Procurement and in particular Sustainable Procurement, is one of the key drivers of change in any institution and is increasingly becoming a key mechanism for policy delivery and cost reduction. All public procurement in the UK is required to achieve value for money and is governed by the public procurement rule to ensure that it is fair and open. Universities and colleges in the UK spend millions of pounds each year undertaking capital projects and buying goods and services. Increasingly, institutions are making their spending decisions in a sustainable way and many are adopting sustainable and socially responsible procurement policies.
Institutions that have a sustainable procurement strategy are taking their commitment a significant step forward, outlining their commitment to making spending decisions in a way that achieves both value for money on a whole life cycle basis, as well as wider economic, social and environmental benefits.
If you would like to connect with other EAUC members interested in fair trade, join the EAUC's Fair Trade Community of Practice. This group is for EAUC members only. Find out more.
EAUC-Scotland's Sustainable Procurement Topic Support Network (TSN) is open to all, providing an opportunity for those working in or with the further and higher education sector to share ideas and questions and to get together to hear from particular speakers or discuss topics of interest. Find out more about the TSNs here.
This is the University of Edinburgh policy and the proposed amendments to the Fair Trade Policy and Fair Trade Steering Group remit, April 2013
Fair trade Community of Practice convenor, Liz Cooper, sent out a survey to the group's members requesting their thoughts on fair trade in our institutions
EAUC Member responses about Keep Cup and other ways of encouraging the use of recyclable cups.
A case study from Nottingham Trent University's Environment Team about their journey to achieve Catering Mark standards.
Responses from EAUC Members providing insight on the comparative cost analysis of bottled water coolers/heaters compared to installing mains supplied coolers/heaters
Summary and resources from the joint procurement and waste topic support network Monday 22 April 2013, hosted by University of Edinburgh There was a great buzz about...
'Did you know moments' from the 17th EAUC Annual Conference 2013.
A presentation from EAUC annual conference 2013 on implementing an ethical approach to procurement and supply
With energy procurement managed from central funds the “Electricity Incentivisation Scheme” (EIS) was designed to make University “departments” aware of...
Frameworks for the purchase of biomass boilers & pellets from Pro5
Workshop sessions which help you continue the learning and inspiration from the 14th EAUC Annual Conference 2010 held at Bangor University between the 22nd March - 24th...
Workshop sessions which help you continue the learning and inspiration from the 14th EAUC Annual Conference 2010 held at Bangor University between the 22nd March - 24th...
Scotland’s universities and colleges have publicly declared their intention to address the challenges of climate change and reduce their carbon footprints by signing the...
Scotland's universities and colleges have publicly declared their intention to address the challenges of climate change and reduce their carbon footprints by signing the...
A two page document about vegetables - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about timber - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about steel - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about seafood - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A suite of podcasts and video clips to support raising awareness of promoting poverty aware procurement on campus
These guidance documents provide practical advice and information on how to make the business case for sustainable procurement, what the risks are and how a green team could help.
This reuse implementation guide has been compiled as part of the HEFCE funded project “Moving Towards Zero-Waste”. The aim of the project was to work with HEIs in...
The EAUC lead a 3 year Defra Environmental Action Fund (EAF) project to provide support to universities and colleges wanting to integrate sustainability into their procurement...
A two page document about plastics - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about paper - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about oil and gas - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about fruit - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about electronics - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about clothing - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about Cleaning - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about Beverages - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about Beauty - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
A two page document about Banking - one of the 14 key commodity/service areas chosen to cover the main areas of procurement relevant to poverty issues.
This pamphlet is a practical guide to show public procurers how they can help address social concerns in what they buy and in their expectations of suppliers
The winners' brochure from the 2010 Green Gown Awards.
Green Gown Awards 2011 - winners' brochure from the annual Awards, recognising excellence in sustainability within the further and higher education sector
In 2004 the European Commission published a handbook to give guidance to the Public Sector on procuring “green” products and services
This useful handbook, developed by the University of Birmingham, is a guide to institutions and producers alike on the benefits of farmers' markets and how they can be...
Oxford Brookes was certified as the world’s first Fairtrade university in 2003. Since then, they have remained at the forefront of Fairtrade in the higher education sector
Here is an example of how Anglia Ruskin University have expanded and developed interesting opportunities for employability amongst their students.
EAUC Member responses about the maintenance of electric vehicles.
A presentation from the EAUC Annual Conference 2011 on Sustainable Procurement & the Buy Right campaign.
In this EAUC Member Spotlight, see how Steinel (UK) Ltd works with universities and colleges to help them to reduce energy use and cut carbon through intelligent lighting sensor...
In this EAUC Member Spotlight, see how University of Bristol has had success in reducing its environmental impact over the last ten years.
In this EAUC Member Spotlight, see how University of Bradford's Ecoversity current and past achievements as well as future goals.
A presentation from EAUC annual conference 2012 on the science of climate change and contributions to ESD.
An introduction to how buildings are used to interact with communities, staff and students with a case study from a University and College.
Durham University’s Procurement Service and Catering Department have worked in unison to provide a range of services to its 10 fully catered colleges and other catering...
A presentation from EAUC annual conference 2012 from Sustainable Procurement Centre of Excellence on embedding sustainability within procurement process and practice.
In this EAUC Member Spotlight see Leicester College's strategic commitment to sustainable development.
An EAUC guide on the primary areas of impact and influence in relation to the contributing factors and intervention measures regarding climate change.