Identifying risks in sustainable procurement for construction: a systematic literature review and text-mining approach

Purpose Sustainable procurement has become increasingly critical in promoting environmental and economic resilience in the construction industry, particularly as global attention shifts toward climate-conscious development. Despite its growing importance, sustainable procurement in construction faces numerous implementation challenges that remain underexplored. This study aims to explore the inherent risks associated with implementing sustainable procurement in the construction industry and identify critical gaps in the existing literature. Design/methodology/approach This research employs a dual-method approach comprising a systematic literature review and text-mining analysis. The systematic review was guided by the PRISMA framework to ensure transparency and replicability in the literature search and selection process. A total of 52 peer-reviewed publications were included based on rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. Collocation analysis was then applied using natural language processing (NLP) tools to extract meaningful patterns from the literature. Findings The analysis identified fifteen key risk indicators clustered around five major themes: financial risks, project management challenges, design and material selection issues, procurement and supply chain risks, and stakeholder-related barriers. Notably, the study highlights a lack of integrated risk management strategies that align with sustainability goals in construction procurement. Practical implications The study provides actionable insights for industry practitioners and policymakers by recommending the development of targeted risk management frameworks, cost-benefit assessment tools, and collaborative supplier engagement models tailored to sustainable procurement contexts. These insights are particularly relevant for the Australian construction sector, where empirical studies on sustainable procurement risks remain limited. Originality/value This study bridges a critical knowledge gap by combining PRISMA-guided literature review with collocation-based text mining, offering a novel methodological contribution and a more nuanced understanding of sustainable procurement risks in construction.