Sustainable Purchases at EPFL

EPFL’s Procurement Department and Sustainability Unit work closely together in order to promote Sustainable Purchases at EPFL.

Our ambition is to promote a sustainable purchasing policy by taking into account the social, environmental and economic impacts during the whole lifecycle of the products and services.

In order to meet the objectives set in EPFL’s Climate & Sustainability Strategy, the School commits to promote a three-pronged culture of sustainable purchases:

  • Accompanying the EPFL community towards more sustainable procurement practices
  • Promoting a sustainable supply chain
  • Fostering innovative partnerships with suppliers who share the same vision

That implies that the EPFL community questions its consumption habits.

Toolbox by category of purchases

Advice for our suppliers
Estimated GHG emissions of EPFL purchases

EPFL purchases every year large quantities of goods and services to carry out its missions of teaching, research, and innovation. It is currently estimated that adding the purchasing of products and services – excluding IT-, food-, and travel-related emissions, which are already accounted for – would double EPFL’s carbon footprint.

Therefore, EPFL commits to adopt a circular economy approach that is based on questioning the needs, extending the useful life of its equipment and recovering its waste.

 
Estimate of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions measured by the DSS+ consultancy firm for EPFL purchases in 2019 (reference year for the Climate & Sustainability Strategy).

For further information:

EPFL’s carbon footprint (excluding purchases)
 
 
 

Contacts

Claire
Claire Villanueva Saout

Sustainable Procurement and Waste Project Manager

[email protected]+41 21 693 86 31BCH 4103
Pierre
Pierre Ouvry

Methods and Tools Manager – Deputy to the Director

[email protected]+41 21 693 40 76BI A0 528