Purchasing
UVic's purchasing supports the local economy
With over 26,000 campus community members, UVic's purchasing leverage provides a vital opportunity to support the local economy. UVic works with Purchasing Services, UVic Food Services, Student Affairs, UVSS and GSS to develop meaningful purchasing relationships with product and service providers that promote environmental and social procurement practices.
In January 2020, Purchasing Services published the university's Supplier Code of Conduct (SCoC). The SCoC applies to all Suppliers who provide goods or services to the University of Victoria, as well as their Subcontractors. It establishes the minimum ethical, social, and environmental standards expected of UVic Suppliers. Additional requirements may be described in individual contracts executed with UVic.
UVic supports Fairtrade
You will find many Fairtrade choices across UVic. For example, at all Food Services outlets there are certified Fairtrade coffee, tea and chocolate bars. In the SUB, you can find beautiful Fairtrade arts and crafts and in the Gradhouse Fairtrade sugar is available to sweeten your Fairtrade coffee or tea!
Sustainable purchasing
For detailed information on sustainable purchasing, see below:
Sustainable and local food
UVic works to be a leader in procuring food products that are local and sustainably sourced. Also, promoting products that are Fairtrade, Organic and Oceanwise are a top priority for the univeristy's Food Services.
For more information on our food purchasing practices, see our page on Dining and food.
Paper
Since 2008, UVic's paper standard has been 100% post-consumer recycled content waste for all bond paper supplies used in printers and photocopiers. By switching from 30% post-consumer waste content, UVic was the first university in BC to make the commitment to using 100% recycled paper stock.
Bookstore and gear
The UVic Bookstore is leading by example when it comes to sustainable purchasing. Not only can you purchase “UVic Gear” that is made out of bamboo and/or organic cotton, but you can rest assured that bookstore staff monitor suppliers to ensure clothing is sweatshop free.
The Bookstore has one of the highest percentages of used textbooks in bookstores across Canada, as well as a large availability of electronic textbooks, e-books and textbook rentals. Learn more at the UVic Bookstore site.
Office supplies disposal
UVic Purchasing Services and Interior Modification Services demonstrate their commitment to sustainable waste disposal with programs like Surplus furniture disposal and the Furniture repurpose program. You can also dispose of computers, equipment, and supplies.
Find out more about Asset Disposal and other sustainable disposal initiatives at the Purchasing Services website.
Furniture
UVic's office standard furniture comes from Calstone's line of environmentally friendly furniture with a zero waste manufacturing process.
We have strategic alliance contacts with approved furniture suppliers that offer furniture made from renewable resources, such as wood certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) or with recycled materials (100% recycled polyester). All of our manufacturers are committed to the health and wellness of their clients and the environment by producing products that are Green Guard Certified and/or manufactured in factories that are ISO 14001 certified.
Our staff will either disassemble and recycle furniture when possible or return it to the manufacture to recycle in cradle-to-cradle programs.
Green computing
UVic's standardized laptops, workstations and monitors from Dell and Lenovo are all all EPEAT Gold certified. Learn more about our Green Computing policies here.
See University Systems and Printing Services for more information. Used equipment is collected and sent to recycling facilities in BC through our e-waste asset program