Abstract

This study provides a systematic review of the current state of research on sustainability practices in the public sector exploring the growth trajectory, emerging themes, and future directions. Sixty publications (2009–2023) were selected and diligently examined to reach insightful results using the Biblioshiny tool and content analysis. Through thematic mapping, the emerging sustainability practices in the public sector, including green HRM, green and e-procurement, circular business model, sustainable reporting and disclosures, and triple-bottom-line framework, were found. Furthermore, trending topics, word frequency, and document citations indicate that a growing body of literature on sustainability practices is more focused on environmental concerns rather than the long-term orientation. Further research is required to examine the integration of sustainability concerns in the organizational strategy, technology-driven sustainable practices, and assessment of the impact of regulatory frameworks and incentives on encouraging public sector organizations to adopt and prioritize sustainability initiatives.