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Sustainable procurement – how you as an employee can contribute to a greener future

Coffee, Mikael Risedal

Our purchases account for a large part of the University’s carbon footprint. Every year, the University makes purchases worth SEK 1.5 billion. In Sweden as a whole, purchases amount to SEK 900 billion – equivalent to one-sixth of GDP. This has a significant climate impact. Therefore, it is important that all purchases, from fruit baskets to sophisticated instruments, are made consciously and sustainably.

Support and tools for making sustainable choices

As an employee, you have the opportunity to make a difference. When you shop via the agreement register, sustainability is a selection criterion.

The University’s Purchasing and Procurement Office has a dedicated sustainability team to help you make the right choices. The team, consisting of Anja Björnberg Ekstrand, Sarah Salman and Bo Nilsson, provides advice, cooperates with the environmental unit, monitors sustainability aspects in procurement and contracting and keeps up to date with current sustainability requirements. 

Purchasing analysis and eco-spend

The “eco-spend” tool helps us calculate the carbon emissions generated by our purchases. It shows purchase data in CO2 equivalents instead of SEK, which gives a clearer picture of the climate impact per product category.

A diagram over the eco-spend at LU.
The graph shows the difference between spend and eco-spend based on different purchasing categories.

The graph shows the difference between spend and eco-spend based on different purchasing categories.

Example: A laptop costing SEK 15,000 has a climate indicator of 0.034 kg CO₂/SEK.
15,000 x 0.034 = 510 kg of CO2 emissions

From need to action – how to make sustainable purchases

Before you click on “order”, consider this:

  • Do we really need to make the purchase?
  • Is there anything already in the department that can be used?
  • Can we coordinate the purchase with someone else?
  • Is there a sustainable option via the agreement register?

Also remember to:

  • Choose reusable products over disposable ones.
  • Prioritise suppliers with recycling solutions.
  • Consider transport options – you may be able to borrow or share instead of buying new.

Small choices – big impact

In 2024, the share of organic and Fairtrade-labelled coffee and tea increased slightly compared with the previous year. Fifty-seven per cent of the coffee and tea purchased was organic (up from 55% in 2023), and 40% was Fairtrade-labelled (up from 39%). The share of sustainable dairy products and powdered drinks also rose from 42% to 48%. This is a positive development, but we can do more!

By choosing the right products when ordering for the break room, an event or the staff kitchen, you can help us achieve the goals of the University’s sustainability plan and our commitment to Fairtrade City Lund.

Keep this in mind when purchasing refreshments:

  • Choose organic or Fairtrade – especially coffee, tea, milk, sugar, juice and fruit.
  • Local fruit from Skåne (such as apples and pears) is a climate-smart alternative.
  • In Lupin you will find organic choices – for example 98% of fruit baskets were organic in 2024.

Tip! Order coffee before 1 May – after that, the price will increase by SEK 50/kg due to the impact of climate change on producers and increased global demand.

Read more: Sustainable procurement

Contact Purchasing and Procurement Office if you have any questions: Support - Division of Finances

Information about Contract catalogue: Contract catalogue