Sustainable procurement in higher education institutions: a Fuzzy TOPSIS approach for hierarchization of barriers

Purpose Considering the scarcity of studies analyzing sustainable procurement management in higher education institutions (HEIs), the purpose of this study is to examine the barriers encountered to incorporate sustainability into the procurement process at HEIs in Brazil, aiming to fulfill their social responsibility. Design/methodology/approach Based on the ISO 20400:2017 standard for sustainable procurement, a data collection instrument was developed and applied in a survey with professionals working in the sectors responsible for acquiring goods and services in Brazilian Federal HEIs. The data analysis was conducted using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, frequency analysis and Fuzzy TOPSIS to analyze the studied barriers and obtain their hierarchization. Findings The most critical barriers identified include recognizing suppliers that demonstrate positive sustainability results; conducting adequate pre-qualification of suppliers to obtain relevant information addressing sustainability issues; appropriately evaluating suppliers’ capabilities to meet social and environmental sustainability requirements and managing supplier performance transparently and reciprocally, along with effectively dealing with their shortcomings. Originality/value This study highlights critical areas such as supplier recognition, pre-qualification, capability assessment and performance management, providing actionable insights for HEIs to enhance their sustainable procurement practices. This analysis fills a gap in the literature, offering a practical guidance for HEIs globally and presenting important practical and theoretical implications.