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A Fairtrade University |
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Being a Fairtrade University means that we have to meet five goals, namely:
1. The Student Union and the University must both have a Fairtrade Policy incorporating these five goals.
2. Fairtrade foods are made available for sale in all campus shops.Fairtrade foods are used in all cafés/restaurants/ bars on campus. Where this is not possible, there is a commitment to begin to use Fairtrade foods in these establishments as soon as it becomes possible to do so.
3. Fairtrade foods (for example, coffee and tea) are served at all meetings hosted by the University and the SU, and are served in all University and SU management offices.
4. There is a commitment to campaign for increased Fairtrade consumption on campus.
5. Set up a Fairtrade Steering Group |
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Ethical Investment |
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The University has committed to ethical investment through establishing ethical restrictions on investment following guidance provided by the Charity Commission. Our ethical investment policy, signed in 2002, is as follows:
"There should be no investment in companies/organisations manufacturing/trading in armaments and tobacco, trading significantly in countries with poor human rights or deemed to be lacking in social responsibility or which, in the view of the fund manager, conflict with values espoused by the institution."
For the purposes of clarification and definition, it was agreed in 2008 that no investments should be made in companies associated with tobacco, armaments, abuses of human rights, mining or oil. The University's fund manager continues to actively manage investment decisions on behalf of the University according to this policy.
The University provides an Investment Policy Statement to the fund manager confirming the investment policy, a copy of which can be accessed here, and is committed to reporting annually.
If you have any comments or feedback on the ethical investment policy, please email them to Prof. Daniella Tilbury at dtilbury@glos.ac.uk |
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Download the policy
Following a recent contract tender exercise, the University has awarded the catering contract for the next 3 years to BaxterStorey. BaxterStorey impressed the selection panel with their passion and desire to deliver fresh local good quality food, and their ability to meet requirements set out in the University's Sustainable Food Policy.
Further information about BaxterStorey |
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Our Committment
An extract from the Sustainable Procurement Policy:
“The University of Gloucestershire is committed to the responsible management of its procurement process in order to deliver value for money whilst actively pursuing environmental and socially
responsible products, services and buildings.”
Download Our Procurement Policy
Our Sustainable Procurement Plans
- Continue to work with University departments to ensure sustainability criteria are incorporated into specifications at an early stage.
- Deliver sustainable procurement training
and make it mandatory for devolved buyers.
- Develop sustainable procurement KPIs.
Improving ourselves - The Flexible Framework
The University participated in a Defra-funded three year sustainable procurement project for higher and further education, managed by the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges. The project adopted targets based on the Flexible Framework set out in Procuring the Future (Defra; 2006). The Flexible Framework is designed to guide public sector leaders in the actions required to make sustainable procurement happen by allowing organisations to assess the quality of their procurement activity and give a clear route map to better performance. It is a matrix, in which organisations can assess their performance from I (foundation) to V (lead).across five process/behavioural change programmes. The targets were as follows:
- Level 1 by April 2007;
- Level 3 with one level 5 by April 2009.
Currently, the University has mapped its performance on the Flexible Framework as follows:
- People: Level 4/5.
- Policy, Strategy and Communications: Level 5.
- Procurement Process: Level 3.
- Engaging Suppliers: Level 3.
- Measurements and Results: Level 3.
The University is also an observer in the DFID funded ‘Promoting poverty aware procurement on campus’ project also facilitated by the EAUC.
To find out more about our Sustainable Procurement activities please contact
Sarah Wightman
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A Long Standing Commitment
Since 1994, the University has seen sustainable procurement as an important component of its sustainability strategy, as it influences investment, operations, management, capital build and institutional development. Our procurement manager, responsible for sustainability, provides training to support purchasing across the campuses. The progressive adoption of sustainable procurement has resulted in resource and financial savings – but also in learning opportunities for staff to better understand what is meant by sustainability and how it affects their professional practice.
Our Sustainable Procurement Strategy
The University interprets sustainable procurement as the incorporation of sustainability principles into procurement decisions. This requires taking into account the impact of purchasing services, products and buildings whilst still obtaining value for money (VFM).
To formalise our commitments in this area we have developed:
The University Sustainable Procurement Strategy (updated in October 2008).
This Strategy is part of the University’s Financial Regulations.
Our Sustainable Procurement Strategy seeks to:
- Increase awareness of sustainable procurement principles across the University.
- Incorporate environmental and social criteria into its contracts as they go out to tender and are re-awarded.
- Influence and work with the supply chain and HE sector bodies to achieve sustainable products, services and works.
- Incorporate sustainable procurement principles when internal reviews or market testing of activities are undertaken.
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Assist staff with procurement responsibilities to make purchasing choices which align with our strategy including longevity, ethical standards, reduction in the use of energy consumption and reduction in waste.
The Strategy is accompanied by:
(i) University Sustainable Procurement Guidelines
(ii) Staff Training Opportunities
Our Sustainable Procurement Initiatives
The University has learnt much about sustainable procurement principles and practice over the last 15 years with progressive institution-wide improvement of its sustainable procurement performance in four key areas:
New Build
Outside:
Incorporation of sustainable design such as solar panels at our Oxstalls campus, which reduce our carbon emissions.
The campus was recognised with RIBA and Civic Society awards in 2003.
Inside: Investment in furniture which is FSC certified and complies with our ISO14001 and ethical trade commitment. Desks and tables are purchased with a lifetime guarantee. Chairs are purchased with a 5 year guarantee and which feature fabrics with good wear characteristics.
Operational
Energy: We were one of the first Universities to commit to green electricity in 1993.
Consumables: We use 100% recycled paper in office photocopiers and printers as well as ‘remanufactured’ cartridges where possible. All waste cartridges have been recycled since 2001.
Reprographic and printed material: All material changed from virgin to 80% recycled paper in 2006-7, following an exercise with our marketing department and WRAP to identify the most suitable product for use in volume copiers in order to overcome problems associated with excess water in the paper. See case study.
Prospectus printing
– We moved from virgin paper to 80% re-cycled (2005) to 100% re-cycled paper including covers (2007) with very little price difference. This is reviewed annually and is ongoing.
Stationery – The contract was re-awarded in 2008 to the supplier who could give us best VFM and the greatest range of sustainable products.
Corporate Gifts – replaced with a range of gifts from sustainable sources taking into consideration use of recycled materials (pencils & pads) to locally produced glass ware (2008).
Equipment - Increased use of multi-functional devices (MFDs) for printing (duplex) resulting in less inkjet and laser jet printers being purchased. This has provided savings in both printing costs and reduced need to purchase as many printers and their consumables (2007-8).
Waste – We awarded our waste contract to a recycling company who subcontract the rubbish disposal. This has led to an increase in recycled materials from 7% in 2004/05 to 26% in 2009/10.
IT – We have been replacing PCs with machines which have 30% more efficient mother boards since September 2007.
Food - Adherence to the University’s sustainable food policy (see right hand column), ability to source quality, local food freshly prepared on site, were some of the criteria the University required when letting the catering contract (2009).We are introducing Fair Trade and locally procured, organic food, progressively into corporate catering.
Sports Clothing and Staff Uniforms – ethical criteria were a key consideration including details of where and in what conditions the garments are made. Contracts were awarded to companies that manufactured the clothing in their own factories (2009).
Our Sustainable Procurement Approach
We adopt an innovative approach to developing our sustainable procurement process – one which enhances opportunities for staff from across departments to engage with sustainable development issues. We avoid a checklist approach.
This has meant that teams such as the Marketing Department, for example, have been able to take time to explore what implementing sustainability means to them in their professional practice and more specifically in terms of choices associated with procuring services and material for the production of prospectuses, banners, printed matter, etc.
This was very educational as the department wrestled with what are often not clear cut decisions e.g. the choice of ISO14001 accredited printers, or local printers (not accredited) with whom we have had a long-standing relationship. Supply chain management for sustainability which combines environmental performance and social responsibility has provided interesting learning opportunities.
Other Sustainability Webpages: