Join our Sustainable Purchasing training and help cut UCL’s emissions

Working together to reduce supplier emissions

Since autumn 2025, Commercial and Procurement Services and the Sustainable UCL team have been working closely together to accelerate action on Scope 3 carbon emissions. Now, we are inviting staff to join a sustainable purchasing training session to help drive further emission reductions.

Carbon emissions are defined by three “scopes”. Scope 1 and 2 emissions are direct emissions from our buildings and energy use, whereas Scope 3 emissions include all other indirect emissions that occur in the upstream and downstream activities. As scope 3 includes all emissions from UCL's complex supply chains, the majority of UCL’s carbon emissions are classed as Scope 3. 

With ambitious Scope 3 goals - a 52% emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2040 - UCL recognises that meaningful progress depends on the partnership and engagement of our suppliers. To support this, UCL has developed a new Supplier Sustainability Roadmap to accelerate progress toward its Net Zero targets and strengthen collaboration across its supply chain. 
The roadmap sets out clear expectations to ensure UCL’s most critical suppliers are moving at a similar pace, improving data quality and enabling targeted emissions reductions across the value chain. With more than 6,000 suppliers contributing to our overall carbon footprint, this collaboration is central to delivering UCL’s target of a 52% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2040, in line with the UCL Sustainability Plan 2025-35.

“"Tackling Scope 3 emissions is one of the most complex challenges we face, and it’s not something we can achieve on our own. Commercial and Procurement Services is working closely with our suppliers to set clearer expectations, improve transparency, and focus on practical ways to reduce emissions. Working alongside colleagues in Sustainable UCL has been key to bringing the right expertise together and making sure we’re taking a more joined-up approach. It’s already helping us make tangible interventions that enable our net zero goals.'' Ian Galloway, Executive Director, UCL Commercial and Procurement 

How we can engage suppliers to drive change

Several suppliers are already stepping up, providing detailed data and working with UCL to identify practical ways to reduce emissions. Dell, one of UCL’s key technology suppliers, has shared multiple product carbon footprints, marking the first time UCL has been able to incorporate product-level data into its annual emissions reporting. This has significantly improved the accuracy and robustness of UCL’s Scope 3 footprint.

Dell is also collaborating with UCL to trial a shift from air freight to sea freight, a change expected to reduce emissions per product by an estimated 30kg CO2e. This kind of partnership demonstrates how supplier innovation can directly support UCL’s climate ambitions while improving the sustainability of essential goods and services.

UCL has the power to be a catalyst for climate impact far beyond our campus. By working with suppliers, sharing high-quality data, setting ambitious targets, and co-creating practical solutions, we can accelerate decarbonisation across industries, not just within higher education. 

Join our workshop for staff

Everyone across UCL who purchases or commissions goods and services plays a role in reducing our carbon emissions. To support this, we are running a Sustainable Purchasing training session this July. If you are involved in buying or commissioning, we strongly encourage you to join the session to understand what is changing, how your decisions influence emissions and the practical steps you can take to support UCL’s net zero journey. 

Register for the sustainable purchasing workshop