Green purchasing: a sustainable opportunity in supermarkets in the metropolitan region of Belém

Abstract

Currently, there is a great concern with environmental issues in all spheres of society, including the business sector. In this context, the management of ecological purchases, known as green purchases or sustainable purchases, becomes one of the correct practices that companies must carry out so that their actions do not cause damage to the environment. Green purchases are a component of the global management of organizations and their role is to help companies become more sustainable. With the objective of evaluating whether green purchases are part of the reality of companies in the supermarket sector that operate in Belém, this study sought to identify, through the analysis of the results of the application of a structured questionnaire, the attitude of managers and suppliers of the network supermarket operator in relation to sustainability practices. The results point to managers' lack of knowledge of environmental obligations, but also indicate a great interest in developing and applying new practices that make companies more competitive and sustainable. It should be noted the difficulty in obtaining information from companies, trying to preserve their strategies and practices from competitors. It is also suggested that the sample be expanded to include other supermarket chains that did not participate in this research.