ISO environmental standards (e.g., ISO 14001) provide a structured framework for managing environmental responsibilities. They support sustainability goals by embedding continual improvement, legal compliance, and stakeholder trust. They are relevant to organisations of all sizes and sectors, not just large firms. While they do not automatically guarantee compliance, they enhance systematic control, training, and supplier engagement. Resistance and complexity can be overcome with phased implementation and awareness- building. CIPS emphasises that adoption of recognised standards demonstrates responsible sourcing, aligns with CSR strategies, and reassures stakeholders about commitment to sustainability.
Reference: CIPS L4M4 Study Guide (v2), LO: "Concepts" - standards, sustainability frameworks, ISO principles.

An Invitation to Tender (ITT) is used when requirements are complex, high-value, or strategic, requiring detailed supplier submissions, robust evaluation, and structured governance. RFQs are better for low-value, straightforward purchases where price is the main factor. ITTs ensure fairness, transparency, and comprehensive evaluation when the stakes are high. It is not chosen simply because of oligopolies or time pressure. Responsible sourcing requires matching the sourcing process to the complexity and risk of the procurement, ensuring appropriate competition and governance.
Reference: CIPS L4M4 Study Guide (v2), LO: "Implementation" - sourcing procedures and their application.

Strategic, high-value categories requiregreater management attention, as they have a significant impact on organisational performance, brand image, and risk exposure. A collaborative relationship allows for innovation, quality improvement, continuity of supply, and alignment with ethical and sustainability objectives. Low-value or non-critical categories are more suited to transactional or arm's length relationships.
Ethical and responsible sourcing requires procurement resources to be prioritised according tovalue and strategic importance, ensuring high-risk categories receive appropriate governance and supplier engagement.
Reference:CIPS L4M4 Ethical & Responsible Sourcing Study Guide (v2) - category management; strategic vs non-critical spend.

The CIPS Code of Conduct says to adhere to all laws of countries in which I practice. So if you're in the UK and procure stuff from China, you need to abide by both UK and Chinese laws, not just UK laws.
There's no international procurement laws- these are all different for different countries.
ILO doesn't publish laws.

Liquidity ratios assess a company's capacity to meet its short-term obligations using its most liquid assets.
These ratios, such as the current ratio and quick ratio, provide insight into the financial health of a company by indicating whether it has sufficient resources to pay off its immediate liabilities without raising external capital.
Exact Extract from Study Guide:
"Liquidity ratios: # Typical ratios: current ratio, quick ratio, cash flow ratio, etc. # Formulae of those ratios # Implications of liquidity ratios