Purchase, procurement and investments
Image: Mostphotos
Image: Mostphotos
Umeå University procures and purchases a vast amount of products and services every year. Purchase and public procurement are hence important instruments to reduce the university’s environmental and climate impact, and to contribute to sustainable development.
Action plan for climate and sustainability contains the university's strategic goals and overall activities for the period 2024-2026. The results of follow-ups for the three targeted goals within the focus area of purchase, procurement and investments, are reported here.
Goal 5. The number of procurements setting environmental and sustainability requirements must increase every year
In 2022, the sum of Umeå University’s procurements amounted to over SEK 800 million. Environmental requirements were set in just under half of the procurements, which corresponded to over 85 percent of the procurements' financial value. There is potential to further systemise the environmental and climate aspects of the university’s public procurements and purchases and to increase the consideration for social and labour law terms and conditions.
This is how our chosen indicator "Proportion of procurements where environmental requirements have been set" has developed in recent years:
From 2021, we have expanded the indicator, to now also including "proportion of calls" and "proportion of orders". This leads to that percentage result for 2021 is not completely comparable to the results for previous years.
The University rule on procurement and purchasing says that all procurements must be carried out with special consideration for the environment and sustainability, and the need for accessibility adjustments.
The university has the ambition to apply environmental and sustainability requirements in all procurement and purchasing.
Goal 6. The selection of climate-friendly food and service options in university facilities must increase
At the university, there are several restaurants, cafés and catering services. These operations constitute suppliers of the university’s procured services as well as offer their services to university staff and students, among others. The university can contribute to a reduced environmental impact from food and food services by setting environmental requirements on procured suppliers or by discussing sustainable and climate-friendly choices of food, equipment and articles with independent service providers.
In 2023, one of the eight food contractors at the university worked actively to reduce food waste and one restaurant serves only vegan food. All eight offer vegetarian options and can thus contribute to reducing the climate impact.
Goal 7. The environment and sustainability are to be taken into account when investing funds received from foundations and donations
For this goal, we have set the indicator "Environmental and sustainability considerations are required when investing capital".
As of 2021, the university's investment policy and ownership statement for the holding company, contain requirements that fossil fuel free and socially sustainable investments shall be made.
8 – Decent work and economic growth
12 – Responsible consumption and production
13 – Climate action
15 – Life on land