Sustainable procurement in the United Kingdom public sector

TLDR

The UK government aims to lead Europe in sustainable procurement by 2009, and early progress is encouraging, though the survey may be biased toward practitioners already engaged in sustainability. This study surveys sustainable procurement practices across the UK public sector and introduces a conceptual framework of influencing factors. A questionnaire based on established purchasing social responsibility scales was distributed to 106 UK public‑sector procurement officers, yielding data for analysis and a conceptual framework. Survey results show wide variation in sustainable procurement across agencies, with local authorities favoring local and small suppliers, education emphasizing environmental aspects, health lagging, cost as the main barrier, and top‑management support as the key facilitator.

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate sustainable procurement in the UK public sector. Design/methodology/approach Sustainable procurement is investigated using a questionnaire that draws on established scales for “purchasing social responsibility”. The survey was administered across the UK public sector, and 106 responses were received from procurement officers. Findings Analysis of quantitative and qualitative survey data reveal 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/implications 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. 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 This paper 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.