Sustainability advice on purchases
Uppsala University buys goods and services of significant amounts annually. Purchases of goods results in 19 % of the University's greenhouse gas emissions. A high level of ambition and environmental criteria of relevance regarding purchase and procurement, promotes a reduced climate impact, more effective use of resources and a bigger supply of environmentally friendly goods and services.
Together we make sustainable purchases
One main focus area in the Environmental plan 2022-2024 concerns purchases. By ensuring that we apply environmental criteria in relevant procurements from a central administration role, we are able to reduce our climate impact considerably. However, in order to reduce our negative impact further, environmental criteria need to be applied when purchasing all around the University.
Environmental criteria in procurement
The majority of the procurement procedures at the University are handled or assisted by the Central Procurement and Purchase Office. Environmental criteria are applied in relevant procurements. There is currently ongoing work on determining guidelines for sustainable procurment at the University.
All goods within an agreement with environmental criteria are not automatically environmentally friendly. However, it is possible to find greener products. Use the tips in the guidance on sustainable purchases in the link below, or contact the Environmental Office for support.
Purchase under agreements
All purchases must be done under our agreements. The University's procured contracts are located in the product website, in the framework agreement database or at Avropa.
Is it possible to buy reused furniture?
Through the Kammarkollegiet's framework agreement, your department or equivalent can buy used furnishings. The furniture is usually cheaper and may often be in new condition!
Certifications and guidance
It is not always easy to know if a product is sustainable or not. Product certifications may prove as help guidance in these cases. The most common certifications in Sweden are Good Environmental Choice (Bra Miljöval with a peregrine falcon as a symbol), the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, the EU Ecolabel, GOTS, KRAV, the EU certificate for organic farming produce, FSC, TCO (IT products) and MSC.
Did you know...
...that Uppsala University spends SEK 2 billions on goods and services annually. Our choices have an impact!
Three tips for more sustainable purchases
Environmental advice on specific product groups
The University offers guidance on how to make more sustainable choices on various products.
The Swedish Consumer Agency and sustainability
The Swedish Consumer Agency offers information on how to consume more sustainably (In Swedish)
Sustainability criteria and public procurement
The National Agency for Public Procurement offers a sustainability criteria service
