Sustainable procurement
Every purchase we make should deliver value for our University while also doing good for the planet, people and the local economy.
Almost two-thirds of our carbon footprint comes from the goods and services we buy. That’s a big impact but it means everyone in the University can play a role in reducing our environmental impact and make a big difference. By making smarter, greener choices in what and how we buy, we can reduce our impact and move closer to delivering our sustainability priorities.
We encourage our staff to:
- Reduce purchases first – do you need to buy new or buy at all? Do we already have the goods or services available within our University? Learn more about our reuse schemes
- Work with suppliers who share our sustainability values
- Only buy what you need, avoid over-ordering
- Look for items that are made from sustainably-sourced materials and repairable, reusable or recyclable wherever possible
- Avoid single-use plastics wherever possible
- Prioritise using local suppliers, if available
Staff can find more information about environmentally responsible procurement practices by getting involved in our Green Impact programme or contacting our Procurement Team for advice.