Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic

Viraj Tathavadekar; Nitin Mahankale

doi:doi:10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16

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Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic

Viraj Tathavadekar^*

, Nitin Mahankale

Published in Science Journal of Business and Management (Volume 13, Issue 4)

Received: 23 November 2025 Accepted: 8 December 2025 Published: 30 December 2025

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Abstract

This viewpoint paper puts forward the argument that sustainable procurement has emerged as a strategic organizational capability, with decarbonization serving as the organizing principle for supplier choice and value chain management. This conceptual analysis employs a multi-theoretical framework integrating stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory, and green institutionalism to examine how decarbonization imperatives transform procurement decision-making processes. Through these theoretical lenses, we demonstrate that procurement practices incorporating carbon measurement restructure supplier evaluation from price-dominated models to impact-weighted assessment frameworks. Through systematic literature synthesis and analysis of contemporary trends and regulatory developments, our findings reveal how organizations must reconceptualize procurement beyond transactional efficiencies as a mechanism for value creation through environmental stewardship. The analysis demonstrates that sustainability pressures will reshape procurement strategies through 2030, establishing performance criteria integrating carbon footprint into supplier relationship management. This paradigm shift necessitates organizational development of capabilities in carbon accounting, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance alongside operational excellence. The theoretical contribution lies in positioning sustainable procurement as a strategic capability affording competitive advantage through enhanced legitimacy, stakeholder trust, and long-term value creation. This framework advances procurement theory by integrating environmental imperatives into strategic capability development, offering practitioners a structured approach to building decarbonization competencies.

Published in	Science Journal of Business and Management (Volume 13, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16
Page(s)	291-298
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sustainable Procurement, Decarbonization, Supply Chain Management, Carbon Accounting, Stakeholder Theory, Environmental Stewardship, Strategic Capability

References

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Tathavadekar, V., Mahankale, N. (2025). Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic. Science Journal of Business and Management, 13(4), 291-298. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16

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Tathavadekar, V.; Mahankale, N. Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic. Sci. J. Bus. Manag. 2025, 13(4), 291-298. doi: 10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16

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Tathavadekar V, Mahankale N. Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic. Sci J Bus Manag. 2025;13(4):291-298. doi: 10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16

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@article{10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16,
  author = {Viraj Tathavadekar and Nitin Mahankale},
  title = {Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic},
  journal = {Science Journal of Business and Management},
  volume = {13},
  number = {4},
  pages = {291-298},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjbm.20251304.16},
  abstract = {This viewpoint paper puts forward the argument that sustainable procurement has emerged as a strategic organizational capability, with decarbonization serving as the organizing principle for supplier choice and value chain management. This conceptual analysis employs a multi-theoretical framework integrating stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory, and green institutionalism to examine how decarbonization imperatives transform procurement decision-making processes. Through these theoretical lenses, we demonstrate that procurement practices incorporating carbon measurement restructure supplier evaluation from price-dominated models to impact-weighted assessment frameworks. Through systematic literature synthesis and analysis of contemporary trends and regulatory developments, our findings reveal how organizations must reconceptualize procurement beyond transactional efficiencies as a mechanism for value creation through environmental stewardship. The analysis demonstrates that sustainability pressures will reshape procurement strategies through 2030, establishing performance criteria integrating carbon footprint into supplier relationship management. This paradigm shift necessitates organizational development of capabilities in carbon accounting, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance alongside operational excellence. The theoretical contribution lies in positioning sustainable procurement as a strategic capability affording competitive advantage through enhanced legitimacy, stakeholder trust, and long-term value creation. This framework advances procurement theory by integrating environmental imperatives into strategic capability development, offering practitioners a structured approach to building decarbonization competencies.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic
AU  - Viraj Tathavadekar
AU  - Nitin Mahankale
Y1  - 2025/12/30
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16
T2  - Science Journal of Business and Management
JF  - Science Journal of Business and Management
JO  - Science Journal of Business and Management
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EP  - 298
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-0634
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16
AB  - This viewpoint paper puts forward the argument that sustainable procurement has emerged as a strategic organizational capability, with decarbonization serving as the organizing principle for supplier choice and value chain management. This conceptual analysis employs a multi-theoretical framework integrating stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory, and green institutionalism to examine how decarbonization imperatives transform procurement decision-making processes. Through these theoretical lenses, we demonstrate that procurement practices incorporating carbon measurement restructure supplier evaluation from price-dominated models to impact-weighted assessment frameworks. Through systematic literature synthesis and analysis of contemporary trends and regulatory developments, our findings reveal how organizations must reconceptualize procurement beyond transactional efficiencies as a mechanism for value creation through environmental stewardship. The analysis demonstrates that sustainability pressures will reshape procurement strategies through 2030, establishing performance criteria integrating carbon footprint into supplier relationship management. This paradigm shift necessitates organizational development of capabilities in carbon accounting, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance alongside operational excellence. The theoretical contribution lies in positioning sustainable procurement as a strategic capability affording competitive advantage through enhanced legitimacy, stakeholder trust, and long-term value creation. This framework advances procurement theory by integrating environmental imperatives into strategic capability development, offering practitioners a structured approach to building decarbonization competencies.
VL  - 13
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Viraj Tathavadekar

Symbiosis International Deemed University, Pune, India

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0004-8193-096X
Nitin Mahankale

Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies, Symbiosis International Deemed University, Pune, India

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1954-1312

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APA Style

Tathavadekar, V., Mahankale, N. (2025). Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic. Science Journal of Business and Management, 13(4), 291-298. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16

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ACS Style

Tathavadekar, V.; Mahankale, N. Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic. Sci. J. Bus. Manag. 2025, 13(4), 291-298. doi: 10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16

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AMA Style

Tathavadekar V, Mahankale N. Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic. Sci J Bus Manag. 2025;13(4):291-298. doi: 10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16,
  author = {Viraj Tathavadekar and Nitin Mahankale},
  title = {Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic},
  journal = {Science Journal of Business and Management},
  volume = {13},
  number = {4},
  pages = {291-298},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjbm.20251304.16},
  abstract = {This viewpoint paper puts forward the argument that sustainable procurement has emerged as a strategic organizational capability, with decarbonization serving as the organizing principle for supplier choice and value chain management. This conceptual analysis employs a multi-theoretical framework integrating stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory, and green institutionalism to examine how decarbonization imperatives transform procurement decision-making processes. Through these theoretical lenses, we demonstrate that procurement practices incorporating carbon measurement restructure supplier evaluation from price-dominated models to impact-weighted assessment frameworks. Through systematic literature synthesis and analysis of contemporary trends and regulatory developments, our findings reveal how organizations must reconceptualize procurement beyond transactional efficiencies as a mechanism for value creation through environmental stewardship. The analysis demonstrates that sustainability pressures will reshape procurement strategies through 2030, establishing performance criteria integrating carbon footprint into supplier relationship management. This paradigm shift necessitates organizational development of capabilities in carbon accounting, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance alongside operational excellence. The theoretical contribution lies in positioning sustainable procurement as a strategic capability affording competitive advantage through enhanced legitimacy, stakeholder trust, and long-term value creation. This framework advances procurement theory by integrating environmental imperatives into strategic capability development, offering practitioners a structured approach to building decarbonization competencies.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Sustainable Procurement as a Strategic Capability: Toward a Decarbonized Supply Chain Logic
AU  - Viraj Tathavadekar
AU  - Nitin Mahankale
Y1  - 2025/12/30
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16
T2  - Science Journal of Business and Management
JF  - Science Journal of Business and Management
JO  - Science Journal of Business and Management
SP  - 291
EP  - 298
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-0634
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20251304.16
AB  - This viewpoint paper puts forward the argument that sustainable procurement has emerged as a strategic organizational capability, with decarbonization serving as the organizing principle for supplier choice and value chain management. This conceptual analysis employs a multi-theoretical framework integrating stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory, and green institutionalism to examine how decarbonization imperatives transform procurement decision-making processes. Through these theoretical lenses, we demonstrate that procurement practices incorporating carbon measurement restructure supplier evaluation from price-dominated models to impact-weighted assessment frameworks. Through systematic literature synthesis and analysis of contemporary trends and regulatory developments, our findings reveal how organizations must reconceptualize procurement beyond transactional efficiencies as a mechanism for value creation through environmental stewardship. The analysis demonstrates that sustainability pressures will reshape procurement strategies through 2030, establishing performance criteria integrating carbon footprint into supplier relationship management. This paradigm shift necessitates organizational development of capabilities in carbon accounting, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance alongside operational excellence. The theoretical contribution lies in positioning sustainable procurement as a strategic capability affording competitive advantage through enhanced legitimacy, stakeholder trust, and long-term value creation. This framework advances procurement theory by integrating environmental imperatives into strategic capability development, offering practitioners a structured approach to building decarbonization competencies.
VL  - 13
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download