ABSTRACT This study examines the contribution of green procurement practices to sustainable performance by focusing on the development of firm‐specific capabilities in the UK retail sector. Drawing upon the resource‐based view (RBV) and augmenting it with a dynamic capabilities perspective, the research develops a dual‐path capability model used to explain how sustainability‐oriented procurement develops and evolves into a strategic source of competitive advantage. Using a comparative qualitative case study approach, Tesco PLC and Marks & Spencer PLC are used as case studies, integrating primary interviews, corporate reports and sustainability disclosures gathered from April to June 2023. The results show how Tesco's technology‐driven procurement capability helps it improve transparency, data‐driven decision‐making, and environmental efficiency, whereas Marks & Spencer's relationship‐oriented capability helps it drive ethical sourcing, trust and long‐term social impact. The results support a dynamic RBV framework: They show that technology and relational capabilities mediate the relationship between green procurement and the triple bottom line dimensions of sustainability—environmental, economic, and social performance. The study offers both theoretical and managerial contributions by reinterpreting procurement as a dynamic strategic capability rather than an operational process and by providing practical guidance for organizations seeking to incorporate sustainability into their purchasing operations.
Mahdi Faris AlGhubari (2026) studied this question.