Broader and more intensive sustainable public procurement: a legitimacy theory perspective

Ruben Nicolas; Fredo Schotanus

doi:10.1080/14719037.2025.2507943

Broader and more intensive sustainable public procurement: a legitimacy theory perspective

Ruben Nicolas^*
, Fredo Schotanus

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Public organizations increasingly engage in sustainable public procurement (SPP), but their efforts vary. Analysing 1,346 Dutch public tenders, we explore the applicability of legitimacy theory to explain how the visibility of procurement actions affects SPP efforts. We find that the use of third-party certificates is positively associated with SPP efforts, indicating that there is no box-ticking behaviour. SPP efforts are also increasing in tenders that are more valuable and publicly visible. Finally, SPP efforts correspond with the organization’s publicly stated SPP-commitments. The findings support legitimacy theory: public buyers strengthen SPP efforts when their actions are visible and sustainability is well regarded.

Original language	English
Journal	Public Management Review
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2025.2507943
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 26 May 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Funding

The authors declare that this study was conducted in collaboration with Stichting Klimaatvriendelijk Aanbesteden & Ondernemen (SKAO) and that it is part of a larger project subsidized by the IKEA foundation. The authors and SKAO have a common interest in advancing sustainable development through research, analysis and knowledge development and exchange, with a view to build upon their shared interests and their distinct expertise. SKAO has submitted a proposal for the project 'Accelerating Decarbonisation through the Power of Procurement, through dissemination of the CO2 Performance Ladder. Phase 2: Implementation and Expansion', which has been granted by the IKEA foundation. This article is one of more studies that is part of the project's working package 7 (WP7). WP7 concentrates on a scientific evaluation on the effectiveness of the CO2-PL as procurement tool. In addition, the authors and colleagues provide various supporting activities to the other working packages. The authors also declare that partial funding was received to conduct public procurement research from the Dutch Ministry of Defense, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations/DGOO, Ministry of Justice and Security, Municipality of Amsterdam, Municipality of The Hague, Tax and Customs Administration, National Police, Central government purchasing cooperation (RIS), Public employment services organization in the Netherlands (UWV), Stichting Rijk, and the Dutch association for purchasing management (Nevi). The funders were not involved in the study design, analysis, the writing of this article, or the decision to submit it for publication.

Funders
Ikea Foundation
Dutch Ministry of Defense
Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations/DGOO
Ministry of Justice and Security
Municipality of Amsterdam
Municipality of the Hague
Tax and Customs Administration
National Police
Central government purchasing cooperation (RIS)
Public employment services organization in the Netherlands (UWV)
Stichting Rijk

Keywords

Public procurement
box-ticking
legitimacy
sustainability
visibility

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10.1080/14719037.2025.2507943Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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abstract = "Public organizations increasingly engage in sustainable public procurement (SPP), but their efforts vary. Analysing 1,346 Dutch public tenders, we explore the applicability of legitimacy theory to explain how the visibility of procurement actions affects SPP efforts. We find that the use of third-party certificates is positively associated with SPP efforts, indicating that there is no box-ticking behaviour. SPP efforts are also increasing in tenders that are more valuable and publicly visible. Finally, SPP efforts correspond with the organization{\textquoteright}s publicly stated SPP-commitments. The findings support legitimacy theory: public buyers strengthen SPP efforts when their actions are visible and sustainability is well regarded.",

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Broader and more intensive sustainable public procurement: a legitimacy theory perspective

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

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