Article: Green procurement in practice: how buyer-supplier interaction differs across product categories Journal: International Journal of Procurement Management (IJPM) 2026 Vol.25 No.6 pp.1 - 30 Abstract: This study investigates how various buyer-supplier interaction practices support the pursuit of green procurement outcomes and why approaches vary across product categories. The research reports on a single case study of a multinational manufacturing company in the energy sector to explore how environmental objectives are integrated into the procurement of different products. The analysis identifies three distinct interaction practices: collaborative-development exchange, specification-translation exchange, and compliance-based exchange, through which environmental goals were achieved. These practices reflect varying levels of interdependence and resource adaptation, demonstrating that green procurement depends on both what is procured and how buyer-supplier relationships are managed. The study contributes by developing a typology of green procurement interaction practices that links product categories with relational dynamics of exchange, offering theoretical and practical insights into how organisations can align supplier relationships with environmental objectives across their procurement portfolio. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Green procurement in practice: how buyer-supplier interaction differs across product categories

Authors: Ezenwanyi Elizabeth Edgal; Anne-Maria Holma; Matin Taheriruh

Addresses: Strategic Business Development Group, School of Management, University of Vaasa Finland, Wolffintie 32, 65200 Vaasa, Finland ' Strategic Business Development Group, School of Management, University of Vaasa Finland, Wolffintie 32, 65200 Vaasa, Finland ' Faculty of Management and Business, Industrial Engineering and Management, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland

Abstract: This study investigates how various buyer-supplier interaction practices support the pursuit of green procurement outcomes and why approaches vary across product categories. The research reports on a single case study of a multinational manufacturing company in the energy sector to explore how environmental objectives are integrated into the procurement of different products. The analysis identifies three distinct interaction practices: collaborative-development exchange, specification-translation exchange, and compliance-based exchange, through which environmental goals were achieved. These practices reflect varying levels of interdependence and resource adaptation, demonstrating that green procurement depends on both what is procured and how buyer-supplier relationships are managed. The study contributes by developing a typology of green procurement interaction practices that links product categories with relational dynamics of exchange, offering theoretical and practical insights into how organisations can align supplier relationships with environmental objectives across their procurement portfolio.

Keywords: green procurement; buyer-supplier relationship; product categories; Kraljic framework; buyer-supplier interface.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2026.154389

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2026 Vol.25 No.6, pp.1 - 30

Received: 08 Dec 2025
Accepted: 15 May 2026
Published online: 25 Jun 2026 *

Title: Green procurement in practice: how buyer-supplier interaction differs across product categories

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