Purchase
SDU to offer new common goods at the central warehouse
From mid-June 2022, the new SDU Common Goods will be introduced across SDU. The primary function of SDU Common Goods is to ensure a sustainable, environmentally friendly and simple range of selected products, where logistics, administration, warehousing and finance together contribute to the sustainable development of the University.
What is SDU Common Goods?
For a number of years, SDU has had specific common goods, which are goods that have been costed centrally at SDU, and thus have been financed in SDU’s budget model in the same way as rent. These include telephony, postage/freight, toilet paper and photocopying. The cost level of these product groups has been reduced by half since 2013. The Central Administration has been responsible for procurement, logistics and payment.
”I am pleased that we can offer even more common goods at SDU. Common goods induce administrative simplification, better procurement prices and less transport, as SDU can coordinate the purchase of goods across the University
Why do we need more common goods?
As part of SDU’s Procurement Policy and Strategy the Procurement Steering Committee has worked on standardisation and joint purchasing of additional product lines with a view to making them SDU Common Goods. This concerns:
- Consumables and protective equipment
- Office supplies
- Office furniture
- IT accessories (less than DKK 500)
- Coffee and tea (coming autumn 2022)
SDU Common Goods offers a lot of advantages in terms of logistics, administration, warehouses and finance. For example, there will be fewer truck calls, receipts, registrations and processing, and better planning of deliveries for users. At the same time, the Central Administration will have fewer orders, invoices and payment runs to process. SDU Common Goods will also have an impact on SDU’s warehouses, which will be consolidated into a single central warehouse, allowing us to reduce warehousing at the University. In the future, delivery will be made in the right quantities that match the consumption at SDU.
In addition, it will be possible to return used common goods for recycling at SDU without intermediate financing via SDU’s commodity exchange. This especially applies to furniture and IT equipment.
”The Common Goods organisation is a great initiative to ensure seamless purchasing of everyday items – without all the red tape
SDU Common Goods: The simple and sustainable choice
In promoting environmentally conscious and responsible procurement, we will use our resources smarter and consume less at SDU. SDU Common Goods helps to ensure that the University’s commitment to the UN SDGs is expanded. This is because the implementation of SDU Common Goods leads to a high reduction of paper usage, transport, waste and CO2 emissions of the goods in question. SDU Common Goods has a wide range of advantages that ensure a sustainable university, as the range consists of eco-labelled products that ensure a high recyclability for the University. For example, SDU Common Goods includes a range of furniture that will eventually create uniformity across the University and have been selected to match all SDU office spaces, installations, ergonomics and working environment. This ensures a high level of use and recycling of SDU Common Goods throughout the University. The life span of the range could therefore be extended and fewer new purchases will be made, which, on top of the sustainability agenda, could also bring SDU financial benefits in the form of savings. At the same time, it will reduce CO2 emissions due to less production and transport of new products.
”More common goods is a big win for SDU and the faculties. We achieve cheaper purchases while simplifying the daily workflows of purchasing, invoicing and inventory management
How do I order SDU Common Goods?
SDU Common Goods can be ordered at the central warehouse through the procurement system. Please note that local approval of the purchase is required. SDU common goods are financed through a financing model to which all units contribute and which the Executive Board has approved.
”Common goods contribute positively to administrative simplification, but the scope and use of the common goods system must be judicious to ensure the natural financial incentive to act appropriately
Can I buy the same pen I’ve always bought?
The introduction of more common goods means that you, the consumer of the goods, may find that the stationery you used to buy is no longer included in the common goods range, but that you can find a similar product that meets the same needs.
However, before ordering a new pen or other common goods, you might want to stop and think about whether the purchase is necessary and whether the task can be solved in another way.
”The many benefits far outweigh any disadvantages. At SDU, we will be purchasing in a much smarter, more economical and, not least, more sustainable way with the common goods model
How is the range selected?
SDU Common Goods is a carefully selected range of products where finance, usability, quality and sustainability are important selection criteria. The range has been selected by working groups set up for each product category. The working groups have consisted of users from faculties and the Central Administration. The range has subsequently been consulted via the procurement coordinators at each faculty.
In order to ensure the right range and quality of SDU Common Goods in the future, the working groups will meet biannually or as needed in connection with range adjustments or contract changes.
Users always have the opportunity to submit requests and amendments to SDU Common Goods by contacting indkob@sdu.dk.
”For the user, the benefits of introducing more common goods are that the user will experience a simpler choice and ordering process, as well as speedier delivery of commonly used goods for everyday use. In addition, there are financial benefits in the form of cheaper purchases and reduced invoice processing costs