TITLE:
Sustainable Procurement Practices in Printing SMEs: Practices, Supplier Engagement and Implementation Challenges in Northern Ghana
AUTHORS:
Imoro Pars Naaba Hajara, Musah Bukari, Gideon Awini, Stephen Laar
KEYWORDS:
Sustainable Procurement Practices, Printing SMEs, Supplier Engagement, Sustainability, Implementation Challenges, Northern Ghana
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.14 No.6,
October
15,
2026
ABSTRACT: Sustainable Procurement (SP) has become crucial to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) wishing to reconcile economic viability with environmental and social responsibility. The study focused on sustainable procurement practices of printing SMEs in Northern Ghana. The study was guided by the following objectives: existing sustainable procurement practices, supplier engagement in sustainable procurement, problems of implementing sustainable procurement, awareness and education on sustainable procurement, and the future of sustainable procurement. The study was based on Resource-Based View and Triple Bottom Line theories. A descriptive qualitative research design was used. The participants were purposefully selected according to their relevant knowledge and practical experience, and data saturation was reached after 25 interviews with SME owners, supervisors, procurement authorities, and production managers. Data were acquired through semi-structured interviews and thematically evaluated using MAXQDA software. The findings indicate that printing SMEs embrace sustainability through environmental impact management, enhancing procurement procedures, and formulating sustainable procurement policies. The involvement with suppliers was related to procurement decision-making, sustainability practices, sustainability certification, training, digital learning, and networking possibilities. However, competing company goals and lack of financial resources, knowledge, and training have hindered implementation. Workshops, online courses, networking opportunities, guides, and handbooks emerged as key methods in reinforcing awareness and sustainable procurement competence. The study also points to the need for training, supportive resources, peer collaboration, and suitable policy frameworks to enhance implementation. It concludes that developing sustainable procurement within the printing SMEs will require an integrated approach including capacity building, accessible practical tools, supplier involvement, peer learning, and supportive policy initiatives. These interventions could assist printing SMEs to institutionalise responsible sourcing, enhance environmental management, and promote sustainable procurement practices in the printing industry in Northern Ghana.