Sustainable Procurement - what is it?

The University has annual budgets of over £200M and has the potential to wield an enormous amount of good through investing and spending in as 'sustainable' or ethical way as possible.

A full review of sustainable procurement issues at the University will take a very long time and is not an immediate priority. However, a great deal of very positive work is already taking place across the University including the following:

* an evolving ethical investment policy which should be communicated later in the year;

* new building projects achieving high environmental standards e.g. the library solar panels;

* Residences and Catering have been buying much more local and fairtrade food - all of the tea and coffee in the new David Wilson Library cafe is fairly-traded;

* the University achieved Fairtrade Status in June 2008 with a highly positive project that involved collaboration across the Student Union, Residences & Catering Services and the Environment Team;

* AVS Print are now purchasing all of their paper from accredited, sustainable sources; the Environment Team continues to purchase Cyclus Offset as the 'best recycled paper' available in the UK; 

* our current furniture supplier uses a high recycled content within new desks.

Can you tell us any more? If you procure for the University and think you are buying something which is more ethical or environmentally-friendly, we're interested in finding out more from you. Send details to environment@le.ac.uk.