Public–private partnership (PPP) has been proposed by the United Nations as a tool for Sustainable Development Goals. The perceptions and tendencies of literatures on this concept have, however, not yet been fully investigated. This research fills the perceived gap, by reviewing sustainability‐oriented PPP studies, to better understand the relationship between PPP and sustainable development. A bottom‐up approach is adopted, with the help of a purposely designed database. The concept and development stages of sustainability‐oriented PPP are examined. The research status of sustainability‐oriented PPP is analysed. The increasing popularity of sustainability‐oriented PPP studies is, to a degree, associated with policies of the key global players in PPP. Research gaps and future research trends are suggested. This research contributes to the body of knowledge of sustainability‐oriented PPP and can help researchers and practitioners in better understanding the status, gaps and direction of future efforts regarding sustainability‐oriented PPP.