|
Sustainable Procurement
The University spends over £111m on non-pay items each year of which about £71m can be influenced by sustainable procurement. There is therefore a significant opportunity to reduce our impact on the environment through the products we select and to influence our staff, students and suppliers to improve their sustainability. The University is committed to the principles of sustainable procurement which support its objectives of being a ‘Top 10 University’.
A Definition of Sustainable Procurement :
the process whereby organisations meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole life basis in terms of generating benefits not only to the organisation, but also to society and the economy, whilst minimising damage to the environment.” (Sustainable Procurement Task Force 2006).
Sustainable Procurement Policy
How are we ensuring Sustainability is considered when buying goods & services ?
The University has been working towards Flexible Framework objectives supported by UK Government. These objectives are being embedded within the University through a 5-year strategy that has been taken forward within six key risk/opportunity commodity areas:
Food
|
Construction
|
Paper
|
Travel
|
Utilities
|
IT
|
Each commodity champion has been engaged to look at ways to improve the sustainability of the goods and services that we purchase. Commodity champions have received awareness training and the University’s main staff induction website incorporates Sustainable Procurement through our Procurement Website. All Procurement staff were trained as part of a national project, NSPPP (National Sustainable Public Procurement Programme).
Suppliers have been engaged by commodity champions to make them aware of what the University is doing with regards to buying sustainably and their opinions have been sought on where improvements can be made within the supply chain.
A strategy group of the following representatives convenes on a regular basis to update and resolve sustainable procurement issues:
Good News Stories
Some examples of where there has been specific action that supports sustainability:
When the university’s sustainable procurement policy was reviewed in 2009/10, it was agreed that the Student’s Guild would adopt its principles. |
The University has developed a Sustainable Food Policy:
- All fresh poultry products sourced from the South West.
- 90% of fresh meat products sourced from the South West
- All milk is sourced from the South West
- All eggs are sourced from the South West. Free range has been sourced for some catering events, but are not widely used across campus due to increased cost considerations.
- No fish are purchased from the MSC endangered / red list – fish to avoid. MSC accreditation planned for 2012/13.
- The University promotes the use of national purchasing frameworks, and suppor local companies to become listed, enabling the University to purchase from local sources, this also introduce our suppliers to a wider customer base.
- Local companies have been introduced to larger UK companies an example of this is 3663 now stock Luscome drinks and Clipper Tea.
- In house bottled water available to customers instead of buying in plastic bottles.
|
| The Self-Service Print & Copy project has improved the recycling of MFD toners by establishing a closed loop system. The awarded company ‘Xerox’ has provided innovative Multi Functional Devices that are toner less. These devices use wax cartridges instead of traditional toner cartridges. Also the University is now able to set rules to default MFD devices to double sided print and locked printing and provide budget areas specific management information for them to manage their printing & copying in a more sustainable way. |
We have influenced our local poultry supplier to install wind turbines and PV tubes that supply power to their premises. |
University & the Student’s Guild catering outlets have committed to serving 100% fair-trade coffee and tea and to stock other fairtrade products. The University has had Fair-trade status since 2007. |
Our local fruit and vegetable supplier now stocks Fairtrade bananas at the same price as non-Fairtrade. Retail/catering outlets purchase above 50% fair-trade with a long term aim of buying only fair-trade. A website to provide a monthly newsletter for chefs and other customers, promoting local produce and special offers has been developed by this supplier. |
Biodegradable packaging was developed with a local sandwich supplier and they are also sourcing more of their ingredients locally. |
Local suppliers benefited from free training and one to one assessments through a Local Area Agreement with other local public sector organisations e.g. ECC, DCC, D&C Police and Environment Agency. |
Our local meat & poultry suppliers have adopted a Government Scheme for Safe Driving (SAFED), saving 10-20% fuel / transport costs. |
Retail Services supplier review meetings with key catering suppliers incorporate sustainability/environmental awareness as a standard agenda item. Sustainability is discussed at every review meeting and we review each supplier’s achievements with recycling, energy saving/CO2 reduction, etc and encourage them to improve. |
Specific questions are asked in our tender documents for example;
- Have suppliers been in breach of environmental regulations within the last 5 years?
- What areas can suppliers provide evidence on sustainable approaches which they have implemented and how can these be of a benefit to the University.
- We also request environmental policy/awards and how supplier manage their environmental responsibility’s eg. Environmental Management System (EMS) implemented.
|
Example of some of the Quick wins we have been working on:
Description of 'Quick-Win' |
Action |
Develop sustainable food policy |
Policy in Place |
Conduct market research into MSC / Local / Free Range / Organic Food |
Ongoing awaiting the support of a graduate intern |
Utilise recycled / energy efficient materials in design |
BREEAM Standard:
New Build = Excellent
Refurbishment = Very Good |
All timber to be FSC approved |
CO2 in purchase criteria for vehicles |
Policy Agreed |
Review travel and options for video conference |
Working with travel companies |
Travel companies to outline CO2 emissions in bookings the decision making process when planning business travel eg flight v train, alternative fuels for taxis. |
Working with travel companies |
Purchase A rated appliances |
Policy in place |
Introduce campus wide recycled paper policy |
Awaiting decision to take forward by SMT |
Whole Life Costing adopted for all significant hardware purchase |
Policy Agreed |
Copy of Level 1 Tookit
|
