Mr Alexander Samuels
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of a green procurement strategy on procurement decisions at Unilever South Africa, a prominent Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) firm devoted to sustainability. The study’s objectives are to assess the environmental, social, and economic outcomes of implementing a green procurement strategy, identify challenges faced by Unilever South Africa and provide practical insights for improving the effectiveness of green procurement strategies.
By expanding theoretical understanding of the relationship between sustainable procurement methods and procurement outcomes, the study adds to the current body of information. It broadens understanding of supply chain sustainability and stakeholder engagement. Furthermore, the study has practical implications for Unilever South Africa and other FMCG firms by giving insights to improve procurement procedures, supplier selection and overall supply chain management to achieve sustainable goals.
As the study focused on the influence of a green procurement strategy on procurement decisions in South Africa, an exploratory case study method was adopted. To identify the major challenges experienced when sourcing packaging materials, a qualitative research approach was applied. The research was carried out at Unilever’s headquarters in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Purposive sampling was utilised with a sample size of four participants. As a data gathering tool, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were used. For this qualitative study, NVivo 12 was employed as thematic analysis software.