The Untapped Power of Disability-Led Social Procurement
This article is part of our ‘ESG Insights: Driving Impact through Inclusion’ series, which was originally published on our LinkedIn on July 29, 2025. To get immediate access to future articles in our exclusive content on ESG and inclusion, be sure to Follow us on LinkedIn.
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What Is Social Procurement?
Social procurement is the practice of using an organisation’s purchasing power to generate social value that extends beyond the goods or services being acquired. Instead of focusing solely on price or efficiency, social procurement intentionally directs spending toward suppliers that deliver positive social outcomes — such as disability-led social enterprises — thereby creating broader community benefits. In essence, it’s about making every dollar spent count for both business and society.
"Traditional procurement refers to all business processes related to sourcing activities to obtain goods, services and constructions. It covers the entire life cycle from identification of needs to the end of a service contract or end of useful life and subsequent disposal of the asset. For business-to-business services, it includes outsourcing daily cleaning, pest control, design and marketing, printer leasing, vehicle maintenance, etc. Besides, it includes the organisational and governance framework that underpins the procurement function.” ~ Design Studio MZ+MM [1]
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Why Disability-Led Social Procurement Matters
Disability-led social enterprises, owned and operated by persons with disabilities (PWD), offer a unique and powerful avenue for corporations to drive meaningful social change. By prioritising procurement from these enterprises, businesses can:
Advance authentic inclusion in their value chains: Integrating disability-led enterprises into procurement not only opens economic opportunities for PWD but also embeds genuine diversity and inclusion within corporate supply chains, moving beyond symbolic gestures to systemic change. This approach aligns with government and sector commitments to reduce the disability employment gap and foster local economic empowerment.
Support economic empowerment for PWD: Purchasing from disability-led social enterprises helps create sustainable jobs and career pathways for disabled people, addressing longstanding employment inequalities. This economic participation enables PWD to contribute fully to society, while social procurement policies worldwide demonstrate measurable growth in contracts awarded to such enterprises, reinforcing their critical role in inclusive economic development.
Demonstrate leadership in ESG and diversity: By championing disability-led social procurement, companies showcase their commitment to the social pillar of ESG in a way that is strategic, impactful, and credible. This leadership not only enhances corporate reputation but also meets increasing stakeholder expectations for authentic social value creation and inclusive business practices.
Business Benefits: Innovation, Reputation, and Employee Engagement
Innovation is the Edge:
Disability-led enterprises are at the forefront of inclusive design and accessibility. Their lived experience translates into products and services that not only meet compliance standards but often exceed market expectations for usability and creativity. This diversity of thought is a proven driver for innovation and competitive advantage.
“In the UK, Social Enterprise UK launched the Buy Social Corporate Challenge initiative in 2016. As a result, the industry has 250 SEs supplying corporations such as Johnson & Johnson, BP, SAP, and more. In addition, IKEA established IKEA Social Entrepreneurship to promote SE partners as suppliers.” ~ Hetal Sheth, Sopact Perspectives, 2022. [2]
Amongst Stakeholders, Reputation Matters :
Social procurement signals a genuine commitment to ESG values. Companies that integrate disability-led suppliers into their procurement strategies are increasingly recognised by customers, investors, and regulators as responsible and forward-thinking. This reputation boost can open new markets and deepen stakeholder loyalty.
“Social Procurement offers an improvement of 50% in: ESG goals, Increase of the corporate brand value, development of goodwill and building economic relationships with external stakeholders, and enhancement of customers’ responsible brand awareness.” ~ International Labour Organisation, Social Procurement Guide, 2021. [3]
Employee Engagement Boosts Possibilities:
Research shows that 80% of companies involved in social procurement report improved employee engagement and talent acquisition [4]. Employees want to work for organisations that align with their values and contribute to societal good. Supporting disability-led enterprises provides a tangible way for staff to connect with the company’s purpose.
“But metrics aren’t the only attention-getting device. Symbols and signage are also important. Marks & Spencer has signs galore encouraging employees to take the stairs rather than an elevator, if only for a few floors. At Unilever, notices in washrooms and WCs are used to engage employees in the social purpose of Domestos on the United Nations’ World Toilet Day and in Lifebuoy’s social mission on Global Handwashing Day.” ~ Stanford Social Innovation Review “Engaging Employees to Create a Sustainable Business”, 2016. [5]
Global Trends and Data
Mainstream Momentum: Social procurement is a global movement gaining traction across sectors. Major corporations like SAP and Deloitte have set targets to source a significant portion of their spend from social enterprises, including those led by PWD.
Policy Drivers: Governments in regions like Australia and the EU are embedding social procurement frameworks into public sector purchasing, recognising the economic and social benefits of supporting diverse suppliers.
Sustainability & ESG: Sustainable and responsible sourcing is now central to procurement strategies worldwide. Companies are under increasing pressure from consumers, investors, and regulators to ensure their supply chains reflect ethical, inclusive, and sustainable practices.
Local Impact: With supply chain resilience and local purchasing on the rise, disability-led social enterprises are well-positioned to deliver both social value and business continuity.
Conclusion
Disability-led social procurement is not just a compliance exercise — it’s a strategic lever for innovation, reputation, and employee engagement. By embedding disability inclusion into procurement decisions, corporations can unlock untapped value, drive authentic impact, and lead the way in the evolving ESG landscape.
Sources:
https://designbypods.hk/esg-social-procurement-policy-strategy-solution-why-how-extended#what
https://impactentrepreneur.com/corporate-supply-chains-social-procurement/
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/engaging_employees_to_create_a_sustainable_business
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Design Studio MZ+MM makes Social Procurement sensible.
Design Studio MZ+MM is a social enterprise (SEE Mark No. SEE 0114) based in Hong Kong, providing various types of graphic design services. Currently, the team is composed of hearing-impaired and hearing designers who practice disability inclusion, which is the primary reason for promoting "diversity, equity and inclusion" in corporate organizations. We support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDGs: 10 “Reduced Inequalities” and 17 “Promote Partnerships for the Goals”.
In addition to providing job opportunities for diverse talents, this social enterprise also helps corporate clients implement advanced governance concepts. We also firmly believe that Design Studio MZ+MM is still the only social procurement solution practitioner and provider in Hong Kong, providing professional design services in the true sense of social procurement and adding multiple levels of added social value. To learn more about the vision and mission of this social enterprise, please click this link to jump to the Social Impact page.
