainability with cost concerns
Addressing economic considerations, Chris argues for a holistic approach to sustainability in procurement, stressing the importance of early engagement: "If you're going to have net-zero targets, the best value in achieving those is going to be through engaging with your supply chain from the start.
"It might cost you more, but certainly going to cost you less than if you try to wedge those requirements in at a later date.
"Sustainability doesn't have to cost money. If you design efficiently, if you build less, you're going to save money and be more sustainable."
Looking forward, Chris envisions integrated teams within industries, signalling a shift towards collaborative efforts: "Certainly within Mace, the sustainability team does not sit on its own. We integrate with the cost and commercial team in terms of procurement; we integrate with the project management team in terms of delivery on site; and we integrate with the PMO team in terms of reporting.
"I think you're going to find a much more unified approach within the industry and people understanding that you can't do these things in silos."
Essential diary dates for 2025
Discover the essential diary dates for Procurement Magazine and Supply Chain Digital, as well as its sister publications, Manufacturing Digital and Sustainability Magazine.
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- Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Dubai | 29 April
- Sustainability LIVE Chicago | 28-29 May
- Procurement LIVE Chicago | 28-29 May
- Supply Chain LIVE Chicago | 28-29 May
- Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE London | 23-24 September
- The Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards | 24 September
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