Uma análise de compras públicas em Universidades Federais Brasileiras: o copo descartável e o descarte da sustentabilidade.

Abstract

The contemporary debate on sustainability has highlighted the importance of public procurement as a process used by all levels of public administration to carry out acquisitions. This dissertation focuses on Brazilian federal universities and analyzes how these institutions have incorporated socio-environmental criteria in the procurement of consumable materials, with special attention to disposable cups due to their high usage and environmental impact. The main objective was to analyze the public procurement processes of Brazilian federal universities regarding sustainability criteria, considering their Sustainable Logistics Plans and specific regulations, covering the period between 2022 and 2023. The research employed an exploratory and descriptive methodology with a mixed approach (qualitative and quantitative), combining documentary analysis and Content Analysis techniques. The study sample included 17 universities. Procurement processes were examined, especially in terms of compliance with environmental criteria, and a sustainability ranking was established. The findings revealed advances and contrasts in sustainable purchasing practices: institutions such as UFSC and UFRB prioritized reusable items, while others like UFCG and UFRN still relied on disposable products. Based on these results, a Technical-Technological Product was developed — the Intelligent Sustainable Procurement System (SICOSI) — an intelligent browser extension designed to support more sustainable public procurement by suggesting eco-friendly alternatives during item registration on the federal procurement platform ComprasNet, specifically within the Government’s Material Catalog (CATMAT).