World Rugby helps suppliers consider nature 

Background

World Rugby is the international governing body for rugby union, with a responsibility not only to grow the sport but also to ensure its development aligns with environmental stewardship.  

As part of its wider Environmental Sustainability Plan, which was published in 2022, the organisation developed a Sustainable Procurement Guide aimed at embedding sustainability — including nature and biodiversity considerations — into its purchasing processes and supply chain decisions. 

Challenge

The organisation recognised that procurement decisions have significant environmental impacts, especially through the sourcing of goods, services and materials for international tournaments and operations.  

However, there was a lack of clear guidance on how to evaluate suppliers and contracts through a sustainability lens, especially when it came to addressing nature-related impacts such as habitat loss, resource use and pollution. Encouraging suppliers to meet these new expectations, while maintaining quality and cost-effectiveness, added another layer of complexity. 

Result and impact

The guide has become a foundational tool within World Rugby’s operations, used to shape procurement across tournaments and day-to-day activities. It has helped shift conversations with suppliers from cost and delivery alone to a more holistic dialogue that includes nature, materials and sustainability commitments.  

For example, decisions on merchandise and catering now include biodiversity impact as a factor, encouraging more responsible sourcing and innovation from vendors. 

World Rugby also shared the guide with its national unions to broaden the impact beyond its own operations. 

Lessons learned

Developing the guide highlighted the importance of bridging strategy and implementation. Clear, practical tools made it easier for staff to take sustainability seriously and act on it.  

Engaging suppliers early and collaboratively was also key — rather than imposing new rules, the guide opened a shared pathway to more sustainable practices.