Sustainable procurement in the public sector: an international comparative study

Brammer, Stephen; Walker, Helen

doi:10.1108/01443571111119551

Cited by 777Public Procurement and PolicySustainable Supply Chain ManagementEnvironmental Sustainability in Business

Sustainable procurement in the public sector: an international comparative study

Brammer, Stephen, Walker, Helen·2011·International Journal of Operations & Production Management

DOI 10.1108/01443571111119551

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Abstract

Purpose Public bodies are being encouraged to procure sustainably, to reduce their social and environmental footprint and in order to stimulate sustainability in the private sector. However, little is known about how public sector organisations internationally are responding to this encouragement or of the conditions that are most conducive to sustainable procurement (SP). The purpose of this paper is to address these gaps in our knowledge so as to inform policy development at the government and organisational levels. Design/methodology/approach The authors report the findings of a survey of SP practices within a sample of over 280 public procurement practitioners from 20 countries and with collective responsibility for expenditure totalling $45bn p.a. Findings The authors' analysis shows that some SP practices are evident in public sector procurement practice and that the extent and nature of SP practices varies significantly across regions. In addition, the authors highlight the main facilitators of, and barriers to, engagement with SP and investigate their importance for engagement with particular dimensions of SP. Research limitations/implications Survey respondents are volunteers and may to some degree be more interested in, or engaged with, SP than other public sector organisations. The analysis is cross‐sectional and therefore provides only a snapshot of SP practice in the public sector organisations studied. Practical implications The paper identifies how policy and p…

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In the academic literature, there is more research on indirect approaches to GPP than on direct ones.
“In the academic literature, there is more research on indirect approaches than direct ones.”
From Green public procurement as an effective way for sustainable development: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis (2025) · cites this paper as Brammer & Walker, 2011
Individual commitment plays a vital role in the discretionary aspects of GPPs, such as philanthropy and procurement from small and local businesses.
“Individual commitment also plays a vital role in the discretionary aspects of GPPs, such as philanthropy and procurement from small and local businesses (Brammer & Walker, 2011), and generally for moral and ethical motivations.”
From Green public procurement as an effective way for sustainable development: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis (2025) · cites this paper as Brammer & Walker, 2011
Financial constraints hinder the adoption of GPP practices.
“Financial constraints also hinder the adoption of GPP practises (Brammer & Walker, 2011), especially when the economy is prioritised over non-economic dimensions (Treviño-Lozano, 2021) or when sustainability is not considered a priority in the early design of public procurement.”
From Green public procurement as an effective way for sustainable development: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis (2025) · cites this paper as Brammer & Walker, 2011
Financial constraints is a barrier to GPP.
“Financial constraints Brammer and Walker (2011); Treviño-Lozano (2021)”
From Green public procurement as an effective way for sustainable development: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis (2025) · cites this paper as Brammer and Walker (2011)
Individual commitment is a facilitator of GPP.
“Individual commitment Brammer and Walker (2011)”
From Green public procurement as an effective way for sustainable development: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis (2025) · cites this paper as Brammer and Walker (2011)

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Authors: Brammer, S., & Walker, H.
Affiliations: University of Warwick (GB)
Cardiff University (GB)
ORCID: Brammer, Stephen
Walker, Helen
Venue: International Journal of Operations & Production Management
Publisher: Emerald
Published: 2011-03-22
Volume: 31
Issue: 4
Pages: 452-476
ISSN: 0144-3577 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1108/01443571111119551
OpenAlex: W2041478216
Cited by: 731
References: 70
Citations by year: 2026: 50 · 2025: 53 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 68 · 2021: 78 · 2020: 65 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 7
FWCI: 62.20
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.emerald.com/insight/site-policies (tdm)
Locations: International Journal of Operations & Production Management (publishedVersion)
University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Public Procurement and Policy
Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Environmental Sustainability in Business
Keywords: sustainable procurement, public procurement, barriers and facilitators, sustainability policy implementation, cross-national comparison, environmental footprint, social sustainability, procurement policy

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Sustainable procurement in the public sector: an international comparative study

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