At this time of year, it’s hard to avoid end-of-year summaries. From Spotify and Accor to LinkedIn, many of us are being presented with statistics telling us what we listened to, where we travelled and how our networks grew.

In this edition, I focus on three sustainability and social value trends shaping public transport procurement, alongside practical recommendations for action. With 2026 now only four years from 2030, a milestone year for a range of government commitments, including Dubai’s Vision 2030 and the UK’s ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, scrutiny of sustainability and social value commitments is increasing.

1. Quantification of Sustainability/Social Value Will Continue to Tighten

In 2025, social value in the UK typically accounted for 10–20% of total bid scoring, fundamentally shaping both tender outcomes and contract delivery expectations. What has changed most over the past year is the level of scrutiny applied to how this social value is defined, measured and evidenced.

Authorities are increasingly asking not just what value will be delivered, but how it will be quantified, monitored and assured over time. This is driving a shift away from broad commitments towards clearer metrics, baselines and reporting frameworks that can stand up to audit and contract management.

Recommendation: Ensure social value commitments are supported by clear baselines, proportionate KPIs and realistic reporting arrangements that can be sustained (and if possible automated) throughout the contract.

2. Circular Economy Thinking Will Move into Procurement Practice

Circular economy principles are increasingly referenced in strategies and policy documents, but 2026 is likely to see them more explicitly reflected in procurement requirements. This will include greater emphasis on:

• Tracking and monitoring waste streams
• Materials, maintenance and end-of-life planning
• Making more effective use of existing resources rather than continual replacement, e.g. upcycling materials at end of life.

For suppliers, this means being able to demonstrate not just environmental intent, but how circular principles are applied practically within contracts and delivery models.

Recommendation: Focus on a smaller number of credible circular economy interventions that can be clearly evidenced in delivery, rather than broad statements of intent. For more information on circular economy, please see here.​

3. Doing More with Less Is Becoming the Default Assumption

Volatility across funding, labour markets and supply chains is now a constant rather than an exception. Procurement expectations are increasingly shaped by the assumption that organisations must deliver more value with finite or constrained resources.

This places greater emphasis on:

• Realistic resourcing and mobilisation plans
• Proportionate commitments that can be sustained
• Delivery credibility over bid ambition

In this context, over-commitment is becoming a growing commercial and reputational risk.

Recommendation: Prioritise commitments that are operationally deliverable within existing capacity and avoid over-promising at bid stage where delivery cannot be demonstrated.

Together, these signals point to a procurement environment where credibility, proportionality and delivery confidence matter more than ever when writing and designing sustainability and social value strategies.

Curated Reading

Some holiday reading to close out 2025:

✈️ Blended wings: the sci-fi look that may shape tomorrow’s airliners – BBC Future 👉 https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20251107-blended-wings-the-sci-fi-look-that-may-shape-tomorrows-airliners​

🎨 Underground art: the unique designs inside London Tube seats – The Guardian 👉 https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/dec/11/underground-art-unique-designs-london-tube-seats​

🧍♀️🚌 A brief look at the importance of cycle lanes in Abuja (Instagram only)👉 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRq-P6xlWvn/?igsh=MTI2dDFtcmVvOWF2OA==​

Upcoming events in 2026

Plans for 2026 are still taking shape so in this edition there isn't a list of upcoming events. However, If you’d like to sense-check priorities, bids, or delivery plans in the new year, you’re very welcome to book a short conversation here.​

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Surbon Consulting helps transport and infrastructure companies win bids and deliver measurable sustainability outcomes. You’re receiving this newsletter because you subscribed via our website or LinkedIn. You may unsubscribe anytime, and are always welcome back.