Ethical sourcing policy
12.2.1
SDG12
Ethical sourcing policy
For goods and supplies, NCKU prioritizes environmentally certified products and targets at least 95% achievement for designated green procurement items. Procurement practices encourage recycled, recyclable, low-pollution, and energy-efficient products, while also considering social benefits and reduced social costs. Social responsibility is further supported through preferential procurement from disability welfare organizations and labour-protection requirements for outsourced service workers.
For food procurement, campus dining contracts promote sustainable ingredients, including locally produced, environmentally friendly, low-carbon, and reduced-additive options. Dining Committee records also document environmental sustainability requirements in vendor selection and discounts for customers bringing reusable meal containers. Together, these measures demonstrate NCKU’s integrated approach to ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible sourcing. These requirements effectively extend responsible purchasing principles across university operations and campus food-service supply chains.
- National Cheng Kung University on Green Purchasing
NCKU, in accordance with Article 96 of the Government Procurement Act and the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) regulations, promotes green procurement, setting a target of achieving a 95% designated procurement rate. Each unit is required to give priority to purchasing products with environmental labels and must submit reports as stipulated, avoiding false entries or failure to report. The EPA will also strengthen inspections of agencies’ green procurement reporting. The university provides resources such as the Green Procurement Performance Evaluation Guidelines, System Operation Instructions, and Familiarity Tests to help faculty and staff practice and become proficient in the process, thereby improving reporting accuracy and effectiveness.- NCKU Guidelines on the Priority Procurement of the Products and Services Provided by Disability Welfare Institutions or Groups
NCKU has established operational guidelines based on the “Regulations on the Priority Procurement of Products and Services Provided by Disability Welfare Institutions, Organizations, or Sheltered Workshops,” with the aim of enhancing the welfare of persons with disabilities. The procurement scope includes food, handicrafts, cleaning supplies, gardening products, printed materials, as well as various services such as cleaning, catering, car washing, laundry, transportation, and performance services. Each unit of the university is designated as an obligated purchaser and must complete the required procurement proportion annually to support the sustainable operation of welfare institutions or sheltered workshops, thereby fulfilling both social responsibility and institutional needs.
- Sustainable ingredient selection
NCKU follows the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting the use of sustainable ingredients in campus dining tenders and partnerships. The policy includes: eco-friendly farming(certified with green conservation labels), reduced additives (cutting 90% of additives and carrying clean-label certification), low-carbon vegetarian options (avoiding eggs and seafood to reduce livestock-related emissions and protect marine ecosystems), and local production (supporting local produce to lower transportation-related carbon emissions). Through these measures, the university actively fosters an environmentally friendly campus and guides dietary choices in alignment with sustainable development.https://manage-oga.ncku.edu.tw/p/406-1189-247831,r11.php?Lang=zh-tw
- Campus Plastic Reduction Guidelines
On September 21, 2022, NCKU approved the “Campus Plastic Reduction Policy,” aiming to reduce the use of single-use plastic products and promote a sustainable, low-carbon circular campus. The policy covers both campus meetings and office practices: during meetings, only packaged drinking water and reusable utensils should be provided, while disposable cups and plastic spoons are to be avoided. Faculty and staff are encouraged to bring their own reusable cups and tableware. In offices, the policy calls for avoiding single-use plastic products, plastic bags, and straws, reducing excessive packaging, and promoting the use of eco-labeled products and reusable containers.- Minutes of NCKU Dietary Committee Meeting
NCKU’s Dietary Committee holds regular annual meetings, chaired by the Dean of Student Affairs. Attendees include faculty representatives from each college, representatives from the Student Association and Dormitory Committee, as well as nutritionists and relevant administrative units. The meetings primarily focus on campus dietary management and nutrition planning. Through joint participation of faculty and students, the committee ensures that campus dining adheres to principles of food safety, nutritional balance, and sustainable development, thereby strengthening policy transparency and safeguarding students’ health.
https://mybox.ncku.edu.tw/navigate/a/#/s/folder/MTMzMTY3MSwyODMyODUzLG15Ym94Lm5ja3UuZWR1LnR3L3NnLDEzMzE2NzE%3D
- Labour Rights Protection in Procurement and Outsourced Services
NCKU extends its responsible procurement principles to outsourced services through labour procurement contracts. Contractors are required to protect the employment rights of outsourced workers, including working conditions, wages, insurance, non-discrimination, prevention of sexual harassment, and grievance mechanisms. The University also monitors contract compliance to ensure that outsourced service providers meet requirements for fair treatment, workplace safety, and social responsibility. These contractual requirements demonstrate that NCKU considers labour welfare and social impacts as part of its ethical sourcing and procurement practices, extending responsible sourcing principles beyond the purchase of goods to contracted services and their workers.