Sustainable procurement is the process of acquiring goods and services that:

• meet users’ needs
• deliver long term value for money
• maximise social and economic benefits
• minimise damage to the environment and health

(Forum for the Future - Buying a Better World, 2007)

Sustainable Procurement Strategy

The University’s Sustainable Procurement Strategy requires Procurement Services to:

• embed sustainable procurement within the University’s purchasing procedures, practices, and policies
• review all negative and positive environmental, social and financial impacts before starting a tender exercise
• incorporate relevant sustainability requirements into tender specification, assessment criteria, and contract performance and clauses where possible
• work with the University’s contracted suppliers to manage negative sustainability impacts and realise positive sustainability benefits of contracts
• provide training, guidance and tools to University staff so they can comply with and support the Sustainable Purchasing Policy

Flexible Framework

The University uses the Sustainable Procurement Flexible Framework to measure and monitor progress on its sustainable procurement actions over time.

The Flexible Framework is a widely used self-assessment mechanism developed by the business-led Sustainable Procurement Task Force. The Flexible Framework allows organisations to measure and monitor their progress on sustainable procurement over time.

Following an externally verified review in July 2016, the University was deemed to be operating at Level 4 of the DEFRA Flexible Framework.

For further information, please visit the University Procurement Team website (University login required).

The goals of sustainable construction are to reduce the industry’s impact on the environment. Sustainable construction methods include:

• using renewable and recyclable resources;

• reducing energy consumption and waste;

• creating a healthy, environmentally-friendly environment;

• protecting the natural environment.

(British Assessment Bureau, 2020)

Sustainable Construction Specification

The Sustainable Construction Specification enables the design and construction of sustainable buildings and landscapes that support the delivery of the University’s vision and strategy, and the University’s Climate Action Plan in pursuit of the net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 target.

Version 1 of the Sustainable Contruction Spec V1_2020‌ is available to view.

Healthy and Sustainable Food Policy

The University has implemented a Healthy and Sustainable Food Policy to:

• improve the sustainability of its own catering services and supply chain
• help influence the marketplace and encourage the development of new, more sustainable goods and services

The Policy is fully reflected in our catering tenders and contracts. It ensures that local and smaller suppliers are not discriminated against in the procurement process and through our specifications. The policy was reviewed by the Environment and Sustainability Committee on 3 May 2018.

2022 Update: An updated version of the Sustainable Food Policy was brought to the Environment and Sustainability Committee on 8 February 2022. It is currently pending review and governance before publication.

Local sourcing

The University catering outlets are commited to using locally sourced food wherever possible. Current local suppliers include:

• milk -  Lanchester Dairies, Lanchester, Co Durham, DH7 0RL
• eggs - Lintz Hall Farm, Burnopfield, NE16 6AS
• bottled water (sold to satisfy customer demand) - Marlish Water, Morpeth NE61 4ER
• bread - Trotters Family Bakers, Seahouses NE68 7RQ

Where possible, meat from University farms is used at BBQ events.

You'll find more information on our Catering website.

Grow Volunteer

Grow Volunteer NUSU’s very own on campus project located between the Students' Union and the Hadrian Building. It encompasses all things urban growing through a range of vegetables, herbs, flowers and trees. For more information, see the Grow Volunteer section of Go Volunteer's website

We use the NDNA (National Desktop and Notebook Agreement) and ITRAP (IT-related Accessories and Parts) framework agreements for purchasing electronics. These agreements are governed by LUPC (London Universities Purchasing Consortium), a member of Electronics Watch.

In our Supplier Code of Ethics, Employment and Welfare standards are based on the ETI (Ethical Training Initiative) Code. We map our supply chains for high/medium risk areas identified in our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement (estates works, office supplies, laboratory consumables).

The University has an active subscription to Ethical Consumer, which is a not-for-profit publisher, research, political, and campaign organisation. They regularly publish information on the social, ethical and environmental behaviour of companies and issues around trade justice and ethical consumption.

All current students and colleagues with a Newcastle University email address are able to access this subscription to help inform their purchasing decisions.

To access the login details, email Sustainable Campus with the subject 'Ethical Consumer Subscription'. 

Any content is specifically not to be reproduced or redistributed externally, without prior agreement from Ethical Consumer Research Association Ltd.