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Environmental policy

SLU’s environmental policy was adopted in 2011. There you can read the following:

"SLU contributes to an ecological, social and financial sustainable development.

Environmental thinking and environmental aspects are integrated in all decision-making and are part of all activities within SLU’s organisational units.

The environmental work at SLU is a long-term process which builds on continuous improvement and is based on the environmental regulations in force."

Did you know...

  • All of SLU's approximately 30 locations are certified in accordance with ISO 14001, an environmental standard which means that there is systematic environmental work that strives for continuous improvement and which is audited annually by external environmental auditors?
  • You as a student can get involved in the environmental work at SLU by getting involved in the unions' environmental committee?
  • You can submit comments or ideas on how environmental work can be improved through SLU's system for deviations and improvements ("Emergency or incident")?
  • A flight between Stockholm and Gothenburg emits 74,000 times more carbon dioxide compared to a train journey on the same route? It is therefore a good idea to consider taking the train instead of flying.

About the environmental unit

Assignment

  • Create tools and to act as support in the environmental work in the various activities.
  • Continuously work with SLU's environmental management system.
  • Participate and set environmental requirements in procurements.
  • Continuously aim to achieve the set environmental objectives and follow up statistics on these.
  • Conduct audits, both internal and external, together with auditors from our certification body Rise.
  • Report the results of the environmental work to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
  • Administer the SLU climatefund.
  • Manage changes in environmental legislation.
  • Responsible for SLU's chemical handling system, "KLARA".

Staff

Johanna Sennmark, environmental manager

Karin Bäckman, environmental coordinator

Kristin Thored, environmental coordinator

Maria Nauclér, work environment engineer

Camilla Källman, environmental coordinator

Mats Svensson, environmental coordinator

Cecilia Wärdig, environmental coordinator

List of staff.

FAQ on environmental management at SLU

Frequently asked questions on environmental management at SLU

Environmental management nano training?

Improvement proposals and non-conformities, what are they?

Where can I read about environmental management at SLU?

How do we work with Agenda 2030 at SLU?

What is SLU doing to become fossil-free?

Is there a newsletter?

How can I influence what is served in the restaurants on campus?

Does SLU include environmental requirements when goods and services are procured?

What about our IT equipment?

What about waste management?

What are we doing to reduce the use of disposables in restaurants and vending machines?

How can we reduce the number of printouts made?

What about integrating sustainability in courses and programmes?

Alnarp information

Environmental management nano training?

The Environment Unit has produced a short introduction, available as a web-based nano-learning course, to environmental management at SLU. The training was sent to all students and staff in autumn 2019. New students and staff get an email with a link to the training once their AD account has been registered. If you missed the training, that and the accompanying test are available on the Environmental training page. As the training is only available for students and staff at SLU, you first need to log on to the student web using your AD account.

Improvement proposals and non-conformities, what are they?

Do you have a suggestion for how something could be done in a more environmentally friendly way at SLU? Are you aware of practices that go against regulations or SLU’s environmental management procedures?  Then you can report this in the IA reporting system, which you can find via the button Emergency or incident on the student web start page. When filling in the web form, it is important to choose the right location (the campus/building concerned) to make sure the report is sent to the right environmental coordinator. If your report concerns an environmental matter, select Environment under What?. You can also report working environment and security issues in the reporting system. If you are reporting an environmental matter, choose e.g. “SLU Uppsala” or “SLU övriga” (other locations). More information is available via the button Emergency or incident on the student web start page.

Where can I read about environmental management at SLU?

As a government agency, SLU must have an environmental management system. We must also submit an annual report on our environmental management work to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. This reporting is done using web forms and covers, e.g., our direct and indirect environmental impact, environmental objectives including action plan, measures and results. More information on the environmental impact reports

All of SLU received its environmental certificate under ISO 14001 in 2016, as of 2019 we are also registered under EMAS. EMAS is the EU’s environmental management and audit scheme and is a more ambitious scheme than the ISO 14001 standard. To be registered under EMAS, in addition to fulfilling the ISO requirements, an organisation needs to submit an annual environmental audit reviewed by a third party. View the environmental reviews.

How do we work with Agenda 2030 at SLU?

Agenda 2030 and the 17 sustainable development goals were adopted by the UN in 2015. The aim is to reduce poverty an ensure food security, improve education and health, mitigate climate change and make sure seas and land-based ecosystems are used in a sustainable way. Education, research and environmental monitoring and assessment at SLU contribute to realising these goals. Read more about SLU and Agenda 2030.

What is SLU doing to become fossil-free?

SLU has adopted a vision for the university to be climate-neutral by 2027. We have defined focus areas with objectives such as for all electricity and heating we use to be fossil-free, and our own vehicle fleet, machinery and equipment to run on non-fossil fuel.

Is there a newsletter?

We publish a newsletter with information and news about SLU’s environmental management work about five times a year. The newsletter is primarily intended for environmental coordinators and environmental representatives at SLU departments and divisions, but anyone interested, students and staff, can subscribe. Contact miljo@slu.se if you want to be added to the distribution list.

How can I influence what is served in the restaurants on campus?

You are welcome to submit your opinions directly to the restaurant, or via the restaurant councils, where there are employee and students' union representatives. There are restaurant councils in Alnarp and Ultuna, the campuses where we have procured catering and restaurant services (Pembert & Gustavsson in Alnarp and Ulls restaurang, including Moccado and Amigo, at Campus Ultuna). Contact your students' union.

Does SLU include environmental requirements when goods and services are procured?

SLU annually buys goods and services at a value of around SEK 1.7 billion. As of 2019, the Purchasing and Procurement Unit handles all procurements that exceed the direct procurement threshold. The Environment Unit analyses all procurements that include environmental requirements.

What about our IT equipment?

When we procure a framework agreement for IT products, we apply very strict environmental requirements. The standard computers for staff fulfil these requirements. Written recommendations for how long IT products should be used are not seen as useful. Instead, the Division of IT can give advice taking functionality and security into account. They will never suggest replacing an IT product unless this is necessary.

In IT procurements, suppliers will benefit financially if they can show that they take proactive measures for increased sustainability, for example through environmental audits, working to reduce the use of conflict minerals and using smart solutions to increase recycling of superannuated/used products. The same applies if they offer joint deliveries for the whole of SLU, using vehicles only powered by fossil-free fuel. Suppliers must also ensure that the SLU standard range, at any time, offers at least one product in each product segment that can be defined as top of the range environmentally, and which has a TCO certification or similar. Additionally, cables must not contain phthalates.

What about waste management?

At SLU, the whole university follows the same waste management procedures. According to national and municipal legislation, we must sort our waste and we constantly strive to make this work satisfactorily in all our locations. Please talk to colleagues, students, guests and others who use our premises about our waste sorting procedures – together, we can get better at this.

What are we doing to reduce the use of disposables in restaurants and vending machines?

We define clear environmental criteria for procurements related to restaurant and catering services. The Environment Unit, together with some SLU researchers, is looking into what SLU guidelines for purchasing food could look like. This work is expected to be completed by winter 2020–2021. 

How can we reduce the number of printouts made?

The default setting on SLU printers is double-sided, black and white printouts. The Education Planning and Administration Handbook also has printing guidelines for teachers.

What about integrating sustainability in courses and programmes?

There is an environmental objective stating that SLU degree programmes should provide all students with a solid foundation, with a view to their future professional roles, for working with all the sustainability perspectives (financial, social, and environmental).

 

Alnarp information

Commuting by bike in Alnarp

SLU has the ambition to launch a project in cooperation with Akademiska hus and Lomma Municipality aiming to develop the infrastructure for bikers in Alnarp. At the moment, bike shelters are available by the carriage shed at Alnarpsgården. 

Do all buildings have sensors that switch off lights in empty rooms?

Motion-controlled lighting is usually installed in connection with major building alterations or in new buildings. During the last year, Akademiska hus have switched to more energy-efficient lighting in some buildings, e.g. Articum, Packladan, Södra elev and Maskinhall C (the workshop).

Can waste be sorted both indoors and outdoors?

Buildings on campus have waste recycling stations both in shared spaces and in individual units. Outdoors, there are recycling stations for those staying in student accommodation.

Would it be possible to make use of the fruit available in the park instead of ordering fruit baskets?

Unfortunately, the fruit supply is too irregular if you rely on windfall, but students are welcome to place baskets with windfall from the Alnarp Park in the student cafeterias in Alnarpsgården, Articum and Agricum. The students' unions are responsible for organising this.

Published: 15 August 2023 - Page editor: miljo@slu.se
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