Sustainable procurement for greener logistics in the Higher Education sector

Abstract

Purpose: Using the University of Southampton as a case study example, this paper reviews how procurement practices (i.e. purchasing of goods and services) of large organisations impact upon goods and service vehicle activity, with a view to investigating what approaches may be taken to reduce carbon footprint and improve environmental sustainability. The approaches considered included consolidation of suppliers, buyers (individuals and departments), orders and consignments.

Research Approach: Existing procurement operating frameworks or models were initially reviewed with a view to understanding the key structures, principles, constraints and drivers that determine or influence purchasing practice. The review also considered measures that have been taken to address environmental sustainability concerns, particularly associated with goods and service vehicle activity (e.g. development of delivery and service plans). By considering both the procurement processes and the resulting generation of freight transport in tandem an improved framework can be developed to reduce freight traffic on site. Following the review, purchasing records over a period of one year from the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton were analysed to determine purchasing behaviour and to assess the volumes and frequencies of purchases made.

Findings and Originality: Our preliminary analyses have illustrated the widely distributed nature of purchasing with around 250 requisitioners in a single faculty placing orders with nearly 1000 suppliers and with multiple delivery points on campus. Originality lies in the consideration of both procurement and resulting logistics activity and in the detailed analyses that are seldom undertaken by large organisations let alone published. The research builds on similar types of study undertaken at the universities of Newcastle and Westminster.

Research Impact: The main research impact lies in establishing the links between procurement practices and goods and servicing activity at a large organisation, with the aim of improving environmental sustainability.
Practical Impact: The study illustrates how large municipal organisations can reduce the carbon footprint associated with their purchasing activities. There is a strong practical focus to the research using purchasing records to raise awareness of purchasing behaviour and identifying practical ways to operate more sustainably. The concepts, results and conclusions are likely to be transferable to any large municipal organisation where a wide range of purchases are made by many buyers, using many different suppliers.

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Identifiers

ORCID for F. McLeod: orcid.org/0000-0002-5784-9342

ORCID for T. Cherrett: orcid.org/0000-0003-0394-5459

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