Sustainable Procurement Fellowship

Accelerating the adoption of sustainable procurement to drive the transition to an equitable, low-carbon, circular economy.

CBSR’s Sustainable Procurement Fellowship (SPF), developed in partnership with HP, offers sustainability, finance, and procurement professionals a unique opportunity to (1) connect with Canada’s leading experts, (2) access cutting-edge tools, and (3) craft a tailored procurement plan that will help your organization drive toward net zero.

2025 SPF Information Session

The SPF Information Session took place on October 2, 2024, where we provided an in-depth overview of the program and answered key questions from prospective applicants. If you missed it, you can watch the recording below to learn more about how the Sustainable Procurement Fellowship can help advance your organization’s sustainability goals.

Watch the Recording

What is the SPF?

The Sustainable Procurement Fellowship is a 5-month, mostly virtual program. The 2025 program runs from January to June 2025 and includes 10 bi-weekly, two-hour workshops:

Virtual Workshops: 9 sessions will be held via Zoom.

In-Person Workshop: 1 session will take place at GLOBExCHANGE in Toronto, from February 11-13, 2025.

Throughout the program, Fellows will explore the challenges and opportunities in sustainable procurement, working towards developing or enhancing a procurement strategy that meets their organization’s unique needs.

For detailed program info, access our program presentation.

How much does it cost to participate?

Standard Fee: $3,500, which includes:

- A full-access pass to GLOBExCHANGE in Toronto (valued at $2,300).

- All 10 workshops (virtual + in-person).

- A social card and virtual SPF badge.

- Access to an exclusive resource portal.

- Ongoing support from CBSR, guest speakers, and SPF advisors.

CBSR Member Discount: Members receive a 15% discount, reducing the fee to $2,975.

Why Become an SPF Fellow?

Lead in Sustainable Procurement: Become a recognized leader in an emerging area of ESG by driving procurement strategies that align with net-zero goals and sustainable practices.
Access Cutting-Edge Tools: Benefit from the latest resources and methodologies to integrate sustainability into procurement processes.
Achieve Real Impact: 88% of fellows started or improved sustainable procurement initiatives after completing the program, including stronger policies and action plans, integrating sustainability criteria into RFX processes, and improving internal engagement.
Community of Practice: Join a community of 68+ professionals from 64 organizations and learn from industry leaders and experts to gain practical and applicable knowledge.

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Program Master Schedule: SPF 2025

The Sustainable Procurement Fellowship (SPF) focuses on key concepts and strategies to help integrate sustainable procurement into everyday operations. Each workshop provides tools and resources that are relevant to organizations at different stages of their sustainable procurement journey, ensuring practical value for all participants. The workshops build on each other, combining expert insights with actionable strategies. Led by industry leaders, this schedule equips fellows with the tools and frameworks to apply sustainable procurement within their organizations.

Program Schedule | Workshop Topics (2-hour virtual sessions)

Clean 50 2024 Award-Winning Program

The Sustainable Procurement Fellowship (SPF) has been recognized as a Clean50 2024 Award-winning Project. This award celebrates Canada’s top sustainability initiatives, recognizing projects that demonstrate leadership and innovation in advancing sustainability. The SPF program was awarded for its unique contribution to sustainable procurement across industries, helping organizations reduce Scope 3 emissions and integrate sustainability into their procurement processes. This recognition underscores the program’s impact and its role in shaping the future of responsible sourcing in Canada.

Frances Edmonds, Head of Sustainable Impact, HP Canada

Frances Edmonds is the Head of Sustainable Impact at HP Canada, where she is responsible for business development and oversees Corporate Social Responsibility programs nationally. With a focus on sustainable procurement, Frances is driving meaningful change cross-sector that supports a more circular and sustainable economic future for Canada. With more than 30 years of experience, Frances is recognized as one of Canada’s top sustainability professionals, having received two Clean 50 awards and has led HP Canada to become the most sustainable technology company in Canada.

Bob Willard, Sustainability Advantage

Bob is a leading expert on quantifying and selling the business value of corporate sustainability strategies and a sought-after speaker who has given over 1,500 presentations to corporate, government, university, and NGO audiences. Bob is the author of the highly acclaimed books The Sustainability Advantage and the Business Case for Sustainability which engage the business community in proactively avoiding risks and capturing opportunities by using smart environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. Bob is experienced in sustainable procurement and has created tools to help with its implementation such as the Basic Sustainability Assessment Tool for suppliers to determine their performance on core sustainability issues.

Monica Da Ponte, Principal Consultant, Shift & Build

Monica is principal at Shift & Build. She helps organizations develop and implement strategies that deliver social, environmental and economic value at scale. She has been working on helping to catalyze the advancement of sustainable procurement over the last 6 years. During this time, she has led a number of projects ranging from an assessment of the integration of sustainability into public sector procurement to research that deepens the understanding of needs in the area of sustainable procurement. In addition to her work at Shift & Build, Monica is an adjunct instructor at the Schulich School of Business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CBSR?

CBSR (Canadian Business for Social Responsibility) is a national non-profit membership association helping Canadian businesses lead in sustainability. CBSR provides tools, resources, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to advance corporate sustainability and drive systemic change toward net-zero and equitable business practices.

Who Should Apply?

We are seeking sustainability, procurement, and finance professionals passionate about advancing sustainable supply chains, reducing GHG emissions, and leading their organizations toward net-zero. Applicants should hold senior positions with the influence and authority to drive change.

How Do I Apply?

Applications are open until November 1, 2024. You can submit your application online via the CBSR website. The selection committee will review applications, considering diversity, availability, and organizational support.

Where Will the Sessions Take Place?

The Fellowship includes nine virtual workshops (two hours each, bi-weekly) from January to June 2025. Workshop #2 will be held in-person during GLOBExCHANGE in Toronto from February 11-13, 2025.

What Are the Responsibilities of a Fellow?

Engagement: Attend all workshops (or as many as possible) with a strong commitment to active participation.
Organizational Support: Ensure your senior leadership is aware of the program and supports your participation (requires approximately 5% of your time over the program duration).
Onboarding: Complete the full onboarding process. The CBSR selection committee will review and select 40 participants based on process completion.
Collaboration: Involve your broader team to maximize the program’s impact within your organization.

How Are Fellows Selected?

CBSR and the selection committee will choose 40 fellows based on their application, organizational support, and diversity. Confirmation of senior leadership support is required as part of the onboarding process.

What Is the Time Commitment?

The Fellowship requires attendance at nine virtual workshops and one in-person event (GLOBExCHANGE 2025). Fellows should expect to spend approximately two hours of independent work before each workshop. The estimated total time commitment is 5% of your working hours over the program’s duration.

How Is Diversity Included in the Fellowship?

We are committed to building a diverse cohort of fellows. The SPF program actively seeks applicants from a variety of ethnicities, abilities, identities, industries, and professions to foster meaningful collaboration and change. CBSR offers five 50% tuition bursaries, prioritizing candidates from non-profits and diverse organizations.

What is sustainable procurement? 

Sustainable procurement ensures that buyers obtain the best value for money when purchasing the most sustainable goods and services from the most sustainable suppliers in support of their organization’s stated purpose and strategic goals.  

This means counting all the costs included in a good or service, not just the initial purchase price, but the impact that the purchase and supplier have on people and the environment. 