At ARU, we advance SDG 12 through a set of robust policies on sustainable procurement, waste management, waste minimisation and raising awareness throughout our campuses, of the importance of sustainable materials and behaviours.
Embedding sustainability into purchasing decisions
Our Responsible Procurement Policy, updated in 2022, commits us to sourcing goods and services responsibly, taking account of their environmental impacts, ethical considerations and lifecycle costs.
By integrating sustainability into procurement decisions and supplier engagement, the University encourages higher environmental standards throughout its supply chain and supports businesses that demonstrate responsible practices. This approach helps reduce indirect environmental impacts while ensuring that sustainability considerations extend beyond the University's own operations and into the products and services it purchases.
Food for Life Served Here Bronze Certification (2024)
In 2024, ARU's catering service received the Food for Life Served Here Bronze Certification from the Soil Association. The certification recognises responsible food procurement that prioritises healthy, sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients. Requirements include traceable meat, adherence to UK animal welfare standards, seasonal sourcing and the exclusion of artificial additives, trans fats and genetically modified ingredients.
Managing waste responsibly and protecting the environment
ARU does not send any waste materials to landfill sites – all our waste is either reused, recycled or used to create ‘refuse derived fuel’. Our aim is to increase our recycling rate to 60% by 2026.
We operate robust waste management procedures that ensure hazardous materials are handled, stored and disposed of safely and in accordance with legal and environmental requirements. By promoting responsible waste management, staff training and clear operational procedures, the University helps minimise environmental risks while ensuring resources are managed as responsibly as possible throughout their lifecycle. This work forms part of our wider commitment to reducing waste and supporting a more circular and resource-efficient campus.
Reducing single-use plastics across our campuses
Plastic pollution is one of the defining environmental challenges of our time. We're taking action to reduce reliance on unnecessary single-use plastics through operational practices, procurement decisions and awareness-raising activities. By encouraging reusable alternatives and considering packaging impacts within purchasing decisions, the University is helping to reduce waste generation and the environmental footprint of campus activities. This work complements ARU's wider research on plastic pollution and sustainable consumption, ensuring that operational practices reflect the evidence generated through the University's sustainability research. By reducing avoidable plastic use, ARU contributes to efforts to cut waste, conserve resources and reduce pollution.
Moving away from disposable consumption
Creating a more sustainable university requires reducing dependence on disposable products and encouraging more resource-efficient alternatives. Across its operations, ARU seeks to minimise the use of single-use and short-life items wherever practical, promoting reuse, durability and repair over disposal. This approach not only reduces waste generation but also helps lower the environmental impacts associated with manufacturing, transport and resource extraction. By embedding circular economy principles into day-to-day operations, ARU is helping staff, students and suppliers adopt more sustainable consumption practices.
Extending sustainability expectations through our supply chain
ARU is committed to making sure that responsible and sustainable procurement is business as usual. Through our supplier engagement programme and use of the NETpositive Futures Supplier Engagement Tool, the University works with contractors and suppliers to improve sustainability performance, reduce waste and encourage more responsible use of resources. This simple online tool supports our suppliers to create their own sustainability action plan and through our contract management process will help us to measure and monitor our sustainable procurement practices including Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.
Reporting transparently on sustainability performance
Transparency is central to effective sustainability leadership. We publishes information on our environmental performance, sustainability commitments and progress towards institutional targets through its sustainability reporting and public disclosures. These reports enable staff, students, partners and the wider public to understand how the University is performing and where further action is needed. By openly sharing progress, challenges and future ambitions, ARU helps build trust, supports informed decision-making and demonstrates accountability for its contribution to more responsible patterns of consumption and production.
Last updated: October 2026
To request additions, corrections or changes to the information in these pages, please contact: Dr Zareen Bharucha: [email protected]. Please use the subject line ‘ARU SDG’.