Procurement
Responsible procurement is a key aspect of our procurement activity. To demonstrate our commitment, we focus on a whole-life cycle approach to measure and mitigate environmental sustainability impact while sporting positive economic and social outcomes. To support knowledge and confidence of sustainable procurement, our procurement team published a Guide to Sustainable/Responsible Procurement during 2024/25.
The University is an active member of Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC), Scotland’s procurement centre of expertise for universities and colleges. The University is also an active member of The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO).
For all open tenders with a contract value above the Scottish Government threshold, we use the APUC tender documents which include responsible procurement criteria such as minimising environmental impact, fair work practices, Living Wage and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.
We have a number of relevant policies in place, such as the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement. In terms of audit and best practice, through our membership with APUC, the University is an early adopter of EcoVadis.
We report our impact and progress through a number of reporting avenues, including annual Public Bodies Climate Change Duties (PBCCD) reports to the Scottish Government. Our 2024/25 report (published in November 2025) is available within the Sustainable Scotland Network website. The Procurement section of the report provides further overview of our work. The Emissions and Projects section includes public reporting of estimated carbon emissions associated with the procurement of goods and services.
Partnerships
In addition to APUC and TUCO, the University works with a range of organisations to support all procurement activity. Examples include:
Electronics Watch
Through our membership with APUC, we are a consortium affiliate of Electronics Watch. The organisation assists public sector members by monitoring global electronics supply chains to ensure the protection of labour rights workers. Kate Murray, Head of Strategic Procurement at Edinburgh Napier, is a member of the Electronics Watch Board of Trustees.
Living Wage
The University is proud to be an accredited Living Wage employer. Visit the Living Wage Foundation website for more information on the foundation and all expectations of Living Wage employers.
Buy Social Scotland
The University has signed the Buy Social Scotland pledge demonstrating a commitment to provide fair access contracting opportunities for business of all sizes. The national initiative is supported by the Scottish Government, which aims to facilitate social impact through procurement.
For more information, including an overview of our spend, visit our Social Enterprise Scotland webpages.
Funding and finance
Colleagues across the University work closely to ensure appropriate and effective use of funding available, in line with all procurement principles (examples above) and governance expectations in place, including the commitments embedded within the Environmental Sustainability Strategy.
Our 2024/25 Strategic Report and Financial Statements report includes a significant array of environmental sustainability information, including an overview of progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)
Internal funding
The University makes capital and revenue funding available to support the embedment and development of environmental sustainability at Edinburgh Napier. Financial commitment also includes the employment of a full time Environmental Sustainability Manager as well as other core staff with environmental sustainability expectations embedded within their roles, including the Maintenance Operations Manager.
Recent examples of internally funded projects supporting the Environmental Sustainability Strategy include the development of building condition, low/net zero heat, space utilisation and travel (encapsulating both personal and business travel) surveys. The significant array of information gleaned through the surveys supported better and more focused prioritisation of environmental sustainability projects.
External funding
The University has successfully gained funding from a range of external organisations to support a variety of projects. Over the past ten years the University has gained over £300,000 from organisations such as The City of Edinburgh Council, Cycling Scotland, SEStrans and Sustrans.
Projects include the installation of new secure at covered bicycle storage at our Craiglockhart Campus (completed during 2025/26) and the installation of new two-tier bicycle storage racks at our Merchiston Campus, increasing capacity within an existing secure and covered bicycle store.
Salix
The University manages a Salix Recycling Fund of £312,500. The fund consists of £125,000 from both the Scottish and UK governments and £62,500 from the University itself.
As of June 2026, energy reduction projects with a collective cost of £1.1m have been embedded within the University. This includes a project developed throughout 2024/25 and 2025/26 to remove and reduce the need for gas heating and hot water systems between May and September (while heating is switched off). The total project cost was £122,000. Analysis of the project impact is underway. For more project examples, visit our Energy page.
Ethical Investment Policy
Our Ethical Investment Policy was published in May 2022. The document followed our decision, encouraged by the Edinburgh Napier Sustainable Society, to divest from fossil fuels. More information is available within our divestment page.
The policy and our wider work acknowledges and aims to mitigate the impact our investments have on the world around us an for our investments to reflect the values and social purpose of the University. The policy covers investments led by both the University and the University’s Development Trust as well as companies managing investments on behalf of the University.