Birkbeck's Sustainable Procurement Plan
Introduction
Birkbeck, University of London, recognises that it can contribute towards the conservation and protection of the natural environment by adopting policies on sustainable procurement of goods and services. This document describes the Birkbeck College detailed Sustainable Procurement Plan.
The Operational Estate Manager has overall responsibility for the implementation of the Sustainable Procurement Plan.
Workshops and training on Sustainable Purchasing will be available for School Managers and Section Heads and coordinated by the Environmental Management Group.
The college has also committed to a Sustainable Food Policy.
| Sustainable Procurement Goal | Responsible Party | Target date for implementation |
| Adoption of formal procurement goal of minimising carbon emissions from goods and services provided to Birkbeck College | Governors | August 2010 |
| Develop Sustainable Purchasing Guidance and make available to relevant parties | Environmental Management Group | Completed: July 2009 |
| Use the DEFRA “Buy sustainable – quick wins” 2008 Best Practice Specifications when equipment and goods are purchased | School Managers and Section Heads | From April 2010 |
| Make use of the EU Energy rating scheme to select ‘A’ rated equipment only | School Managers and Section Heads | From April 2010 |
| Ensure that where economically viable, recycled goods are used in preference to new items | School Managers and Section Heads | From April 2010 |
| When recyclable items are available, purchase these in preference to non-recyclable alternatives | School Managers and Section Heads | From April 2010 |
| Work towards gaining Fairtrade accreditation and promote, use and support Fairtrade products where possible | Facilities Manager | From August 2010 |
| Phase out the use of plastic bottles and provide water filtered on-site in re-usable glass containers | Facilities Manager | Completed: October 2009 |
| Ensure that maximum use is made of recyclable or bio-degradable packaging for food services provided within College premises | Facilities Manager | From August 2010 |
| Ensure that no new comfort air-conditioning systems are installed, and that low-carbon cooling systems replace life-expired existing systems | Operational Estate Manager | From April 2010 |
| Energy manager to vet all major capital funding requests to assess environmental impact | Energy Manager and Research Grants Officer/Manager | From August 2010 |
| Ensure that maintenance budgets include provision for upgrades to reduce carbon emissions where possible | Operational Estate Manager | From August 2010 |
| Extend collaborative procurement arrangements and increase the use of e-procurement where this can be shown to give environmental benefits | Management Accountant | From April 2010 |
| Utilise agreed HEFCE procedures (when these become available) to estimate total Scope 3 Carbon emissions from Birkbeck’s procurement of goods and services | To Be Advised | Procedures not yet agreed: will be adopted when published by HEFCE, if required |