Abstract
Purpose: This study investigates sustainable procurement in the United Kingdom
public sector.
Methodology/ Approach: Sustainable procurement is investigated using a
questionnaire that draws on established scales for ‘Purchasing Social
Responsibility’(Carter & Jennings, 2004). The survey has been administered across
the UK public sector, and 106 responses have been received from procurement
officers.
Findings: Analysis of quantitative and qualitative survey data reveals there is
significant variation across public sector agencies in the nature of sustainable
procurement practice. Local authorities have a particularly strong emphasis on buying
from local and small suppliers relative to other sectors, health looks generally lower in
many categories and education appears to have something of an emphasis on
environmental aspects of sustainable procurement. Cost has been found to be the
leading barrier to sustainable procurement, and top management support the leading
facilitator.
Research limitations: There is likely to be selection bias in the sample, with those
practitioners engaging in the sustainability agenda being more likely to have
responded to the questionnaire.
Research implications: The United Kingdom government has an objective amongst
the leaders in Europe on sustainable procurement by 2009, and early signs are
encouraging that progress towards this goal is underway.
Originality/value of paper: This research provides the first survey of sustainable
procurement practices across the UK public sector. It also provides a conceptual
framework of influences upon the propensity to engage in sustainable procurement
practice.
Original language | English |
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Place of Publication | Bath, U. K. |
Publication status | Unpublished - 19 Dec 2007 |
Bibliographical note
This working paper is produced for discussion purposes only. The papers are expected to be published in due course, in revised form and should not be quoted without the author’s permission.Keywords
- Public sector
- Sustainable procurement
- United Kingdom