The Importance of Sustainable Procurement in Public Institutions

Abstract

Sustainable procurement has in the recent past generated considerable interest world over considering the potential benefit it presents in preserving the environment and other aspects of human life and development. This is more seemingly been applied more in private firms than in the public sector organisations. The research sought to add to the knowledge of sustainable procurement and how organisations in the public sector can embrace it to facilitate development and service delivery. The research outlined the importance of sustainability and the challenges that organisations face when implementing initiatives. The outcomes of the research indicate that there was lack of clear policy guidelines in most public institutions to embrace and act on the pillars of sustainability. There was also a lack of top management commitment to ensure that sustainability is implemented in public institutions. There was a need for public institutions to ensure that a comprehensive skills development and training in sustainable procurement is undertaken to foster implementation and awareness across the organisation especially procurement professionals.