Public procurement as a policy for sustainable development

This study aims to understand how the State has contributed to sustainable development through their purchasing power, more precisely, when comparing practices and regulations in the Brazilian states of São Paulo and the ones of the South region. Regarding the method of research, bibliographical and documental research was conducted in the legislation and notices of the above states, through the years 2011-2013. It was found that the advancements are limited to environmental issues and social dimension. Advances, although in a soft way, strengthen the organizational models which are not focused on profit maximization, turned to social inclusion, distributive justice, environmental balance and well-being of the community, which are basic prerogatives of the solidarity economy, social enterprises and popular cooperatives, which may be particularly leveraged.