{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,13]],"date-time":"2026-05-13T15:14:44Z","timestamp":1778685284852,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":64,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,28]],"date-time":"2017-12-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1514419200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sustainability"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Public procurement can shape production and consumption trends and represents a stimulus for both innovation and diversification in products and services, through a direct increase in demand. In recent years, the interest in demand-side policies has grown and several approaches have emerged, such as Green Public Procurement (GPP), Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) and Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI), representing strategic goals to be achieved through public procurement. In this context, there is a need to guide and support public organizations in the uptake of GPP, SPP and PPI practices. To respond to the challenges raised by the operationalization of such strategies, this paper proposes a new tool\u2014the SPP Toolbox\u2014for guiding public organizations as they re-think the procurement process, raising their ambitions and broadening their vision, thus changing the organizational approach towards culture, strategies, structures and practices. This toolbox integrates insights from GPP, SPP and PPI objectives and practices, in the context of the emergence of socio-technical transitions. The toolbox coherently links GPP, SPP and PPI, allowing flexibility in terms of goals, yet promoting an increasing complexity of institutionalized practices and skills\u2014from GPP to SPP and then from SPP to PPI, organized in a framework fully integrated into the organizational strategy.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/su10010067","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,28]],"date-time":"2017-12-28T11:24:33Z","timestamp":1514460273000},"page":"67","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":14,"title":["SPP Toolbox: Supporting Sustainable Public Procurement in the Context of Socio-Technical Transitions"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5534-4682","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paula","family":"Cayolla Trindade","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"LNEG\u2014National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P. Apartado 7586, Alfragide, 2610-999 Amadora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9461-2328","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paula","family":"Antunes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CENSE\u2014Centre for Environmental and Sustainability Research, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2826-512 Caparica, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Paulo","family":"Partid\u00e1rio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"DGEG-DEIR: Directorate General of Energy and Geology\u2014Research and Renewables Division, Avenida 5 de Outubro 208, 1069-203 Lisboa, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"88","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecolecon.2012.07.011","article-title":"What factors influence the uptake of GPP (green public procurement) practices? New evidence from an Italian survey","volume":"82","author":"Testa","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ecol. Econ."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"European Commission (2008). The Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industrial Policy Action Plan, European Commission. COM (2008) 397 Final."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.3152\/030234209X442025","article-title":"Public procurement as an innovation policy tool: The role of institutions","volume":"36","author":"Rolfstam","year":"2009","journal-title":"Sci. Public Policy"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2014.09.001","article-title":"Environmental value chain in green SME networks: The threat of the Abilene paradox","volume":"85","author":"Rizzi","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1893","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2014.09.092","article-title":"Drawbacks and opportunities of green public procurement: An effective tool for sustainable production","volume":"112","author":"Testa","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"328","DOI":"10.1016\/j.egypro.2017.03.194","article-title":"Increase Sustainability in Buildings through Public Procurements: The PROLITE project for Lighting Retrofit in Schools","volume":"111","author":"Deambrogio","year":"2017","journal-title":"Energy Procedia"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"282","DOI":"10.1080\/13511610.2014.998641","article-title":"Public procurement of innovation: Empirical evidence from EU public authorities on barriers for the promotion of innovation","volume":"28","author":"Amann","year":"2015","journal-title":"Innov. Eur. J. Soc. Sci. Res."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"949","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2007.03.003","article-title":"Public procurement and innovation-Resurrecting the demand side","volume":"36","author":"Edler","year":"2007","journal-title":"Res. Policy"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1080\/13511610.2012.717475","article-title":"An institutional approach to research on public procurement of innovation","volume":"25","author":"Rolfstam","year":"2012","journal-title":"Innov. Eur. J. Soc. Sci. Res."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eist.2011.02.002","article-title":"The multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions: Responses to seven criticisms","volume":"1","author":"Geels","year":"2011","journal-title":"Environ. Innov. Soc. Transit."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"435","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2010.01.023","article-title":"Innovation studies and sustainability transitions: The allure of the multi-level perspective and its challenges","volume":"39","author":"Smith","year":"2010","journal-title":"Res. Policy"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Elzen, B., Geels, F.W., and Green, K. (2004). System Innovation and the Transition to Sustainability, Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.","DOI":"10.4337\/9781845423421"},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Trindade, P. (2018). Rethinking Public Procurement in the Context of Socio-Technical Transitions.. [Ph.D. Thesis, Universidade Nova de Lisboa]."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"220","DOI":"10.1080\/13511610.2015.1012709","article-title":"Public procurement of innovation and local authority procurement: Procurement modes and framework conditions in three European cities","volume":"28","year":"2015","journal-title":"Innov. Eur. J. Soc. Sci. Res."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1175","DOI":"10.1080\/09537325.2013.843660","article-title":"A role for public procurement in system innovation: The transformation of the Greater Manchester (UK) waste system","volume":"25","author":"Gee","year":"2013","journal-title":"Technol. Anal. Strateg. Manag."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"242","DOI":"10.1080\/14719037.2013.806574","article-title":"Innovation in the Public Procurement Process: A study of the creation of innovation-friendly public procurement","volume":"16","author":"Knutsson","year":"2014","journal-title":"Public Manag. Rev."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"309","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2013.02.007","article-title":"Assessment of criteria development for public procurement from a strategic sustainability perspective","volume":"52","author":"Bratt","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"674","DOI":"10.1093\/scipol\/sct023","article-title":"Coordinated unbundling: A way to stimulate entrepreneurship through public procurement for innovation","volume":"40","author":"Timmermans","year":"2013","journal-title":"Sci. Public Policy"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1373","DOI":"10.1177\/0042098010374512","article-title":"Urban Competitiveness and Public Procurement for Innovation","volume":"48","author":"Lember","year":"2011","journal-title":"Urban Stud."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"631","DOI":"10.1016\/j.technovation.2014.04.003","article-title":"Barriers to innovation through public procurement: A supplier perspective","volume":"34","author":"Uyarra","year":"2014","journal-title":"Technovation"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2013.04.009","article-title":"Motivating green public procurement in China: An individual level perspective","volume":"126","author":"Zhu","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (2017, December 05). Green Public Procurement. Available online: http:\/\/www.oecd.org\/gov\/public-procurement\/green\/."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"United Nations Environment Programme (2017, December 05). The Principles of Sustainable Procurement. Available online: http:\/\/web.unep.org\/10yfp\/sustainable-public-procurement-0."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1048","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2016.12.014","article-title":"Institutionalizing sustainability: A structural equation model of sustainable procurement in US public agencies","volume":"143","author":"Roman","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"256","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2012.01.008","article-title":"The relationship between sustainable procurement and e-procurement in the public sector","volume":"140","author":"Walker","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Prod. Econ."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"515","DOI":"10.1142\/S1363919607001850","article-title":"Contribution of Purchasing and Supply Management to Ecological Innovation","volume":"11","author":"Preuss","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int. J. Innov. Manag."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1080\/09654310903343567","article-title":"Understanding the Innovation Impacts of Public Procurement","volume":"18","author":"Uyarra","year":"2010","journal-title":"Eur. Plan. Stud."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lember, V., Kattel, R., and Kalvet, T. (2014). Public Procurement, Innovation and Policy: International Perspectives, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-40258-6"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Piga, G., Decarolis, F., and Frey, M. (2014). Public Procurement\u2019s Place in the World: The Charge towards Sustainability and Innovation, Palmgrave Macmillan.","DOI":"10.1057\/9781137430649"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"94","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.678","article-title":"Sustainable Procurement Practice","volume":"20","author":"Meehan","year":"2011","journal-title":"Bus. Strateg. Environ."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"European Commission (2016). Buying Green! A Handbook on Green Public Procurement, European Commission. [3rd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"European Commission (2017, July 01). Green Public Procurement. Available online: http:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/environment\/gpp\/index_en.htm."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"Clement, S. (2007). The Procura + Manual: A Guide to Cost-Effective Sustainable Public Procurement, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Clement, S., Watt, J., and Semple, A. (2016). The Procura + Manual: A Guide to Implementing Sustainable Procurement, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability. [3rd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"European Commission (2017, October 26). European Assistance for Innovation Procurement. Available online: http:\/\/eafip.eu\/."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (2017, November 22). The Procurement Forum. Available online: https:\/\/procurement-forum.eu."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1257","DOI":"10.1016\/S0048-7333(02)00062-8","article-title":"Technological transitions as evolutionary reconfiguration processes: A multi-level perspective and a case-study","volume":"31","author":"Geels","year":"2002","journal-title":"Res. Policy"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"345","DOI":"10.1080\/09537325.2012.663960","article-title":"Sustainability transitions and final consumption: Practices and socio-technical systems","volume":"24","author":"McMeekin","year":"2012","journal-title":"Technol. Anal. Strateg. Manag."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2390","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enpol.2006.09.003","article-title":"Niche accumulation and hybridisation strategies in transition processes towards a sustainable energy system: An assessment of differences and pitfalls","volume":"35","author":"Raven","year":"2007","journal-title":"Energy Policy"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"897","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2004.01.015","article-title":"From sectoral systems of innovation to socio-technical systems: Insights about dynamics and change from sociology and institutional theory","volume":"33","author":"Geels","year":"2004","journal-title":"Res. Policy"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1504\/IJTM.2010.033128","article-title":"Transitions and strategic niche management: Towards a competence kit for practitioners","volume":"51","author":"Raven","year":"2010","journal-title":"Int. J. Technol. Manag."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eist.2016.11.004","article-title":"Analyzing sectoral niche formation: The case of net-zero energy buildings in India","volume":"25","author":"Jain","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environ. Innov. Soc. Transit."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1757","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2012.04.022","article-title":"Public Procurement for Innovation as mission-oriented innovation policy","volume":"41","author":"Edquist","year":"2012","journal-title":"Res. Policy"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pursup.2014.01.002","article-title":"Procuring sustainably in social housing: The role of social capital","volume":"20","author":"Meehan","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Purch. Supply Manag."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-9299.2010.01893.x","article-title":"Psychological barriers in the road to sustainable development: Evidence from public sector procurement","volume":"89","author":"Preuss","year":"2011","journal-title":"Public Adm."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2013.09.018","article-title":"Policy instruments for public procurement of innovation: Choice, design and assessment","volume":"86","author":"Georghiou","year":"2014","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Chang."},{"key":"ref_47","unstructured":"European Commission (2014). Directive 2014\/24\/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on Public Procurement and Repealing Directive 2004\/18\/EC. Off. J. Eur. Union, 2014, 65\u2013242."},{"key":"ref_48","unstructured":"European Commission (2017, October 12). European Innovation Partnerships. Available online: http:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/research\/innovation-union\/index_en.cfm?pg=eip."},{"key":"ref_49","unstructured":"European Commission (2010). Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Innovation Union, European Commission."},{"key":"ref_50","unstructured":"European Commission (2009). Europeans\u2019 Attitudes towards the Issue of Sustainable Consumption and Production, European Commission. Flash Eurobarometer 256."},{"key":"ref_51","unstructured":"Kemp, R., Rip, A., and Schot, J.W. (2001). Constructing Transition Paths through the Management of Niches, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.. Path Dependence and Creation."},{"key":"ref_52","unstructured":"European Commission (2008). GPP Training Toolkit: Module 1\u2014Managing GPP Implementation, European Commission."},{"key":"ref_53","unstructured":"European Commission (2008). Linking the Comprehensive GPP Management Cycle to Environmental Management Systems, European Commission. Fact Sheet."},{"key":"ref_54","first-page":"544","article-title":"Qualitative Case Study Methodology: Study Design and Implementation for Novice Researchers","volume":"13","author":"Baxter","year":"2008","journal-title":"Qual. Rep."},{"key":"ref_55","unstructured":"Yin, R.K. (2011). Qualitative Research from Start to Finish, The Guilford Press. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_56","unstructured":"Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (2011). Sustainable Procurement in Government: Guidance to the Flexible Framework, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs."},{"key":"ref_57","unstructured":"Scottish Government (2009). Scottish Procurement Directorate Sustainable Procurement Action Plan for Scotland, Scottish Government."},{"key":"ref_58","unstructured":"European Commission (2008). Developing a Green Public Procurement Policy, European Commission. Fact Sheet."},{"key":"ref_59","unstructured":"Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica (2007). Resolu\u00e7\u00e3o do Conselho de Ministros 65\/2007, Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.1080\/09540962.2015.1007706","article-title":"The role of change agents in sustainable public procurement projects","volume":"35","author":"Grandia","year":"2015","journal-title":"Public Money Manag."},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2016.02.102","article-title":"Finding the missing link: Examining the mediating role of sustainable public procurement behaviour","volume":"124","author":"Grandia","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1108\/JOPP-16-03-2016-B001","article-title":"Overcoming the Barriers to Green Procurement in the County: Interest Groups and Administrative Professionalism","volume":"16","author":"Smith","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Public Procure."},{"key":"ref_63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"384","DOI":"10.1080\/13511610.2014.999026","article-title":"Can service innovations be procured? An analysis of impacts and challenges in the procurement of innovation in social services","volume":"28","author":"Pelkonen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Innov. Eur. J. Soc. Sci. Res."},{"key":"ref_64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1016\/j.resconrec.2016.04.015","article-title":"Towards a more Circular Economy: Proposing a framework linking sustainable public procurement and sustainable business models","volume":"112","author":"Witjes","year":"2016","journal-title":"Resour. Conserv. Recycl."}],"container-title":["Sustainability"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2071-1050\/10\/1\/67\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T18:55:53Z","timestamp":1760208953000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2071-1050\/10\/1\/67"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,28]]},"references-count":64,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,1]]}},"alternative-id":["su10010067"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/su10010067","relation":{},"ISSN":["2071-1050"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2071-1050","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,28]]}}}