Procurement and Sustainability
The University of Staffordshire recognises the need to play a key role in the promotion of sustainable development and procurement.
The University’s Procurement Policy reflects the role of the University in the promotion of sustainability through its procurement decision and takes into account:
Accountability: An organisation should be accountable for its own impacts upon society, the economy and the environment.Transparency: An organisation should be transparent in those decisions and activities that impact the environment, society and the economy.
Ethical Behaviour: An organisation should behave ethically and promote ethical behaviour in its supply chains
Full and Fair Opportunity: An organisation should avoid bias and prejudice in all procurement decision making. All Suppliers, including local suppliers and small and medium enterprises (SME’s) should have a full and fair opportunity to compete.
Respect for Stakeholder Interests: An organisation should respect, consider and respond to the interests of stakeholders impacted by its Procurement Activities.
Innovative Solutions: An organisation should seek solutions to address its sustainability objectives and encourage innovative procurement practices to promote more sustainable outcomes throughout the entire supply chain.
Focus on Needs: An organization should review demand, buy only what is needed and seek more sustainable alternatives.
Integration: An Organization should ensure that sustainability is integrated into all existing Procurement practices to maximise sustainable outcomes.
Analysis of All Costs: An Organization should consider the cost incurred over the life cycle, value for money achieved and the costs and benefits for society, the environment and the economy resulting from its procurement practices.
Continual Improvement: An organisation should work towards continually improving its sustainability practices and outcomes, encouraging organisations in its supply chain to do the same.
The Procurement Team commits that in we will endeavour to:- Carry out market engagement to highlight any potential barriers to participation for SME’s and consider how we can structure our exercises to overcome these.- Consider goods and services which can be manufactured, used and disposed of in an environmentally aware manner including reuse or recycling- Structure all Financial Offer Templates to take Whole Life Costs into account including energy consumption, consumable requirements, packaging and delivery methods, life expectancy and end of life disposal costs. - Work with suppliers who demonstrate a proactive approach to sustainability by assigning a minimum of 10% of all evaluation criteria to social value including a mandatory question seeking suppliers support in meeting the University's Carbon Reduction Targets through the delivery of specific contracts.
Progress
Academic Year 2024/25
Engagement with local suppliers – 33.9% of spend is with suppliers with an ST Postcode
Engagement with SME’s - 41.75% of spend is with SME’s
Reduction in Scope 3 Emissions – reduction of 3,017 CO2e