The use of environmental sustainability requirements in public infrastructure procurement – Examples from eight cities in Finland, Norway, and Sweden
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School of Business |
Master's thesis
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en
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73 + 5
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Abstract
The global sustainability crisis and interconnected environmental challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, are undeniably one of the biggest challenges of our time. Finding solutions to these complex challenges requires actions from all sectors and industries. Especially, the carbon emissions and other environmental impacts of the infrastructure sector throughout the entire life cycle of infrastructure are globally significant. Therefore, the potential of this sector is significant in addressing global environmental challenges, especially with the advancement of digital technology. In terms of infrastructure’s environmental impacts, public operators, such as cities, play a central role, because the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure occurs through public procurement. Thus, the execution of public procurement is pivotal regarding the environmental impacts of infrastructure. This study explored the environmental sustainability requirements, the challenges of incorporating them, and the role of digital tools in promoting environmental sustainability in public infrastructure procurement in eight different cities in Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The grounded theory approach and qualitative methods were utilized in this research. The empirical data was collected through fourteen semi-structured individual interviews. Instead of creating a comprehensive overall picture, the aim was to bring out the practices of different cities regarding the incorporation of environmental sustainability requirements in public infrastructure procurement. My findings reveal that adopting more sustainable ways of operating in the infrastructure industry is a central goal for the cities under study, but the implementation of concrete practical actions varies between cities. Economic constraints and the immaturity of the market limits the implementation of environmental sustainability requirements in public infrastructure procurement. Reducing the environmental impacts of public infrastructure procurement requires more open and seamless cooperation between various stakeholders and the development of digital tools that enable better procurement follow up and creation of overall picture. This study helps in understanding the challenges faced by cities and municipalities in promoting environmental sustainability in public infrastructure procurement. This information is important for improving practices in public procurement and developing products and services from the private sector in the industry. The results of the research can also serve as a benchmark for comparing sustainable procurement practices in different countries and sectors, encouraging others to adopt more sustainable approaches.Description
Thesis advisor
Jalas, MikkoSyrjälä, Jere