Sustainable Procurement Strategies for the Aged Care Sector

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As environmental and ethical standards rise across Australia's aged care sector, providers are facing growing expectations—not just to deliver safe and quality care, but to do so sustainably and responsibly.

At RWW Group, we work closely with enterprises to embed ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) principles into their procurement practices, helping them meet regulatory standards while building community trust and operational resilience.

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Environmental: Reducing Impact Through Smart Sourcing

Aged care facilities consume large volumes of uniforms, PPE, linen, and operational supplies—making procurement one of their most impactful environmental levers. RWW supports providers in reducing this footprint through product and logistics innovation.

We offer product lines developed from recycled and organic materials, such as uniforms made from recycled polyester or organic cotton, sourced from suppliers that maintain OEKO-TEX® and ISO 14001 environmental certifications. By choosing these options, providers can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and chemical usage without sacrificing durability or compliance.

On the logistics front, RWW helps clients consolidate procurement processes to reduce transport-related emissions and packaging waste. This includes bulk sourcing, site-based bundling, and demand-driven restocking models that optimise delivery efficiency and cut unnecessary overstocking. This approach aligns with findings published in the Journal of Cleaner Production (Kumar et al., 2021), which showed that consolidated procurement and logistics strategies in healthcare can reduce emissions by up to 40%.

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Social: Supporting Workers, Communities and Quality of Care

Sustainable procurement goes beyond environmental concerns—it’s also about promoting equity, ethical employment, and social responsibility.

RWW actively partners with Indigenous-owned businesses, NDIS-supported operations, and local Australian manufacturers. This allows aged care clients to meet their social procurement objectives while directly contributing to community development and economic participation. These partnerships support alignment with Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) targets and government Indigenous procurement policies.

Ethical sourcing is embedded in all of RWW’s procurement activity. We ensure that our suppliers comply with fair labour standards and the Australian Modern Slavery Act, protecting workers and shielding clients from potential legal and reputational risks. Research from Supply Chain Management: An International Journal (Walker et al., 2020) indicates that organisations embedding social procurement practices see increased stakeholder trust and improved long-term operational stability—both critical outcomes for aged care providers.

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Governance: Compliance, Transparency and Accountability

With increased regulatory scrutiny and sector reforms underway, aged care providers must now demonstrate strong procurement governance and risk oversight.

RWW helps clients implement transparent procurement systems with detailed spend reporting, product traceability, and audit-ready documentation. These systems provide full visibility across multiple sites or departments, ensuring that providers can demonstrate compliance with aged care quality and ESG reporting standards.

Every supplier in our network is evaluated for financial, legal, and ethical risk. This supplier assurance process ensures that aged care organisations are protected from issues such as product non-compliance, labour violations, or supply disruption. According to legal experts at Cowell Clarke (2024), procurement governance is set to become a defining regulatory and investor concern for the aged care industry in the coming years.

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Why It Matters

Sustainable procurement is no longer a peripheral concern in aged care—it is central to how organisations protect their brand, reduce operational risk, and meet the evolving expectations of regulators and families.

By partnering with RWW Group, aged care providers gain access to ESG-aligned products and systems that are ready to scale. This helps them meet the Aged Care Quality Standards, comply with national social and Indigenous procurement policies, appeal to values-driven residents and families, and achieve operational efficiencies through streamlined sourcing.

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Final Thought

Procurement is one of the most powerful tools aged care providers have to enact real change. Every uniform purchased, every order placed, and every supplier selected reflects the values of the organisation. At RWW Group, we help aged care providers ensure those values align with a sustainable, ethical, and accountable future.

If your organisation is looking to transform procurement into a force for good, we’re ready to help you make it happen.

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References

1. Kumar, S., Prakash, A., & Chauhan, P. (2021). Green procurement practices in healthcare supply chains: An empirical assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 314, 128050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128050
2. Walker, H., Miemczyk, J., Johnsen, T.E. (2020). Sustainable procurement: Past, present and future. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 25(2), 123–136.
3. Cowell Clarke Lawyers. (2024). Key ESG Considerations in the Aged Care Sector for FY24. https://www.cowellclarke.com.au/insights/key-esg-considerations-in-the-aged-care-sector-for-fy24
4. MDPI Sustainability Journal. (2021). Environmental and Social Sustainability in Health and Aged Care Services. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/20/11207

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