Purchasing Standards

Minimum Purchasing Standards Summary

This is not exhaustive but illustrates the overall approach to different product areas.

We are committed to prioritising sourcing from UK farmers and producers, emphasising heritage, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients, as well as those with third-party welfare, quality, and sustainability certifications. Our focus is on working with producers who employ sustainable agricultural and manufacturing practices to build a healthy, resilient food system, aligned with the Menus of Change Principles.

Our supply chain strategy prioritises local ingredients and producers, followed by regional (South of England) and national (UK) suppliers, ensuring an optimal balance between locality and sustainability. Special consideration is given to the carbon footprint, particularly when comparing products grown in UK greenhouses to those cultivated under natural sunlight in warmer climates, while adhering to sustainable agricultural and manufacturing standards.

Bars & Dining/Greenlands/Hospitality

Product AreaMinimum Standard (s) for External SourcingUoR Sourced?Notes/Next Steps
Fruit and VegetablesUK Seasonal, Leaf
Fairtrade for Exotic Fruit*		Some fruit & herbsLeaf being introduced in forthcoming tender, Fruit seasonal from Nat. Fruit Collection. Herbs from Campus.
ChillisAiming towards 50% UKN/aPrioritising UK produce
Beef UK RSCPA Approved 95%
Most Beef internally sourced, some cooked beef externally.
Pork (Excluding Bacon)UK OrganicN/A
BaconUK Free RangeN/A
DuckUK Free RangeN/A
ChickenUK Red TractorN/AMoving to Free range, in progress.
LambUK Red Tractor50%Moving to Free range. UoR Lamb sourced seasonally
EggsUK Free range
50%
UoR Eggs when available

Fish & SeafoodMSC/ASCN/ACategory 1, 2 and 3 only on Good Fish Guide
Cocoa, SugarFairtrade or UK ProducedN/A
Coffee & TeaOrganic & FairtradeN/aBars selling tea produced by social enterprises
CharcoalUK Only
N/AUK Sustainably sourced only

BeerLocally SourcedN/AMajority locally sourced using CAMRA definition
CiderRegionally SourcedN/AMajority of sourcing regional across South of England.
DairyUK produced or D.O.P.See noteLooking to increase amount of locally sourced Cheese
MilkOrganicSee noteAspiring to source milk from UoR farms
GrainsLocally and regionally sourcedN/a
Sourced from Doves, Wildfarmed & Shipton Mill
Pasta50% UK sourcedN/aSourced from The Yorkshire Pasta Company & Cornwall Pasta Co. Looking to increase organic certification.
WinesUnder ReviewN/ASourcing locally and working to implement standards across non-UK wines. Park House local only.
Palm Oil
Phasing OutNot purchased and currently reviewing/working with supply chain for hidden sources.
Soya – Animal Feeds*Phasing OutN/AWorking with supply chains to remove Soya feeds within supply chain
Disposable PackagingUoR will favour packaging with End-of-Life Considerations 
 
Packaging produced with renewable, recycled or reclaimed plant-based materials which readily available in nature and not extensively modified (100% natural and non-chemically modified).  
 
Plastic-Free containers using a natural seaweed or clay coating or natural alternatives  
– Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) Compliant 
– FSC/ PEFC Certified paperboard 
– Vegetable, plant-based or water-based Inks 
– Water-Soluble Ingredients 
– Must be suitable for Hot Temperatures up to 90 C 
– No PLA and/ or Paper Laminated alternatives which create microplastics 
– For avoidance of doubt, UoR will not accept PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) 
 
Applicable Third-Party Certifications: 
– ECOCERT Group 
– European Ecolabel 
– Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) 
– Programme for The Endorsement of – Forest Certification 
– European EN13432 Composability – Standard 
– European EN13430 Recyclability Standard 
– BPI Certified 
– Biodegradable Products institute 		N/AReducing disposable usage. Aim to reach only 1.5% of our total spend by 2028 
Cleaning ChemicalsNatural & Biodegradable made chemicals. Where applicable only 
Minimal Synthetic Chemicals may exist. 
 
Applicable Third-Party Certifications: 
– Organic Certification 
– ECOCERT Group 
– Soil Association Organic 
– COSMOS Standards 
– European Ecolabel 
– Green Seal 		N/AAim for products to meet the Toxicity standards set by the Environmental Working Group by 2028

*applies to products from countries outside of UK, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Retail & Delivered Catering

Product AreaMinimum Standard (s) for External SourcingUoR Sourced?Notes/Next Steps
EggsUK Free range
50%
UoR Eggs

Cocoa, SugarFairtrade or UK Producedn/a
Coffee & TeaOrganic & FairtradeN/aLooking to source UK grown tea
Fruit & vegetablesUK Seasonal, Sustainably sourced bananasn/aChiquita bananas
BeefPhasing to UK sourced0%Working to remove finished meal items which currently aren’t UK sourced
Pork (Excluding Bacon)UK Red Tractorn/a
BaconUK RSPCA Assured
DuckUK sourcedn/a
ChickenPre-packed Sandwiches some UK sourcedn/aWorking with suppliers to increase the number of items including only UK sourced
Fish & seafoodCategory 1, 2 and 3 only on Good Fish Guiden/a
BeerLocally sourced options availablen/a
CiderRegionally sourcedn/a
DairyUK produced or D.O.P.See noteLooking to increase amount of locally sourced Cheese
MilkOrganicAspiring to source milk from UoR farms
Ice creamLocally sourcedB Corp, Carbon negative supplier
WinesUnder reviewn/aSourcing locally and working to implement standards across non-UK wines. Park House local only
Palm oilPhasing outn/aNot purchased and currently reviewing/working with supply chain for hidden sources
Soya – Animal Feeds*Phasing outn/aWorking with supply chains to remove Soya feeds within supply chain
Disposable packagingUoR will favour packaging with End-of-Life Considerations 
 
Packaging produced with renewable, recycled or reclaimed plant-based materials which readily available in nature and not extensively modified (100% natural and non-chemically modified).  
 
– Plastic-Free containers using a natural seaweed or clay coating or natural alternatives  
– Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) Compliant 
– FSC/ PEFC Certified paperboard 
Vegetable, plant-based or water-based Inks 
– Water-Soluble Ingredients 
– Must be suitable for Hot Temperatures up to 90 C 
– No PLA and/ or Paper Laminated alternatives which create microplastics 
– For avoidance of doubt, UoR will not accept PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) 
 
Applicable Third-Party Certifications: 
– ECOCERT Group 
– European Ecolabel 
– Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) 
– Programme for The Endorsement of – Forest Certification 
– European EN13432 Composability Standard 
– European EN13430 Recyclability Standard 
– BPI Certified 
– Biodegradable Products institute 		n/aReducing disposable usage. Aim to reach only 1.5% of our total spend by 2028 
Cleaning chemicalsNatural & Biodegradable made chemicals. Where applicable only 
Minimal Synthetic Chemicals may exist. 
 
Applicable Third-Party Certifications: 
Organic Certification 
ECOCERT Group 
Soil Association Organic 
COSMOS Standards 
European Ecolabel 
Green Seal 		n/aAim for products to meet the Toxicity standards set by the Environmental Working Group by 2028