Using blockchain technology for sustainable public procurement of road works

Abstract

Governments worldwide face recurrent challenges in incorporating environmental variables into bidding processes. In this context, sustainable public procurement is an important tool for reducing the environmental impact of public organizations. Despite the emergence of digital technologies such as blockchain, which offers potential solutions to complex public sector problems, and the existing implementation of blockchain in databases by some countries, the Brazilian government has not developed the capability to adopt such instruments to improve environmental effectiveness and efficiency. This study proposes a conceptual model for the application of blockchain in sustainable public procurement of road works to facilitate the incorporation of environmental criteria into bidding procedures. Through a content analysis of 25 bidding processes related to road works, the research mapped out key activities, providing insights to propose an integrated solution for the Brazilian National Public Procurement Portal to address environmental issues in procurement processes. The study’s main contribution lies in outlining potential applications of blockchain in public procurement to embrace environmental aspects, demonstrating the feasibility of implementing this technology. Given the emergence of new perspectives to optimize bidding process management and foster environmental sustainability in public administration, the research provides evidence that blockchain can help promote a reliable, decentralized, transparent, and environmentally sustainable bidding structure.