62
J. H. das Pinto and M. M. C. Maceno
according to the Law of Mass Conservation and the Laws of Thermodynamics, is
not able to achieve total efficiency (100%), without any loss or surplus (Maceno and
Pawlowsky 2014; Fresner 1998).
Thus, until the middle of the twentieth century, the degradation of the environment
with the extraction of resources and the dumping of waste was not noticeable (Coelho
et al. 2013). However, the environmental accidents from the 40 s to the 60 s, and
the pressure from scientists and non-governmental organizations to the situation of
the environment gave rise to the movement for the conservation and maintenance
of nature. Hence, it is possible to affirm that the initial milestone for making the
environmental issue prominent on the Planet came with the Conference of United
Nations for Environment and Development, in Stockholm in 1972 (Curi 2012).
Next, a gradual change in market logic began. Thus, only growing economically
was no longer viable, since it was recognized as a need to balance the economy,
the environment and society. This idea became tangible, through the concept of
sustainable development and the triple bottom line created by Elkington (1994).
In this context, the concept of Sustainable Development emerged, having as its
proposal contemplating economic growth, social issues, and environmental protection. In other words, it is a way to guarantee a less predatory future for the next
generations without compromising the inexorable course of capitalism (WCED
1987).
This idea would only be possible through the joint action of the Government, the
private sector, and the third sector (Matias-Pereira 2010). The public sector serves
as a reference to other sectors, being able to use its influence to intervene in the
political-economic scope to guarantee the regular functioning of activities.
In Brazil, 21.5% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (ICLEI 2015)
was destined only to the Union’s purchases in 2012. This represented approximately
500 billion dollars. This amount must be managed properly, since Brazilian society is
stratified at disproportionate levels. Therefore, the concern with the optimization of
financial resources is significantly relevant, since it is an ethical and social responsibility. Thus, it is necessary the commitment of the public sector to adopt sustainable
criteria (Biderman et al. 2008).
Also, in 2012, approximately 37% of the amount designated to the Ministry of
Education’s budget (R$74 billion) was allocated to purchases from its related universities. This means that the model adopted by these Public Higher Education Institutions has “a fundamental role in the social and professional formation of individuals,
influencing aspects related to culture, ethics and citizenship” (Hegenberg 2013, p. 19).
Thus, Sustainable Public Procurement would be a solution for integrating environmental and social conditions into public procurement processes, as it allows the
purchase of a product with better benefits for the consumer and the ecosystem. This
fact has been confirmed in Europe, where purchasing power is equivalent to 15% of
the European Union GDP, of which 75% are consumables (Biderman et al. 2008).
In other words, sustainable public procurement provides benefits for public administrations, whether in the short or long term, such as national development, improvement of environmental performance, financial benefits, development of new markets
for sustainable products and services, and incentive to local and regional markets,
J. H. das Pinto and M. M. C. Maceno
according to the Law of Mass Conservation and the Laws of Thermodynamics, is
not able to achieve total efficiency (100%), without any loss or surplus (Maceno and
Pawlowsky 2014; Fresner 1998).
Thus, until the middle of the twentieth century, the degradation of the environment
with the extraction of resources and the dumping of waste was not noticeable (Coelho
et al. 2013). However, the environmental accidents from the 40 s to the 60 s, and
the pressure from scientists and non-governmental organizations to the situation of
the environment gave rise to the movement for the conservation and maintenance
of nature. Hence, it is possible to affirm that the initial milestone for making the
environmental issue prominent on the Planet came with the Conference of United
Nations for Environment and Development, in Stockholm in 1972 (Curi 2012).
Next, a gradual change in market logic began. Thus, only growing economically
was no longer viable, since it was recognized as a need to balance the economy,
the environment and society. This idea became tangible, through the concept of
sustainable development and the triple bottom line created by Elkington (1994).
In this context, the concept of Sustainable Development emerged, having as its
proposal contemplating economic growth, social issues, and environmental protection. In other words, it is a way to guarantee a less predatory future for the next
generations without compromising the inexorable course of capitalism (WCED
1987).
This idea would only be possible through the joint action of the Government, the
private sector, and the third sector (Matias-Pereira 2010). The public sector serves
as a reference to other sectors, being able to use its influence to intervene in the
political-economic scope to guarantee the regular functioning of activities.
In Brazil, 21.5% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (ICLEI 2015)
was destined only to the Union’s purchases in 2012. This represented approximately
500 billion dollars. This amount must be managed properly, since Brazilian society is
stratified at disproportionate levels. Therefore, the concern with the optimization of
financial resources is significantly relevant, since it is an ethical and social responsibility. Thus, it is necessary the commitment of the public sector to adopt sustainable
criteria (Biderman et al. 2008).
Also, in 2012, approximately 37% of the amount designated to the Ministry of
Education’s budget (R$74 billion) was allocated to purchases from its related universities. This means that the model adopted by these Public Higher Education Institutions has “a fundamental role in the social and professional formation of individuals,
influencing aspects related to culture, ethics and citizenship” (Hegenberg 2013, p. 19).
Thus, Sustainable Public Procurement would be a solution for integrating environmental and social conditions into public procurement processes, as it allows the
purchase of a product with better benefits for the consumer and the ecosystem. This
fact has been confirmed in Europe, where purchasing power is equivalent to 15% of
the European Union GDP, of which 75% are consumables (Biderman et al. 2008).
In other words, sustainable public procurement provides benefits for public administrations, whether in the short or long term, such as national development, improvement of environmental performance, financial benefits, development of new markets
for sustainable products and services, and incentive to local and regional markets,