Sustainability

Supply chains & purchasing

We improve sustainability in our supply chains through fair and sustainable procurement, championing fair trade, and initiatives to combat modern slavery, conflict minerals and issues around palm oil.

Why are supply chains and purchasing important?

Supply chains illustration: production (mines), transport, factories, recycling/disposal.

Where the raw materials of a product come from, how a product is put together and how it arrives at the University form part of a complex chain. 

Some are very short (usually local), and some are complex global chains. It is often difficult to trace these chains to ensure each individual supplier follows acceptable standards for their workers, the environment and society. 

Watch the animation above to learn what supply chains are, what problems can exist in them, and how the University is striving to make its supply chains more socially responsible and sustainable.

Our initiatives

At the University we are connected to a vast number of complex supply chains for standard items (for example, IT) but also more specialist items (for example, laboratory chemicals or equipment). We are working to understand these supply chains so that we can improve them.

Topic: food and water

We share knowledge with partners and increase the knowledge of staff and students.

We are committed to raising awareness of human rights and environmental issues linked to supply chains among students, staff and the general public.

Case studies and blog posts

Read case studies and blog posts tagged as 'fair trade'

Read case studies and blog posts tagged as 'ethical business'

Make ICT Fair

Take action

Supply chains and investments