Identifying a Sustainable Food Procurement Strategy in Healthcare Systems: A Scoping Review

Goiuri Alberdi and Mirene Begiristain-Zubillaga
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Goiuri Alberdi: Department of Finance Economy II, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Plaza de Oñati 1, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain
Mirene Begiristain-Zubillaga: Department of Finance Economy II, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Plaza de Oñati 1, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: The healthcare system’s climate footprint is equivalent to 4.4% of global net emission. The food service offered, with subsequent food waste production and energy consumption, falls within the spectrum of environmentally harmful activities. The development of a Sustainable Food Procurement Strategy is an opportunity to counteract these negative effects. This article aims to identify the nature and extent of the evidence found in the literature on the processes related to food procurement within healthcare systems and analyse them from the perspective of sustainability dimensions. A scoping review is carried out using online databases to identify scientific and grey literature published in English during the period 2000–2019. An analytical-synthetic approach is used for charting the data. Twenty-six studies are included; 65% of them published in the last five years. These include research articles (n 11), an opinion article (n 1), policy handbooks and guides (n 2), project reports (n 4) and technical reports (n 3), policy forums (n 1), factsheet documents (n 3), and legislative directives (n 1). The outcomes framework highlights multilevel governance, a sustainable food supply system, and healthy and sustainable food services as the main action areas for a sustainable food procurement strategy, along with six transversal features: long-term commitment, investment, evaluation, communication, gender, and a holistic approach.

Keywords: public food procurement; healthcare system; sustainable food strategy; food environment; sustainable food supply; sustainable food service (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2398-:d:504277

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