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The importance of sustainable purchasing and procurement

En stor maskin.

Lund University makes annual purchases totalling SEK 1.5 billion. Together, these purchases make up a large part of the University’s carbon footprint. How can we meet the high demands of research on materials and products, and at the same time become a resource-efficient organisation with a carbon footprint that is as small as possible?

Anja Björnberg Ekstrand works as a procurement officer at the Purchasing and Procurement Office and MAX IV, and is also active in their sustainability group. According to her, the University’s purchases of research equipment, laboratory supplies, IT/telecoms as well as office supplies and furniture yield the largest carbon footprint.

When asked what we as employees can do to make the biggest difference with our purchases, Anja Björnberg Ekstrand replies:
“When you purchase contracted products, sustainability requirements are always set if possible – this may mean that the product has a certain certification or is made from recycled materials. Other things that contribute to better sustainability include coordinating purchases and not ordering too often, which reduces transport. Also consider whether the purchase is really needed. The item may already exist in the department. And there’s the possibility of choosing reusable products instead of disposable ones.

A seminar will soon be available in Swedish that explores the opportunities, challenges and solutions for a more sustainable purchasing process at the University. The seminar is part of a series on sustainability at work, organised by the Lund University Sustainability Forum and in collaboration with the Purchasing and Procurement Office at Lund University.