Government Green Procurement in Sustainable Infrastructure Development

Infrastructure development is becoming more significant to an economic growth in many countries. A systematic delivery system regardless by traditional or non-traditional procurement methods is a common condition which has considerable impact on project outcome. In recent times, Government Green Procurement (GGP) has received a great attention among stakeholders in procuring products, services and construction works, particularly in public sector. In developing countries such as Malaysia, GGP have been beneficial by enhancing environmental concern to conserve natural resources, however, the evidence in terms of its implementation is still undiscovered. Due to this deficiency, this paper aims to determine the significant attributes of GGP, and to address the significant strategies of GGP in infrastructure project development. Exploratory study was conducted by reviewing literatures extensively and followed with expert interviews. Content analysis method was used to analyse the data. The results reveal that environmental is to be likely the most significant attributes of GGP, meanwhile, GGP Long-Term Action Plan (LTAP) is seemed to be the most important strategy used in promoting green procurement. This paper provides new insights to the literature in relation to green practice strategies and it is potentially to be useful for the stakeholders in prioritizing further efforts of green-oriented public infrastructure development in the future.

Analysis of key criteria and requirements in implementing green procurement for green construction projects in Malaysia

Construction industry is one key driver in stimulating Malaysia’s economic growth. Green procurement is known as procurement that is consistent with the principles of sustainable development, such as ensuring a strong, healthy and just society, living within environmental limits and promoting good governance. Malaysian government has published a standard guideline of green procurement known as Government Green Procurement (GGP) guideline; however, it does not merely used for the construction development. Hence, this paper aims to analyse the criteria and requirements to implement green procurement for construction projects. Questionnaires were distributed to 60 respondents, comprising of project stakeholders that has experience in the development of green construction projects. Limiting to category commercial and office building projects only, hence, the respondents’ population was drawn using purposive method. The analysis uses descriptive statistics via mean score, and the standard deviation was used to measure the variables and the mean’s dispersion. It is revealed that all of the criteria stated are important and one or more criteria are more important than the rest. This study recommends that the government focus on these criteria to help implement green procurement for green construction projects in Malaysia.

A New Educational Requirement: Forming Specialists in the Field of Green Procurement

The social responsibility of companies has an increasingly important role in their relationship with the environment, regardless of the object of activity. Green procurement plays an important role in achieving these objectives. Department of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems Drobeta Turnu - Severin organizes or participates periodically in meetings with employers or collaborators, in order to identify new educational requirements regarding the competencies and abilities of graduates. It was thus found that qualified personnel are needed in making green procurement. In order to meet this requirement, our department aims to form specialists in the field of green procurement. The introduction of the new syllabus in the master's degree programs requires the completion of research steps to strengthen the curriculum by diversifying professional and transversal skills, in accordance with the generic skills of the study program.

KEY APPROACHES OF LIFE-CYCLE COST IN GREEN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT (GGP) FOR GREEN PROJECTS

Sustainability has emerged as a critical concern in any viable physical planning and development. Hence, the Malaysian government has promoted the concept of green procurement also known as Government Green Procurement (GGP) that aims to minimize environmental degradation. In GGP, life cycle perspective thinking is introduced where life-cycle cost (LCC) tools act as decision-making in controlling the initial and future value of building ownership. Despite the increasing importance of green procurement and LCC in the planning phase of green projects, the viability and implementation of LCC is still lacking. Many have stated the benefits of LCC in green procurement for green building projects, however the criteria of LCC are not clearly determined. The study aims to determine the important level of LCC components relating to the green project planning phase. Questionnaire survey was distributed to 50 respondents composed of project team members that were involved in the selected green government projects. 32 respondents returned their responses to the survey. The results revealed that the highest rank of LCC components in green procurement is energy consumption cost, greenhouse gas (GHG) savings cost, acquisition cost, energy simulation cost and utilities cost. These results would elevate the use of LCC in the green procurement adoption and viability of green projects.

Modeling the Factors Enhancing the Implementation of Green Procurement in the Pakistani Construction Industry

This paper adds to the existing body of knowledge on green procurement approaches and sustainability theories for procurement management. It provides practical factors that can directly help the practitioners in implementing green procurement in construction projects. Green procurement is a new era in the construction industry of Pakistan. Thus, this paper aims to quantify the factors improving the adoption of green procurement in construction projects. A detailed literature review has been conducted to design and develop a conceptual model for green procurement. The study intricates the perception of 77 experienced practitioners involved in handling construction projects. The model was analyzed and validated with a partial least squares structural equation modeling technique with SmartPLS V3 software. The model results indicate that market factors and techniques play an essential role in enhancing green procurement acceptance and adoption. This study highlights the gap in achieving sustainability and controlling the environmental impacts caused by construction activities. It assists the construction practitioners to implement the green procurement for better environmental and sustainable performance.

Green Procurement in Construction: Analysis of the Readiness Level and Key Catalyst among Construction Enablers

In the concern of sustainability and increasing awareness of environmental degradation, the Malaysian government has promoted numerous initiatives on green growth and green procurement (GP) to maintain and minimize the ecological effects in construction. However, this initiative is still in the infancy stage as to date, there is no specific guideline delineated to the construction industry, and it has yet to be enforced by the government to the construction practitioners. In construction, green procurement is a new area, and immediate actions are needed upon the principles, guidelines, and policy and implementation framework. Hence, this research aims to analyse the readiness level, barriers, and key catalysts among construction enablers towards adopting green procurement in the construction industry. Questionnaires were distributed to 102 construction enablers, focusing on quantity surveying firms in the Klang Valley area (Kuala Lumpur and Selangor), and 87 returned the responses. The analysis uses descriptive statistics via mean score, and the standard deviation was used to measure the variables and the mean's dispersion. It is revealed that the consultants are ready to adopt green procurement. However, GP's implementation's top challenges are lack of internal expertise, low awareness about green procurement, and lack of established best practices, standardized procedures and guidelines. It can be summarized that promoting GP and its implementation requires government support in policies, initiatives, and incentives. As the current practice is fragmented, ideally, GP's adoption in construction projects needs to conform to the acceptable standards that enable specific provisions to acquire eco-friendly sustainable construction.

Perspectives on Sustainable Tourism Development in the Hotel Industry—A Case Study from Southern Europe

Sustainable development is in many ways the fundamental basis of tourism. The importance and role of sustainable tourism development in the 21st century is at the center of this paper on eco-certificates and green procurement in the hotel industry, within the field of the responsible or green economy. The green hotel economy implies the selection of accommodation in environmentally responsible hotels and other facilities, which are directing their business operations towards green procurement, eco-labeling, and the responsible economy. This paper includes quantitative research of the attitudes of 506 international tourists, who expressed their views on their needs regarding eco-hotels and the green economy in the hotel industry. This research also included the collection of data on green (responsible) businesses by surveying 100 hotels situated in the capitals of southern Europe. Comparing results from hotels with the needs of tourists in terms of the green economy in the hotel industry, significant results were obtained that contribute to sustainable tourism development.

Investigating the efficacy of isomorphic pressures on the adoption of green manufacturing practices and its influence on organizational legitimacy and financial performance

PurposeThe need to engage in manufacturing practices that promote environmental sustainability has shifted from being optional to mandatory. From the perspectives of institutional and stakeholder theories, this paper captures the efficacy of isomorphic pressures on the adoption of green procurement, green product and process innovations and their respective influence on organizational legitimacy and financial performance in the context of an emerging economy and from the perspective of manufacturing small-and medium-sized enterprises.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a survey research design, a quantitative approach and partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique in making data analysis and interpretations due to its suitability for predictive research models.FindingsAnalysis of the results highlighted the fact that the composite impact of coercive, mimetic and normative isomorphic pressures robustly influenced the adoption of green procurement, green product and process innovations. Simultaneously, green procurement, green product and process innovations significantly influenced organizational legitimacy. Green procurement and green product innovation also significantly influenced financial performance unlike green process innovation that had an insignificant yet positive impact on financial performance. Based on the results, theoretical and practical implications are explained for policy makers, managers, government authorities and owners.Originality/valueThe study is among the first to expose isomorphic pressures on the adoption of green manufacturing practices specifically, green procurement, green product and process innovations and their influence on organizational legitimacy and financial performance in the context of Ghana, an emerging economy and from the perspective of small-and medium-sized enterprises. As such, the study provides guidance to relevant industry authorities and stakeholders in further promoting green manufacturing practices that preserve the environment by producing safer consumer products through efficient green procurement, green product and process innovative practices.