Liverpool’s Community Sustainability Model and What UK Manufacturers Can Learn for Supply Chains

In 2025, UK manufacturers are under greater scrutiny than ever to deliver sustainable, transparent, and resilient supply chains. With new regulations like the Procurement Act 2023 and the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) affecting trade, buyers are demanding more than just competitive pricing, they want trust, traceability, and proof of sustainability.

Liverpool has become a standout example of how local government and communities can embed sustainability at every level. From nature-based solutions to sustainable procurement, the city is proving that sustainability is not just an environmental issue but a strategic and economic advantage.

This blog explores Liverpool’s community sustainability model and shows how Wootz.work applies the same principles to help OEMs and UK manufacturers strengthen their supply chains.

Liverpool’s Recent Sustainability Actions & Models

Here are verified, current initiatives and facts from Liverpool, drawn from local government/environment reports as of mid-September 2025:

1. URBAN GreenUP: Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) & Monitoring

• Liverpool was one of three “front-runner” cities in the URBAN GreenUP project, funded under Horizon 2020, implementing over 40 nature-based solutions across the city. These include rain gardens, green & living walls, floating islands, pollinator spaces, sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), and urban tree planting.
  
  
• Impacts monitored include:
  • Air surface temperature reductions of up to 7.5°C in some areas during hot weather days due to increased vegetation and green infrastructure.  
  • Pollinator counts in certain NbS sites rose by more than 900%.
  • Approximately 5.2 million litres of water diverted annually from sewer systems via green infrastructure and drainage solutions.

2. The Council’s Net Zero & Sustainable Procurement Policies

• Liverpool City Council’s 2030 Net Zero Action Plan includes specific targets to reduce energy consumption by up to 60%, to replace gas heating and hot water with low-carbon/renewable technologies, plus investment in solar, cycle infrastructure, EV/hybrid buses and active transport schemes.
• The Council is investing £4 million in new green infrastructure projects in 2025, such as a further phase of tree planting in the city centre, to help mitigate urban heat, improve air quality and manage flood risk.

3. Embedding Social Value & Ethical Procurement

• Liverpool’s procurement practice includes a Social Value Policy (since 2022) which requires that tenders and contracts from the Council consider economic, environmental, and social benefits, not just cost. This includes local community impact, environmental sustainability, and social value. 
• The University of Liverpool has appointed a Head of Category & Sustainable Procurement and is using tools like NETpositive Futures Supplier Engagement System to engage suppliers across criteria such as climate emergency/ carbon reduction, ethical business practices,and  social/community contribution. As of 2024, about 58% of the top 100 suppliers by spend have supplier plans via that system.

4. Data Transparency & Monitoring

• As part of URBAN GreenUP, monitoring was done pre- and post-intervention: air and water quality, biodiversity, heat, storm water flows. The city has published baseline data, used solar-powered air quality monitors, water flow meters etc.
  
  
• Liverpool is developing public or semi-public platforms/data portals for NbS outcomes (air quality, flood risk, biodiversity) to allow community, businesses, and stakeholders to see progress.

Lessons UK Manufacturers Can Apply to Supply Chains

Liverpool’s approach offers a clear blueprint for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers across the UK. Here’s how manufacturers can translate these lessons into practical supply-chain strategies:

Why This Matters: UK Context in 2025

• The UK Government’s Procurement Act 2023 and related policy is increasing requirements for social value in public contracts. Suppliers are under pressure to supply environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data.
  
  
• Many UK public-sector contracts now require Carbon Reduction Plans (often including supplier chain emissions) under PPN 06/21 for contracts above certain thresholds.
  
  
• The UK’s Net Zero target (2050) and “2030 Net Zero plans” for local authorities mean cities like Liverpool are accelerating policy implementation. This puts pressure on companies in supply chains to align.

Liverpool’s model proves that sustainability, when embedded across infrastructure, procurement, and transparency, creates measurable benefits for communities and businesses alike. For UK manufacturers, the lesson is clear: adopting similar approaches in supply chains strengthens compliance, builds trust with buyers, and improves long-term resilience.

Those that move early will be best placed to win public-sector contracts, meet CBAM and carbon reporting obligations, and attract buyers willing to pay a premium for proven ESG performance. Platforms like Wootz.work make it easier for manufacturers to digitise this process and demonstrate compliance, ensuring sustainability becomes not just a responsibility, but a competitive advantage.

Inspired by models like Liverpool’s, Wootz.work helps UK manufacturers digitise supply chains, track ESG metrics, and ensure compliance with regulations such as the Procurement Act 2023 and CBAM.

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FAQs

Q1: What is Liverpool’s sustainability model?
An integrated framework that combines green infrastructure, net zero planning, ethical procurement, and data transparency to deliver measurable social, economic, and environmental value.

Q2: How does this apply to UK manufacturing supply chains?
Manufacturers can mirror these practices by embedding sustainability in procurement, reducing carbon emissions, engaging local suppliers, and reporting ESG data transparently.

Q3: Why should UK OEMs care?
Because contracts, regulators, and customers now demand it. Compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and carbon reduction requirements is becoming mandatory across supply chains.

Q4: Does sustainability improve competitiveness?
Yes. Deloitte’s 2023 research found that trusted, sustainable suppliers enjoy stronger customer loyalty and premium pricing power.

Q5: What are the next steps for manufacturers?
Audit supply chains for ESG gaps, integrate sustainability into procurement criteria, and begin reporting carbon and social value metrics, before buyers or regulators make it a condition.