Sustainable procurement: emerging issues

• DOI: 10.1504/ijpm.2009.021729
• Publication Date: 2008-12-02T16:20:26Z
• Authors: Helen Walker; Wendy Phillips
• Keywords: 11. Sustainability; 0502 economics and business; 05 social sciences; 12. Responsible consumption

Sustainable procurement is the pursuit of sustainable development objectives (WCED, 1987) through purchasing and supply process, involves balancing environmental, social economic objectives. It rising on policy agenda for many countries, but knowledge remains limited. This study explores emerging issues focus groups at a workshop. The 44 participants included senior policy-makers, academics practitioners from public private sectors professional bodies. Focus group discussion data were taped analysed. Four themes explored: (1) moving an environmental to dimensions; (2) sustainability innovation; (3) ethical (4) measurement issues. findings seek inform academic practitioner debate procurement.