Sustainable procurement is crucial for meeting climate targets, yet many public organizations still find it tough to put effective practices into action. Artificial intelligence promises to close this gap, but so far, most public agencies use it only in isolated parts of their buying process.
This research explores how AI can support sustainability at every stage of the procurement journey—from identifying needs and evaluating suppliers to refining how public contracts work. By harnessing AI, procurement teams can finally turn big environmental goals into operational reality, sifting through complex data to make smarter, greener purchasing decisions—if the right systems and collaboration are in place.
For public managers and policymakers, the message is clear: AI can be a powerful tool to align purchasing decisions with climate objectives, but it must be used wisely. Transparent, well-governed, and data-rich approaches—developed in partnership with tech experts and procurement professionals—will be key to transforming sustainability ambitions into everyday public sector practice.