Sustainable Purchasing and Procurement

Sakarya University Sustainable Purchasing Policy:

• To prioritize sourcing goods and services from local suppliers to reduce transportation emissions and support the local economy.
• To promote circular economy principles and minimize waste generation, our University prefers recycled materials in building projects.
• To minimize environmental impact, energy-efficient and eco-friendly products are preferred in all procurement activities.
• To promote sustainability throughout the supply chain, the University actively engages with suppliers and contractors.

 

Policy Context and Purpose

Sakarya University’s Sustainable Purchasing Policy forms part of the institution’s corporate values and sustainability framework. The policy guides procurement decisions to ensure that environmental, social and economic sustainability principles are integrated into purchasing processes across the University, in alignment with corporate social responsibility objectives and Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Implementation in Practice

Sakarya University implements its Sustainable Purchasing Policy through daily procurement practices applied by administrative and academic units. In practice, this includes:

• Giving preference to local suppliers where feasible, contributing to reduced transportation-related emissions and supporting the regional economy.
• Encouraging the use of recycled, recyclable and low-impact materials, particularly in construction, renovation and infrastructure-related procurement.
• Prioritising energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products and services to improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental footprint.
• Actively engaging with suppliers and contractors to promote sustainability awareness and encourage compliance with environmental and ethical standards throughout the supply chain.

These practices ensure that sustainability considerations are embedded into procurement operations beyond policy commitments.

Scope of the Policy

The Sustainable Purchasing Policy applies to the procurement of goods, services and works across Sakarya University, including administrative operations, campus services, infrastructure projects and academic units.

Governance

The implementation of sustainable purchasing practices is supported through institutional sustainability coordination mechanisms and is reviewed periodically as part of the University’s sustainability and quality assurance processes.

Public Access to the Policy

The Sustainable Purchasing Policy is publicly accessible as part of Sakarya University’s institutional policies and corporate values framework.

Official policy link:

https://saudek.sakarya.edu.tr/en/icerik/8069/3245/kurumsal-degerler