Sustainable organisational procurement: a progressive approach towards sustainable development

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between organisations and their ability to contribute to sustainable development through sustainable procurement. Organisations, particularly corporations and government command an increasingly powerful influence on the economy and society and are required to serve a wide range of stakeholders, including the community, shareholders, employees, customers and suppliers. In total, this sector has the potential to exercise substantial power because of the enormous value of its purchasing expenditure. The paper explores the progress of organisations towards sustainable procurement as part of moving towards becoming a sustainable organisation. To demonstrate this transition, the paper uses a framework based on the phase model of sustainability proposed in' Organizational Change for Corporate Sustainabtlity by Dunphy et al. This framework outlines six phases in a progression towards sustainable procurement (rejection, non-responsiveness, compliance, efficiency, strategic proactivity, sustainable organisation) as part of moving towards becoming a sustainable organisation. development-selection, design and synergies of applied tools',

Life cycle assessment: a time-series analysis of copper

“…The use of tools such as LCA is therefore likely to increase in coming years, as product manufacturers become more concerned with ensuring the sustainability of their materials procurement and their products (Grob and McGregor, 2005). In response, LCA databases are becoming more comprehensive to help determine the impact potential of products made from different minerals coming from different parts of the world.…”

Building Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

“…The regulatory framework is essential for countries to achieve sustainable goals [2]. Grob and McGregor [26] concluded that the environmental obligations included in the standards should be adapted to society's current expectations and in a continuous evolution process. These policies are therefore crucial to implement sustainability goals adequately [52].…”

Hotspot Scenario Analysis

“…The boundary of activities scrutinized by civil society is also expanding, extending beyond the immediate organization to supply‐chain activities, often performed by multiple entities, to deliver a valuable product or service (Smith ; Van den Broek ; Vachon and Klassen ). In these instances, procurement finds itself in the unique position to influence supply markets, for example, by increasing the recycled content of paper and plastic products, lowering the toxicity of products, or increasing energy efficiency in upstream manufacturing operations (Berry et al ; Albano and Sparro ; Hall ; Grob and McGregor ; Coggburn and Rahm ; Erdmenger ). Similarly, in a public procurement setting, Executive Orders 13423 and 13514 require U.S. federal agencies to purchase environmentally preferable products and services and meet specific energy, water, and waste reduction targets.…”