Update for Suppliers - Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct

NEUPC wrote to our framework Suppliers asking them to sign up voluntarily for the Sustain Supply Code of Conduct. In the Summer of 2021, NEUPC rolled out the Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct to its current Framework Suppliers voluntarily; and will move towards sign-up to the code of conduct being a mandatory condition of award to new frameworks.

The Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct is the product of the 'Sustain' Project which was itself a sector wide collaboration to establish a single supply chain code of conduct for use across the HE and FE sectors; and was initiated in 2013. It aimed to understand the Social, Ethical & Environmental standards and behaviours of the sector's suppliers, to set minimum standards and to provide a platform for supply chain performance improvement. Having a single standard for the sector’s suppliers to work to, was and is felt to be essential for effective engagement of the supply base in driving responsible business performance forward.

The standards in this Code were derived from established global conventions and standards, including the UN SDGs, ETI base Code and ILO Conventions. The Code of conduct was adopted by all of Scotland's Universities and Colleges, with the London Universities Purchasing Consortium adopting it shortly afterwards and on the 21 January 2020, the Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct was endorsed by the HEPA Responsible Procurement Group as the recommended UK HE sector standard supply chain code of conduct. A major update of the Code took place in early 2021 and the latest version, (2021b) is available here.

NEUPC plans to roll-out the Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct to its current framework suppliers on a voluntary basis and move towards sign-up to the code of conduct being a mandatory condition of award to new frameworks. To demonstrate their commitment, current and potential suppliers will be asked to commit to Responsible Sustainable procurement within their organisations and to acknowledge their compliance with the principles of the Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct, with respect to their organisation and their supply chain. NEUPC does recognise that supply chains are complex and may not yet be fully compliant with the code through every tier of a supply chain, but the code should encourage greater focus and influence the application of improved standards, processes and conditions which will benefit both people and planet.