Cosentino Group Becomes the First Company in the World to Obtain ISO 20400:2017 Certification From the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management
Cosentino Group, the Spanish company and global leader in the production and distribution of innovative surfaces for architecture and design, has become the first company, both in its sector and worldwide, to obtain ISO 20400:2017 certification as in accordance with the guidelines of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM), a grouping of 48 Purchasing and Supply Management Associations from all over the world. This achievement recognizes the responsible management and strict principles of sustainability of the Purchasing Department of this Spanish company, both at home and abroad.
ISO 20400:2017 is the most recent development of UNE 15896:2015, also known as the ‘European Purchasing Standard’, which was established in 2007 with the aim of bringing together the best business practices and providing a guide to help all Purchasing departments lead their companies to excellence. ISO20400:2017 on Sustainable Purchasing was issued in 2017 and aims to highlight and establish the contribution of Purchasing to sustainability and corporate social responsibility policies, by requiring such policies to be applied both internally within the company and by its suppliers and clients.
Having conducted an in-depth and pioneering audit process, with the prior collaboration of the consultancy firm Fullstep, Cosentino was able to obtain this certification. It is private in nature and is valid for three years with yearly renewals, as set out by the Association of Purchasing Professionals of Spain (AERCE), and based on the guidelines established by the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM). These entities, therefore, endorse Cosentino’s commitment to sustainable and efficient management for this function and the creation of added value both for its direct value chain and for society as a whole.
Likewise, this certification ratifies good practices and excellence in the company’s activity in this area and its other spheres of influence: commercial, financial, operations, human resources, work environment, etc. In other words, it confirms that Cosentino’s performance in this function improves savings in the different purchasing divisions; resolves anomalous market situations; is capable of developing alternative products and services; improves supplier markets by encouraging co-responsibility; and generates leadership and progress within the organization.
Julio Martín, Global Vice Chairman for Purchasing at Cosentino Group, stated, “It is a source of pride to be pioneers and industry leaders once again; in this case achieving this certification in accordance with ISO Guide 20400:2017 for Sustainable Purchasing. This milestone reflects our process of continuous improvement and the work we are doing to strengthen the Cosentino Purchasing function. The department’s strategy is fully aligned with the company’s overall strategy, which has led to us being recognized once again in such important areas as ethics, sustainability and responsibility.
This new ISO 20400:2017 Sustainable Purchasing certification meets the new demands and requirements which businesses are now facing: A global and competitive environment demanding real policies to protect the environment, respect people and uphold ethics in business relations. The existence of this Purchasing Standard means that this increasingly important sphere has become a benchmark for good practices for all these requirements. Also of note are the development and reality of Industry 4.0, which also demands the same good work in digital transformation and technological progress.
Iván Martín, head of UNE 15896 and ISO 20400 standards worldwide at AERCE said, “This recognition is just another example of the recognition of the good business practices of a company such as Cosentino, where Purchasing has become the driving force of the management of innovation, digital transformation and sustainability. It is a source of pride to be able to say, once again, that a Spanish company is the first in the world to obtain this type of certification, as it not only guarantees that things are being done well in the Purchasing Department, but that they are being done responsibly and sustainably in respect of the economic, geographical, social and environmental spheres. At AERCE we would like to extend our most sincere congratulations to the entire Cosentino Purchasing team for this unprecedented milestone in the management of a Spanish company.”
Last but not least, it should be noted that this achievement by the Spanish multinational is an addition to other recent recognitions such as that obtained this year by the department’s senior executive, Julio Martín, who received the ‘IFPSM Garner Thémoin Award’, the most prestigious international award in the sector, and the first time ever that a Spanish executive has been granted this award. Last year the Association of Purchasing, Contracting and Procurement Professionals of Spain (AERCE) recognized Cosentino in its ‘El Diamante de la Compra’ award for its commitment to innovation and digital transformation.
