The University of Sydney

Purposeful Procurement for People and Planet

The University of Sydney has transformed its purchasing power for good, creating lasting environmental and social sustainability. It collaborated with suppliers to complete 94 independent modern slavery risk assessments in 6 months, trained over 18,000 suppliers, staff and students, and launched ground-breaking industry partnerships. In the first quarter of 2022 alone, it quadrupled its 2021 Indigenous procurement spend. It introduced a biodigester that converts 500kg of waste every day, a reusable cup scheme that reduces 35,000 single-use cups each week, and secured a new contract for the University to be powered by 100% renewable electricity — three years earlier than planned.