Ambiente institucional e as práticas orientadas pela sustentabilidade ambiental: um estudo no sistema de pregão eletrônico em uma instituição pública

Abstract

The growing concern with environmental problems demands changes in behavior throughout society, with effect on the actions of public institutions. To guarantee sustainable production and consumption patterns, public policies aimed at sustainable development have been proposed by governments around the world, which shape the so-called institutional environment. Directly, these policies impact or should impact the activities of public organizations and the way they obtain resources for the development of their activities. Among the various ways of obtaining resources is sustainable bidding. In this scope, sustainable bidding becomes relevant as an instrument capable of helping to achieve important results in reducing damages to the environment. Besides it induces to a new behavior in the productive market. Advances in the discussion of sustainable bids are notable both in international treaties and in national legislation. However, studies demonstrate the recurrence of numerous difficulties in the practical implementation of these hirings through the electronic auction (modality of public bidding). Thus, the general objective of this study was to understand the influence of the institutional environment, composed by formal and informal regulation, in the practices guided by environmental sustainability in the electronic trading system of a Federal Educational Institution. Therefore, the study theoretically considered the assumptions of the New Institutional Economy (NEI). In order to achieve the objectives proposed in the research, qualitative assumptions, and descriptive research were used. In order to collect the primary data, interviews and systematic observation were carried out in the Institution's purchasing sector. As a result of the research, it was inferred that the current influence of the institutional environment is limited and inefficient regarding the inclusion of environmental sustainability criteria. There were problems with the application of the formal regulation; the absence of informal restraints and the limited performance of formal and informal enforcement mechanisms. Theoretically, the research advanced in the understanding of the sustainable tenders from the assumptions of the NEI. Empirically, actions have been identified and proposed, including a new flow for contracting, which can help the institution studied in the implementation of sustainable criteria and guidelines in its bids through electronic trading. Such decision would minimize the problems found.