Sustainable supplier development within healthcare: an embedded case study in a hospital setting

Abstract

Extant literature on sustainable supplier development typically relates to the manufacturing industry. The public healthcare sector, with its strong, negative impact on the environment, tends to be overlooked. Our study aims to understand how sustainable supplier development is applied in hospitals and to what extent such initiatives contribute to achieving their sustainability goals. We used an embedded case study within the facilities segment of a large Dutch hospital group. Although various forms of direct and indirect supplier development were applied, we observed a striking lack of measurable targets and insufficient monitoring. The results show a worrisome lack of commitment rather than a sense of urgency.