Sustainable Purchasing
Our main suppliers have been carefully selected through a national tendering process to ensure they adhere to the University's policy on modern slavery.
The clothing we stock is selected for its ethical credentials, and we aim to use organic cotton and recycled PET polyester where possible in these garments. In the past year we have made the switch to 100% organic cotton in all of our T-shirts and aim to switch our sweatshirts and hoodies to this within the next few years. A number of these already use organic cotton and/or recycled content.
Our accessories and gifts are made from recycled material where possible, and we are actively looking to change more of these in the future.
We also source from local suppliers and artisans where possible, helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the items that we sell.
Our Impact
We acknowledge that our carbon footprint doesn't stop at how our products are made or with what materials; the methods used to transport our products have an impact on the environment, too.
DPD is the courier for most of our suppliers. In 2020, the delivery service provider reached a target of 700 electric vehicles (representing an electrification of over 10 per cent of its fleet). This number is set to grow in the coming years.
Learn about Green DPD
We use Royal Mail Click & Drop to ship your orders locally and worldwide. Royal Mail has committed to become a net zero carbon emission business by 2050, in alignment with the Paris Agreement. The business has also pledged to switch to a 100 per cent alternative fuel fleet by the same year.
Royal Mail Corporate Responsibility
Our local, independent suppliers such as Workshop After Six usually hand-deliver their products to us.
Sustainability Awards
Our team are actively involved in promoting sustainability and sharing ideas about how we can lead more environmentally and socially sustainable lives, at home and at work. Examples include reducing waste, completing online sustainability training, switching off non-essential lights and electronics (the 'Winter Shutdown'), and promoting reusable drinkware over disposable alternatives.
The Visitor Centre achieved bronze and silver Sustainability Awards in 2018 and 2019 respectively. We are currently working towards gold accreditation.
You can learn more about the Sustainability Awards at the department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability.
Circular Economy
The University of Edinburgh Gift Shop are really excited to have teamed up with Teemill, a market leading sustainable clothing company. They use 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, renewable energy to power production, plastic free packaging, and have a circular fashion model.
Once your Teemill item has passed it’s best and is no longer of use to you, you can send the item back. Teemill will recycle your t-shirt, hoodie or sweatshirt into another product for future use. Details of this process can be found here.
Teemill are the supplier for our print-on-demand Find Your School and Family Collections. We also have a Teemill range of merchandise available in-store and online.
Meet The Makers
Meet the local and independent makers we work with, from handcrafted leather products to University tweed and tartan.