Reuse
Reuse is one of the focus areas in the Environmental plan 2025. The purchase of goods results in 19 % of the University's total greenhouse gas emissions.
Reasons to reuse
Reusing furniture, fittings and other items used at the University, will reduce the University’s environmental impact as this avoids the need to produce new products and transport goods. Moreover, the University saves money and time, which can be put to better use.
Kammarkollegiet (the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency) provides agreements with several companies operating within "circular furniture flows". Uppsala University may, as a public agency, make use of these agreements if more furniture is needed at the work place.
Cirkular furniture flows, cirkular services (avropa.se in Swedish)
Cirkular furniture flows, procurement of furniture (avropa.se in Swedish)
Cirkular furniture flows, disposal of furniture (avropa.se in Swedish)
To sell or to donate? That is the question
As a public authority, it is possible to sell and donate items that no longer are in use. A sale is to be conducted in a businesslike manner and the price is to be adjusted to conditions on the market. VAT is not to be included in the price.
However, if the buyer is an employee, the price is to be adjusted as if VAT were included. If this is not done, the employee needs to report to the Swedish Tax Agency about fringe benefits taxes.
What if the costs of selling or discarding the assets are bigger than the value price adjusted to the market, and if the alternative to donate the items is more favourable economically? If that is the case, choose the alternative that is the most efficient and cost beneficial for the state.
Sales of assets are regulated in the Ordinance (1996:1191) of demise of movable property of the State.
Reuse at UU
There is a collaborative workspace at Sharepoint for reuse at the University and a reuse forum on Viva Engage. Regardless of campus and department, staff can offer items that are surplus to requirements in their part of the organisation and post enquiries about items they lack.
Uppsala University Reuse workspace
Another thing you can do is to set up a shelf locally at your department or division for reuse of smaller items such as office supplies.
Did you know...
...that 95% of IT products' climate impact stems from the production phase? This is why it is of uttermost importance to prolong the use, or reuse, these products.