An-Najah National University : Plastic Use Reduction and Sustainable Materials Policy

Plastic Use Reduction and Sustainable Materials Policy

1. Policy Statement

An-Najah National University (ANNU) is committed to minimizing plastic purchasing, consumption, and waste across all campuses, departments, facilities, and university-organized activities.

The University shall progressively eliminate unnecessary single-use plastics, promote reusable systems, and integrate plastic minimization requirements into procurement, catering, research, operations, and supplier agreements.

In support of Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, ANNU shall apply the following order of priority:

Avoid unnecessary plastic products and packaging.
Reduce plastic consumption where avoidance is not feasible.
Reuse products through durable, refillable, and returnable systems.
Recycle unavoidable plastic waste through available, appropriate recovery channels.
Dispose responsibly of residual waste that cannot be recovered.

Recycling shall complement, rather than replace, measures to prevent and reduce plastic consumption.

2. Purpose

This policy aims to:

Reduce overall plastic consumption, particularly unnecessary single-use plastics.
Establish consistent plastic minimization requirements across university operations.
Promote durable, reusable, refillable, and environmentally appropriate alternatives.
Extend plastic reduction requirements to contractors, vendors, and service providers.
Measure plastic purchasing, consumption, and waste to support continuous improvement.
Engage students, staff, and the wider community in responsible consumption practices.

3. Scope

This policy applies to all ANNU campuses and university-managed facilities, including:

Academic and administrative departments.
Laboratories, research centers, workshops, and teaching facilities.
University-managed clinical and healthcare facilities, subject to clinical safety requirements.
Cafeterias, food outlets, shops, vending operations, and catering services.
Student associations, clubs, and university-supported activities.
Conferences, meetings, ceremonies, outreach programmes, and other university-organized or hosted events.
Contractors, suppliers, and service providers delivering goods or services within the policy’s scope.

All employees, students, event organizers, and relevant external operators shall comply with the requirements applicable to their activities.

4. Definitions

Single-use plastics: Plastic products designed or ordinarily used once, or for a short period, before disposal, including disposable bottles, cups, straws, cutlery, plates, bags, and packaging.

Reusable alternatives: Durable products designed for repeated use, with appropriate cleaning, maintenance, and handling arrangements.

Plastic minimization: Measures that prevent unnecessary plastic use and reduce the quantity of plastic purchased, consumed, or discarded.

Essential plastic use: Plastic use necessary for clinical safety, infection prevention, laboratory integrity, accessibility, emergency response, or another documented operational requirement where a suitable alternative is unavailable.

5. Policy Requirements

5.1. Avoidance and Reduction of Single-Use Plastics

University departments and service providers shall identify avoidable single-use plastics and progressively remove them from purchasing and routine operations.

Priority items include:

Disposable drinking cups, plates, and cutlery.
Plastic straws and stirrers.
Single-use shopping and distribution bags.
Unnecessary bottled water provision.
Individually packaged items where bulk or refillable options are suitable.
Excessive plastic wrapping, promotional materials, and event packaging.

Departments shall avoid replacing one unnecessary disposable product with another where a practical reusable option exists.

5.2. Reusable and Refillable Systems

The University shall progressively expand practical alternatives to disposable plastics, including:

Safe drinking-water refill facilities.
Reusable bottles, cups, crockery, and cutlery.
Refillable dispensers for suitable cleaning and hygiene products.
Bulk purchasing and reusable storage containers.
Returnable packaging and supplier take-back arrangements.

Facilities responsible for reusable systems shall provide suitable cleaning, maintenance, and hygiene arrangements.

5.3. Sustainable Procurement and Packaging

Plastic minimization shall form part of purchasing specifications and supplier evaluation.

The Procurement Department and purchasing units shall:

Assess whether proposed plastic products are necessary.
Prioritize durable, reusable, refillable, repairable, and returnable products.
Request reduced packaging and avoid unnecessary plastic wrapping.
Prefer bulk deliveries where safe and operationally appropriate.
Consider product lifespan, cleaning needs, waste generation, and available end-of-life treatment.
Require suppliers to provide relevant information on packaging materials and recovery options.
Encourage take-back arrangements for packaging and suitable products.

Recycled-content products may be selected where appropriate, but purchasing decisions shall continue to prioritize avoidance, reduction, and reuse.

5.4. Cafeterias, Catering, Shops, and Vending Services

University-operated and contracted food and retail services shall progressively reduce unnecessary single-use plastics.

Requirements shall include:

Reusable serving materials for on-site consumption wherever feasible.
Reduced reliance on disposable bottles and individually packaged products.
Refillable or bulk dispensing arrangements where suitable.
Avoidance of unnecessary plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and disposable cutlery.
Appropriate collection and segregation of unavoidable plastic waste.

Relevant requirements shall be incorporated into new or renewed contracts and operating agreements.

5.5. University Events and Activities

University-organized or hosted events shall minimize plastic use during planning, purchasing, catering, and delivery.

Event organizers shall:

Use reusable drinkware, tableware, and serving equipment wherever feasible.
Provide drinking-water refill options where suitable facilities are available.
Avoid unnecessary plastic giveaways, bags, decorations, and packaging.
Communicate plastic minimization requirements to caterers and exhibitors.
Arrange clearly identified waste collection points.
Document any necessary exceptions.

5.6. Selection of Alternative Materials

Reusable products shall be prioritized where they provide a safe and practical alternative.

Biodegradable or compostable products shall be selected only where their suitability is verified and an appropriate collection and treatment route is available. Environmental claims shall not be treated as sufficient evidence of suitability.

Alternative materials shall be assessed for durability, safety, resource use, and compatibility with locally available waste management systems.

5.7. Laboratories and Healthcare Facilities

Laboratories and healthcare facilities shall reduce non-essential plastic use without compromising safety, infection prevention, research quality, or applicable requirements.

Responsible units shall:

Identify opportunities to reduce packaging and non-essential disposables.
Use reusable equipment where technically suitable and safely managed.
Improve purchasing and stock control to prevent unnecessary consumption and expiry.
Segregate uncontaminated recyclable plastics where appropriate.
Manage contaminated or hazardous plastics under the University’s hazardous waste procedures.

Clinical and laboratory safety requirements shall take precedence where reuse or substitution would create an unacceptable risk.

5.8. Essential-Use Exceptions

Exceptions may be granted for clinical safety, infection control, laboratory requirements, accessibility, emergencies, or other substantiated operational needs.

Each exception shall document:

The product or activity concerned.
The reason plastic use remains necessary.
Alternatives considered.
Measures to minimize consumption and manage resulting waste.
The responsible unit and review arrangements.

Exceptions shall be authorized by the relevant responsible unit and recorded for review by the Sustainability Committee. Recurring exceptions shall be reviewed at least annually.

5.9. Plastic Waste Segregation and Recovery

Facilities and service providers shall provide clearly labelled collection arrangements for accepted recyclable plastics.

Plastic waste shall be:

Segregated according to local recovery requirements.
Kept separate from hazardous or contaminated waste.
Transferred through appropriate waste collection and recovery channels.
Recorded in accordance with the University’s waste measurement procedures.

Waste described as recycled shall be supported by collection or recovery records where available. Collection for recycling shall be distinguished from confirmed recycling.

6. Suppliers, Contractors, and Service Providers

Plastic minimization requirements shall be included in relevant procurement documents, contracts, and service agreements.

Suppliers and contractors shall be required, as appropriate, to:

Minimize unnecessary plastic products and packaging.
Provide reusable, refillable, bulk, or returnable options.
Comply with campus waste segregation arrangements.
Supply relevant consumption and waste information.
Address identified non-compliance through corrective measures.

The Procurement Department and responsible contract managers shall monitor these requirements during supplier and service reviews.

7. Responsibilities

Sustainability Committee

Coordinate implementation and periodic review of this policy.
Establish measurement guidance and consolidate annual data.
Propose reduction targets and improvement measures.
Review recurring exceptions and implementation gaps.
Report progress through the University’s sustainability reporting arrangements.

Procurement Department

Integrate plastic minimization into purchasing specifications and contracts.
Maintain relevant purchasing and supplier records.
Promote reduced packaging, bulk purchasing, and reusable alternatives.
Monitor supplier compliance with contractual requirements.

Facilities and Maintenance Department

Support refill facilities and reusable systems.
Provide and maintain appropriate waste collection infrastructure.
Coordinate waste measurement and recovery records.
Identify opportunities to reduce plastics in maintenance and cleaning activities.

Heads of Departments and Facility Managers

Implement this policy within their units.
Identify avoidable plastic use and adopt practical reduction measures.
Maintain relevant records and document necessary exceptions.
Ensure staff and service providers understand applicable requirements.

Student Affairs and Student Associations

Integrate plastic minimization into student activities and events.
Promote reuse, responsible consumption, and participation in awareness initiatives.

Catering Operators, Vendors, and Contract Managers

Implement relevant food service and retail requirements.
Monitor contractual compliance and address implementation gaps.
Provide relevant purchasing, consumption, and waste information.

Employees and Students

Avoid unnecessary disposable plastics.
Use reusable alternatives where practical.
Follow campus waste segregation instructions.
Support plastic reduction measures within their activities.

8. Monitoring, Targets, and Reporting

ANNU shall monitor plastic consumption and waste annually using available procurement, operational, and waste management records.

Monitoring shall include, where measurable:

Quantities or weights of priority single-use plastic products purchased.
Plastic packaging associated with relevant supplies.
Plastic waste generated.
Plastic waste collected for recycling and confirmed as recycled, where records allow.
Adoption of reusable and refillable systems.
Compliance of relevant suppliers and service providers.
Essential-use exceptions and opportunities for further reduction.

The Sustainability Committee shall establish a documented baseline using the earliest reliable reporting period and propose measurable reduction targets for institutional approval.

Targets shall specify the products covered, baseline period, measurement method, responsible units, and timeframe. Essential clinical and laboratory uses shall be identified separately where necessary for meaningful comparison.

Annual reporting shall distinguish reductions in plastic consumption from improvements in recycling. Data limitations and significant changes in campus activity shall be documented.

Progress and corrective priorities shall be communicated through the Annual Sustainability Report and relevant university sustainability reporting platforms.

9. Education and Engagement

The University shall support implementation through:

Awareness campaigns on plastic prevention, reduction, and reuse.
Guidance for purchasing staff, event organizers, and service providers.
Student-led initiatives and practical sustainability activities.
Relevant teaching, research, and community engagement programmes.
Clear information on refill facilities, reusable options, and waste segregation.

10. Compliance and Continuous Improvement

Responsible departments and contract managers shall address non-compliance through documented corrective action.

Corrective measures may include revised purchasing arrangements, staff guidance, supplier improvement plans, changes to event procedures, or action under applicable contractual provisions.

Annual implementation reviews shall identify barriers, assess progress, and prioritize practical improvements.

11. Related Policies

This policy shall be read alongside ANNU’s relevant institutional policies, including:

12. Review and Updates

This policy shall undergo a formal review every three years, or earlier where operational needs, safety requirements, waste management arrangements, or sustainability priorities change.

Annual implementation monitoring shall continue between formal reviews.

Original Effective Date: 12 October 2023
Recorded Review Date: 20 June 2025

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Plastic Use Reduction and Sustainable Materials Policy

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