Bridging the Gap: Rethinking Sustainability in Defence Procurement

In an era where climate consciousness is transforming every industry, defence procurement remains a sleeping giant. My recent MBA dissertation set out to explore this very frontier; specifically, how sustainability is (or isn’t) embedded within the British Armed Forces’ defence procurement system. Using combat footwear, a high-volume, high-wear item as a case study, I uncovered a clear disconnect between sustainability rhetoric and reality.

Why Combat Boots?

You might wonder why focus on boots. The British Ministry of Defence procures over 100,000 pairs of combat boots annually. That’s a staggering environmental footprint when you consider materials, manufacturing, logistics, and disposal. Yet, despite this scale, sustainability typically accounts for a token 5% of procurement scoring in defence tenders.

Key Findings: Walking the Talk

The research combined literature analysis with interviews across procurement professionals, suppliers, and defence policymakers. Here are the standout insights:

• Sustainability is an afterthought: Often treated as a tick-box exercise, sustainability lacks meaningful influence on procurement decisions.
• Cost trumps carbon: Contracts are awarded primarily on cost and performance. Long-term lifecycle impacts and circular economy principles are rarely considered.
• Education is lacking: Stakeholders, from end users to procurement officers, often lack the access to knowledge or tools that would help them prioritise sustainable alternatives.
• Innovation exists, but isn’t embraced: Recycled materials, biodegradable components, and circular economy models are viable, but remain sidelined due to cultural resistance and perceived performance risks.
• Policy isn’t the problem, implementation is: While MOD and UK government policies support sustainability, the top down drive for practical uptake in defence procurement at the commodity end is inconsistent and fragmented.

Barriers to Progress

Several systemic barriers emerged:

• Perceived cost and risk of change
• Lack of clear incentives for suppliers
• Limited end-of-life planning for equipment
• Fragmented collaboration across departments

So, What’s the Path Forward?

The study doesn’t just highlight the problem – it outlines a practical roadmap for change:

1. Boost sustainability weightings in procurement scoring to drive real competition on green credentials and drive suppliers to implement change.
2. Adopt lifecycle costing and circular economy principles to measure true value, not just purchase price.
3. Invest in stakeholder education to close the knowledge gap and encourage change.
4. Run pilot trials of sustainable materials and technologies before full adoption to give proof of concept.
5. Promote collaborative innovation between MOD, suppliers, and academia to make a difference.

Final Thoughts: Time to Lace Up

Combat boots are just one part of a massive commodity supply chain. If we can tackle sustainability here, the lessons are scalable across all defence commodities, from uniforms to rations. The stakes are high: defence is responsible for up to 50% of UK central government emissions. But with the right mindset, policies, and partnerships, the sector can be both mission-ready and environmentally responsible.