6. Procurement and supplier engagement

Message to students, staff and local suppliers

Like Charles Sturt University, many institutions are leading the way in protecting biodiversity and using natural resources efficiently, with minimal waste. Our spending decisions are an important instrument in tackling climate change both by reducing carbon emissions and ensuring that buildings and infrastructure are resilient to changes in our climate.

• See the Sustainability at Charles Sturt Procurement and Supplier Engagement sheet [PDF 384KB]

Importance of sustainability in procurement and supplier engagement

Sustainable procurement and supplier engagement both directly and indirectly influence a number of key environmental and societal areas. When institutions collaborate on sustainable procurement choices, we have the power to bring about major local and international environmental and social advances, such as:

• achieving direct environmental benefits and health goals
• helping to drive the market for sustainable and socially responsible products and services
• demonstrating real leadership by setting examples for corporate and private consumers.

Reasons for committing to and investing in sustainable procurement:

• Reduce long-term energy consumption by using whole-life costing, which highlights products with a low capital cost that are expensive to run.
• Anticipate future regulations.
• Avoid costly disposal of products at the end of their life.
• Avoid rising costs.
• Change public perception and awareness of climate change.

Progress toward best practice

This framework was benchmarked in 2016. The below graph illustrates our progress towards best practice across the five (5) activity areas. The green bars reaching four (4) highlight best practice and the lower bars in blue indicate Charles Sturt University’s current ratings.

Action Plan

Sustainability at Charles Sturt is leading the way in sustainable procurement and supplier engagement.

• See the Procurement and Supplier Engagement Action Plan [PDF 332KB]

Initiatives

• Undertake procurement in accordance with the Charles Sturt University Procurement Policy and Modern Slavery Statement.
• Consider the whole-of-life costs prior to making any purchasing decisions.
• Proactively communicate with your suppliers about Charles Sturt University’s commitment to sustainability practices.
• Seek feedback from suppliers about the sustainability credentials of their organisation and the products they offer.
• Become a sustainable procurement champion in your work area.
• Participate in the development of sustainable procurement policies.
• Purchase goods and services that consider their environmental footprint.