Evolving Role of Sustainable Procurement in Coming Decades

Abstract

AbstractSustainable procurement has attracted a great deal of attention of leaders, policymakers, and practitioners. The strategic use of public procurement for achieving diverse environmental and social objectives has seen a dramatic rise around the world and its practices are continuously evolving to address emerging situations such as climate change, SDGs, Anti-microbial Resistance, and circular economy. The chapter takes stock of ongoing initiatives on the use of “power of procurement” to address challenges facing the world today. It provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the rationale behind these initiatives and highlights how the purchasing function has transformed and risen to the occasion to contribute towards a greener, circular, and decarbonized world.The chapter explores the strategic use of public procurement in the context of an international trade agreement like the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). The discussions show that international trade and the achievement of national development objectives through public procurement are not a zero-sum game but indeed are compatible. It further examines how emerging digital technologies such as blockchain and Internet of Things could be leveraged to positively influence sustainability outcomes of purchasing decisions. The study finds that though there is a convergence of opinions on the potential use of emerging digital technologies called Industry 4.0, there is yet to emerge a credible model for its ready adoption and replication by contracting authorities.The chapter ends with the discussions of the key takeaways from this book and what lies ahead for sustainable procurement policy. While the rationale for adopting sustainable procurement is well established, future progress will hinge on how it could be used in sync with other economic, fiscal, and market policy instruments to maximize policy outcomes. In addition, it has flagged the avenues for future research that is critical from practitioners and implementation perspective.KeywordsSustainable Procurement & International TradeCircular ProcurementIndustry 4.0 & Sustainable ProcurementSustainable Procurement in Health SectorProcurement for Home Grown School Feeding ProgrammeAntimicrobial Resistance (AMR)Low carbon ProcurementWay Forward for Sustainable Procurement