National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) had established a “Policy for the Minimisation of Disposable Items” before 2024 and implemented multiple institutional measures to reduce waste at the source. First, in 2022 (Year 111), the university passed the “Campus Plastic Reduction Guidelines” during its 214th Administrative Meeting, which clearly require that campus meetings and administrative units avoid the use of bottled water, plastic lunch boxes, disposable tableware, plastic bags, and straws, while encouraging the use of personal reusable cups and containers. Second, NCKU promotes a “Green Procurement” system, under which all small-scale purchases must prioritize products with environmental labels. A “Green Procurement Extra Points Item List” has also been established, covering recycled paper stationery, refillable whiteboard markers, reusable containers, and recycled products, effectively reducing the consumption of disposable items. In addition, NCKU uses reusable lunch boxes for meetings and catering services, further cutting down on disposable food container waste.
Policy for minimisation of disposable items
12.2.6
SDG12
Policy for minimisation of disposable items
On September 21, 2022, during its 214th Administrative Meeting, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) approved the “Campus Plastic Reduction Guidelines.” The guidelines stipulate that meetings must not provide bottled water, plastic lunch boxes, or disposable tableware, and should avoid proactively offering paper cups and plastic stationery, while encouraging the use of personal reusable cups and utensils. On the administrative side, the policy requires avoiding single-use plastic bags, straws, and excessively packaged products, promoting environmentally certified goods, and encouraging the use of personal containers when purchasing beverages. This policy not only achieves waste reduction at the source but also raises environmental awareness among faculty and students, demonstrating the university’s commitment to institutionalizing a low-carbon, circular, and sustainable campus.- Use of Reusable Meal Boxes for Meetings
NCKU actively responds to plastic reduction policies and sustainable development by adopting reusable lunch boxes instead of disposable ones for on-campus meetings and catering. These reusable containers are durable, washable, and suitable for repeated use, effectively reducing plastic waste and lowering the consumption of single-use items. This practice aligns with the “Campus Plastic Reduction Guidelines,” which prohibit the use of disposable plastic lunch boxes, and demonstrates the university’s effort to integrate sustainability into daily administrative operations. It further promotes the realization of a low-carbon campus and the implementation of green procurement practices.- NCKU Green Purchase
NCKU actively promotes “Green Procurement,” requiring all on-campus units to prioritize environmentally friendly products in small-scale purchases. The procurement system is connected to the Environmental Protection Administration’s “Green Procurement Online Reporting System,” where the environmental, energy-saving, or water-saving label numbers of products must be entered to ensure compliance with environmental standards. Purchasing non-environmentally certified products may negatively affect institutional performance evaluations; therefore, the university encourages units to prioritize first-class green products. This policy is embedded in daily administrative operations, reducing the use of disposable items and high-energy-consuming products, while also aligning with the “Campus Plastic Reduction Guidelines” and supporting the sustainable development goal of a low-carbon circular campus.- NCKU Green Purchase - List of Items for Extra Points
NCKU, in line with government environmental policies, established the “Green Procurement – Bonus Item List,” which clearly stipulates that procurement items must prioritize reusable or recycled products to minimize the use of disposable items. The list includes recycled paper stationery, recyclable toner cartridges, recycled textiles, refillable whiteboard markers, thermos bottles, and reusable containers, covering categories such as IT equipment, daily-use products, and recycling materials. The system requires all units to follow these guidelines during procurement, and green procurement performance is incorporated into evaluation metrics to ensure effective implementation. Through these institutionalized measures, NCKU significantly reduces the generation of disposable items on campus, achieves source reduction, and advances the sustainable development of a circular and low-carbon campus.