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1 – 10 of 76Junqi Liu, Yanlin Ma, Andrea Appolloni and Wenjuan Cheng
This study aims to uncover the black box of the influence mechanism between external stakeholder drivers and green public procurement practice, and meanwhile to explore the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to uncover the black box of the influence mechanism between external stakeholder drivers and green public procurement practice, and meanwhile to explore the moderating role of administrative level in this process. Green public procurement (GPP) has been widely implemented. Existing literature has found that external stakeholder drivers can affect public sectors' GPP practice, however, the definition of its connotation is still unclear, and how external stakeholders affect GPP practice has remained a black box.
Design/methodology/approach
After defining the major external stakeholders, this study develops a multiple mediation theoretical model using survey data from 142 Chinese local public sectors. It aims to uncover the black box of the influence mechanism between external stakeholder drivers and GPP practice and meanwhile explore the moderating effect of administrative levels in this process.
Findings
The results show that external stakeholder drivers have a positive relationship with GPP practices. The knowledge of GPP implementation policies and the knowledge of GPP benefits can both mediate this relationship. This study also finds that the administrative level of public sectors can positively moderate the mediating effect produced by the knowledge of GPP implementation policies and negatively moderate the mediation effect produced by the knowledge of GPP benefits.
Social implications
Local governments need to better encourage public sectors to implement GPP. Managers of public sectors need to pay attention to organizational learning to acquire relevant knowledge on GPP.
Originality/value
This study makes a theoretical contribution to a better understanding of the influence mechanism for GPP practice. This study also provides comparisons of GPP implementation policies between China and European Union.
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Federico Galán-Valdivieso, Juana Alonso-Cañadas, Laura Saraite-Sariene and Carmen Caba-Perez
Green Public Procurement (GPP) has recently gained attention in the academic and policy arenas since climate change has uncovered the need to be addressed by both private…
Abstract
Purpose
Green Public Procurement (GPP) has recently gained attention in the academic and policy arenas since climate change has uncovered the need to be addressed by both private companies and public entities. Because of this growing interest this study aims to explore the most influential journals, publishers, categories, topics and therecent trends and future research lines in GPP.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the Web of Science database, 1,008 articles from 1990 to November 2023 devoted to GPP are analysed by using Bibliometrix, an R-tool to perform bibliometric analysis.
Findings
This study introduces the following findings. The most influential journals by far are Journal of Cleaner Production and Sustainability, differing in that the latter is open access (OA) while the former publishes through traditional subscription (TS). This result also occurs regarding the main publishers (Elsevier and MDPI).
Social implications
GPP is a political commitment that contributes to improving the efficiency of the economies and that has aroused the interest of the scientific community. The paper can provide important insights for GPPs formulation in the areas of procurements and literacy.
Originality/value
The paper leads a debate on the opportunities or threats that the OA journals present for the dissemination of scientific knowledge of GPP, compared to TS publications in the same field.
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Green public procurement (GPP) may be a viable solution and an innovative policy tool for public managers to address complex environmental issues facing communities globally…
Abstract
Purpose
Green public procurement (GPP) may be a viable solution and an innovative policy tool for public managers to address complex environmental issues facing communities globally. Given their substantial purchasing power, local GPP initiatives and success can accelerate a transition toward a more sustainable society through governments' influence over the private sector. The study's central research question is: What are the factors associated with US local governments' engagement with GPP practices?
Design/methodology/approach
This research applies the Mohr's (1969) model of motivations, obstacles and resources (MOR) and draws on original, comprehensive and national survey data collected in collaboration with NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement to explain adoption of GPP as an innovative policy tool. To ensure the robustness of the findings, the data are analysed by running two types of regression – ordinal logistic and negative binomial – using two different operationalizations for the dependent variable, a GPP scale (ordinal) and a GPP scorecard (count).
Findings
The decision surrounding GPP adoption is ultimately driven by organizations’ strategic visions, organizations’ familiarity with the GPP concept and practices, and mandates from the federal government through funding mechanisms.
Originality/value
This study offers guidance to both academic researchers and policymakers in public management and public budgeting and finance on strategies and policy options to expand GPP adoption and utilization.
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Conghu Wang, Yuhua Qiao and Xiaoming Li
This paper aims to identify important factors in green public procurement (GPP) implementation and then to clarify how these factors affect GPP implementation.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify important factors in green public procurement (GPP) implementation and then to clarify how these factors affect GPP implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors applied the Delphi method first and then conducted a focused and constrained multiple case study at 18 government procurement centers across China.
Findings
The authors identified four clusters of factors for successful GPP implementation: more clear, consistent and operational policy goals; a nation-wide green procurement campaign to enhance social capital and cultural resources; promoting staff’s ethics, professionalism, capacity and knowledge; and establishing checks and balances among organizations involved in the whole purchasing process.
Social implications
GPP can significantly improve environmental protection and sustainable development.
Originality/value
Based on key insights from systems theory and agency theory, the authors emphasize that GPP implementation must take down its own functional silos and adopt a process approach across organizational tiers to synchronize human resource based and inter-organizational capabilities into a unified whole through information sharing, communications and collaboration.
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Markus Amann, Jens K. Roehrich, Michael Eßig and Christine Harland
The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence of connections between sustainability policy goals included in public procurement tenders and offers and their achievement through…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence of connections between sustainability policy goals included in public procurement tenders and offers and their achievement through contract award.
Design/methodology/approach
Two hypotheses based on extant literature and the inducement–contribution theory were tested by means of a survey of 281 procurement files from 2007 to 2009 relating to eight product categories and four European Union (EU) member states. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Findings
Findings indicate that public procurement was more effective in influencing socially responsible goals than environmental goals. In terms of supplier readiness, vendors achieved greater progress in delivering green than socially responsible operations.
Research limitations/implications
The collection and analysis of data are based on procurement files, which is a new but also a complex procedure. In comparison to survey data, the data from procurement file analysis are less biased.
Practical implications
Public procurement practitioners and sustainability policymakers should consider the use of public procurement as a lever to attain environmental and socially responsible goals.
Social implications
Evidence has been provided to demonstrate the strategic use of public procurement impacts on environmental and socially responsible goals, thereby benefiting society.
Originality/value
This study contributes in three main ways: first, by adding to existing, limited research on the use of public procurement as a lever of policy goals attainment; second, by examining environmental and socially responsible policy in one study; and third, through providing evidence across EU member states.
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Mieko Igarashi, Luitzen de Boer and Gerit Pfuhl
Given the complexity of green public procurement, decisions are likely to be driven by bounded rationality. However, we know little about what determines supplier selection…
Abstract
Given the complexity of green public procurement, decisions are likely to be driven by bounded rationality. However, we know little about what determines supplier selection criteria in any given situation. This study explores buyer behavior when considering environmental criteria. We first conducted interviews and identified 12 operational procedures used by buyers. We then developed a survey to explore the use of these procedures. Our quantitative analysis suggests that public buyers are motivated by their belief that they can make a difference. This is independent of buyers' experience or gender. However, their occupational position and the nature of a procurement seem to influence how buyers seek information about environmental criteria and which information source(s) they use. The data suggest that four specific decision-making heuristics are associated with the selected operational procedures.
Abderahman Rejeb, Karim Rejeb, Andrea Appolloni and Stefan Seuring
The literature on public procurement (PP) has increased significantly in recent years, and, to date, several reviews have been conducted to study this relevant subject…
Abstract
Purpose
The literature on public procurement (PP) has increased significantly in recent years, and, to date, several reviews have been conducted to study this relevant subject. Nevertheless, a bibliometric analysis of the PP knowledge domain is still missing. To fill this knowledge gap, a bibliometric review is carried out to investigate the current state of PP research.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 640 journal articles are selected from the Scopus database for the final analysis. The performance indicators of the literature are identified and explained through bibliometric analysis. Furthermore, the conceptual and intellectual structures are studied through a keyword co-occurrence network and bibliographic coupling.
Findings
The results of the review indicate that PP research has increased significantly in recent years. The top ten most productive journals, countries, authors and academic institutions are identified. The findings from the keyword co-occurrence network reveal six main research themes including innovation, corruption and green public procurement (GPP). By applying bibliographic coupling, the focus of PP research revolves around seven thematic areas: GPP, corruption, the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in PP, electronic PP, innovation, labour standards and service acquisition. The research potential of each thematic area is evaluated using a model based on maturity and recent attention (RA).
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to successfully organise, synthesise and quantitatively analyse the development of the PP domain amongst a large number of publications on a large time scale.
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Jacco Robbert Jan van Berkel and Fredo Schotanus
This paper aims to study the short-term effects of a new procurement policy document on the inclusion of environmental requirements and green award criteria in tenders. The policy…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the short-term effects of a new procurement policy document on the inclusion of environmental requirements and green award criteria in tenders. The policy document is named “Procurement with Impact” and was released by the Dutch central government to further stimulate Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP).
Design/methodology/approach
Central government tenders were quantitatively analyzed in the six months prior and after the release of the new policy on their inclusion of environmental concerns. This judgment was made based on the role of environmental concerns in the requirements and the award criteria. As a control group, the same was done on a municipal level, for which the new policy document does not apply. Each of the four samples contained 60 tenders. Data was acquired via the European public procurement database TED. In the analysis, a chi-square test was used to measure whether a significant difference exists between the two periods for each group.
Findings
Results show that central government has procured in a more environmentally concerned way after the release of “Procurement with Impact.” Within a year, the number of green tenders conducted by central government significantly increased from 30% to 55%. No significant difference was found on a municipal level.
Social implications
SPP has received increasing attention over the past few decades but has not led to implementation of its principles in most public tenders. As SPP can have a major impact on a more sustainable and social society, it is important to understand how policy can influence the sustainability of tenders. The findings of our study show that “Procurement with impact” had a significant positive short-term effect on the inclusion of green award criteria and requirements in public tenders. Implementing similar SPP policies in other government sectors and other countries could have a substantial effect on the worldwide uptake of SPP.
Originality/value
“Procurement with Impact” contains a clear sustainable vision embracing the principles of SPP. This government policy takes into account several SPP barriers and drivers and satisfies several policy theory conditions. The authors show in the paper that this policy is an effective instrument for increasing the inclusion of environmental concerns in tenders. As the difference is already significant within a year, this could also reflect the readiness of tenderers to turn to SPP once there is a clear organization wide policy.
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Tonny Ograh, Joshua Ayarkwa, Alex Acheampong and Dickson Osei-Asibey
There is sufficient literature on green knowledge regarding supplier selections. Notwithstanding, there are hardly any empirical studies that analyze green knowledge toward…
Abstract
Purpose
There is sufficient literature on green knowledge regarding supplier selections. Notwithstanding, there are hardly any empirical studies that analyze green knowledge toward supplier selection through the lenses of green intellectual capital (GIC). This paper aims to analyze green knowledge development toward supplier selection through the lenses of GIC.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses an exploratory case study approach involving seven public universities in Ghana. A purposive sampling technique was used in selecting respondents who were interviewed through face-to-face and focus group discussions with a semistructured interview guide. Atlas ti software was used to generate themes for discussion.
Findings
The findings of this study attribute the nonapplication of green criteria to supplier selection to low knowledge among practitioners. Training, collaboration, opportunities for further studies and affiliation with professional bodies were identified as means to enhance green knowledge. Green human capital factors that support knowledge enhancement include commitment, capability, skills and ease of understanding.
Practical implications
Green procurement practitioners in public universities in developing countries stand little chance of integrating green criteria into supplier selection if they do not develop their level of knowledge.
Social implications
Selecting green suppliers is a complex issue for public organizations, particularly universities. This study would therefore help equip managers of public universities and procurement practitioners with the relevant GIC knowledge for the successful integration of green credentials into supplier selection.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the importance of knowledge in green supplier selection. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, analyzing the role of GIC in knowledge development is considered the first of this kind of study.
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Nur Faiza Ishak and Vinesh Thiruchelvam
The purpose of this study is to discuss policy review in the interest of sustainable innovations in Malaysia’s public procurement. This study also offers the overall relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to discuss policy review in the interest of sustainable innovations in Malaysia’s public procurement. This study also offers the overall relationship between existing policies related to sustainable innovations in public procurement and the coherences towards the four dimensions of sustainable innovations.
Design/methodology/approach
This study outlines the current policies in Malaysia which are related to sustainable innovation initiatives and explores the cohesiveness that appears disconnected and understood separately. Policy content analysis is conducted on the current policies related to sustainable innovations in the context of Malaysia’s public procurement.
Findings
This study observed that the current policies related to sustainable innovations in public procurement are actually interconnected with each other through a hierarchical framework. This study also demonstrates that the 12th Malaysia Plan has comprehensively encompassed every aspect of the environment, social, economic and innovation to contribute to one primary goal – green economic growth.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed policy framework is expected to be beneficial for the administrator executive among the civil servant to connect the independent policies and, at the same time, contribute to the overall goal of green economic growth. Through a broad policy structure too, this study helps the industry player to recognize their potential in any area related to sustainable innovation.
Originality/value
The policy framework illustrated is new to the literature, especially in Malaysia’s context. The compilation of current policy grounded by the 12th Malaysia Plan has not been presented in any publications.
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