Purchasing & Disposing

The things we buy – and how we use and dispose of them – have a bigger impact on our environmental footprint than almost anything else we do. At Sheffield, purchased goods and services account for around 60% of our total carbon emissions, far outweighing the impact of waste disposal itself. That means every purchasing decision is also a climate decision.

We spend hundreds of millions of pounds each year with suppliers of equipment, services, furniture, textiles and everyday consumables. Larger purchases are already subject to sustainability criteria in our tenders, but almost half of our total spend currently takes place through smaller, devolved purchases with limited oversight. At the same time, we send very little waste to landfill and already recycle many streams, with most remaining general waste going for energy recovery – so the biggest opportunities now lie further up the waste hierarchy. That includes buying less, buying better, reusing what we already have, and designing systems that keep materials in use for longer through repair, refurbishment and redistribution.

Our goal is to embed circular economy thinking into every purchasing and disposal decision. Environmental and social impact will sit alongside price and quality when we define “value for money”. We will make it easier for staff to choose refurbished over new, to borrow or share rather than buy, and to use approved suppliers who meet strong sustainability standards. New tools – such as a University store for commonly used items, a central asset register and improved contract management – will help us cut waste, reduce low-value spending and lower emissions from our supply chain.

For students and staff, this will mean more visible reuse schemes, clearer options for recycling and repair, and campus systems that feel joined up and easy to use. For our partners and suppliers, it will mean higher expectations and closer collaboration on sustainability, from product design and packaging through to end-of-life. By treating resources as something to be stewarded, not thrown away, we can cut carbon, save money and support a more regenerative, low-carbon economy in Sheffield and beyond.