Purchasing

Ambitions Roadmap Sustainability

➔ From 2021, realize 100% sustainable purchasing for 80% of the new European tenders.

➔ From 2021, ask about suppliers’ sustainable operational management:

◆ Appropriate working conditions, by investigating this for 100% of the new tenders and achieving a higher % every year.
◆ SROI (Social Return on Investment), by investigating this for 100% of the new tenders and achieving a higher % every year.
◆ Regional purchasing, by requesting a tender from one regional supplier, one preferred supplier and one other supplier for multiple private tenders and achieving a higher % every year.

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Examples of sustainable procurement at the UG

Sustainable coffee

Partly on the advice of the Green Office, the Board of the university has opted for organically produced fair trade coffee, which is roasted (ie locally) in Groningen and distributed fossil-free. The coffee grounds are used to produce sustainable coffee cups. For every liter of coffee, tea or other drink, the costs of one liter of clean drinking water are donated by the coffee supplier to developing countries, through the Made Blue campaign: 'a liter for a liter'.

Sustainable flowers

As of 2020 all flowers and flower arrangements ordered by the University of Groningen are ordered from a sustainable local florist. The UG contracted the only florist with an official sustainability certificate in Groningen.

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The UG is a member of Electronics Watch, a non-profit organization that monitors responsible public procurement.