Sustainable procurement plan launched at Surrey

The plan illustrates the many ways the team are already working towards embedding sustainability across our supply chain and maps out actions needed for future improvement.  

The plan aims to reduce inequalities, carbon emissions, waste production and pollution, as well as save money. 

The plan will help meet our aims around the sustainable development goals including, SDG 12 responsible consumption and production by procuring products and services with low environmental impact, SDG 10 reduced inequalities via schemes like fairtrade for products and SDG 17 building partnerships with suppliers to provide more equitable products and services. 

Key highlights from the plan include:  

• Monitoring and measuring carbon: The University will monitor carbon emissions from procured goods and services via a supplier engagement tool. The University will also work to improve the consistency and accuracy of its scope 3 data.
• Awareness and training: The University’s Procurement Team have already received sustainable procurement training. This will also be rolled out to other key purchasing staff members.
• Embedding sustainability in purchasing processes: Sustainability impact assessments have been created and are being embedded within the University’s processes to ensure sustainability is included when evaluating offers from potential and current suppliers.
• Benchmarking and progress: The Procurement Team are using the Government’s flexible framework to measure its progress. The team have expanded the framework from 5 levels to 10 in order to support more effective delivery. 

• Supplier Engagement: Working with suppliers to find out what sustainability products and services they are and can supply, as well as helping them to be more sustainable.

Find out more about sustainable procurement at Surrey.