How we measure our impact
for the SDGs

Sustainable Development Goals at our University

In 2019, we signed the University Commitment which recognises the significant scope of work needed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the important role university communities play in reaching these goals. We are committed to sustainability for ourselves, our surrounding communities, and the world.

The SDGs offer a shared framework for all levels of government, businesses, community groups and education organisations to prioritise action between 2015 to 2030, across environmental, socio-cultural and economic sustainability.

How we measure our impact for the SDGs

We use the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings (previously Impact Rankings) and other frameworks, such as the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS), to measure our progress towards sustainability. The THE Impact Ratings aim to evaluate university performance in relation to the SDGs.

SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Responsible Consumption and Production aims to ensure responsible and sustainable consumption and production. This will be achieved through the application of a circular economy that seeks to promote sustainable lifestyles, minimise material use, reduce waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. This can contribute substantially to poverty alleviation and the transition towards low-carbon and green economies.

The University consistently applies sustainability criteria when making procurement, resource, and waste management decisions. We work towards minimising our waste, with a long-term aspiration to achieve zero waste to landfill. We encourage our staff to consider the need of any purchase and, if the purchase is required, to choose environmentally and socially preferable products and services from companies committed to sustainability, to interrogate the supply chain with regard to modern slavery, and to support just and resilient local economies.

Operational measures

Ethical sourcing

The University of Tasmania is committed to ensuring that the goods and services purchased across our campuses, including food products, are sourced responsibly, ethically and sustainably. Through a combination of strategic frameworks, policies and operational initiatives, the University works to minimise environmental impacts, support local communities, uphold human rights and strengthen responsible supply chains.

Overarching governance

The University's Sustainability Policy provides the framework for incorporating inclusive and equitable sustainability principles and practices across governance, teaching, research, community engagement and operations, including procurement activities. Specifically, Principle 1.8 states that activities "will be planned and managed to mitigate risks of environmental or social damage and aim to positively contribute to environmental regeneration and social equity".

The University's Stewardship for Sustainability commits the University to “accountability with care and ensures that sustainability actions are ethically grounded, evidence-informed and attentive to social justice as well as environmental outcomes.” (p.10). The framework specifically identifies “procurement of sustainability produced goods and services from businesses that demonstrate social, ethical and environmental responsibility” and “ethical and sustainable food procurement practices adopted to support local and fair enterprises” as key operational actions (Operations section, p.21).

These commitments provide the overarching governance framework for ethical sourcing of food and supplies.

Procurement governance

The University’s Procurement Policy mandates that all “procurement decisions will consider sustainable and ethical principles including managing the risk of modern slavery and maximise opportunities for local suppliers and indigenous suppliers” (Section 1, Principle 1.1, clause d).

The accompanying Procurement Procedure has a key objective to “ensure that the process of procurement enables the University to operate in a sustainable and ethical manner; from strategy development, sourcing activity, evaluation and selection of the supplier, contracting and processing a purchase order through to payments and contract management thereafter” (p.2). Furthermore, the Procedure mandates that “Social responsibility should be considered in all procurement decisions, including human rights, ethical production processes, diversity, and other social impacts” and that “Our social responsibility extends throughout the life for the purchase, including the eventual disposal method/s for the goods. Purchasers should review all suppliers and the proposed goods and services being purchased to understand and reduce the risk of modern slavery” (Section 5, Principle 5.2, clause e).

The University’s commitment to ethical procurement and the protection of human rights is also reflected in its annual Modern Slavery Statement, which identifies, assesses and addresses modern slavery risks across its operations and supply chain. The University maintains a zero-tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking in all forms and undertakes ongoing due diligence, supplier engagement and awareness-raising activities to strengthen supply chain transparency and reduce the risk that goods and services purchased by the University contribute to human rights abuses. This work reflects the University's commitment to responsible business practices and ethical sourcing throughout its procurement activities.

Sustainable and ethical food procurement

The University recognises the significant environmental, social and health impacts associated with food production, distribution and consumption.

Through the Healthy, Sustainable and Equitable Food Strategic Plan 2023-2028, the University is supporting a transition towards food systems that are healthy, environmentally sustainable, socially just and economically resilient. The Strategy specifically identifies giving “preference is given to goods and services that can be manufactured, used, and disposed of in an environmentally and socially responsible way” as a key action under Priority 5: Food Procurement, Commercial and Social Enterprises (p.33).

Supporting this work, the University's Sustainable Food Principles establish clear expectations for food procurement and campus food systems. The principles prioritise Tasmanian-grown, ethical, fresh and seasonal food, encourage procurement from local suppliers, and support businesses that demonstrate strong sustainability, health and nutrition initiatives. Specifically, Principle 1: “Prioritise Tasmanian-grown, ethical, fresh and in-season food”, and Principle 4: “Prioritise suppliers with health, nutrition and sustainability initiatives” address ethical sourcing of food.

The Sustainable Procurement Guide - designed to assist University staff in their decision making and to inform suppliers of our criteria to implement sustainability aspects of the Procurement Policy - provides further guidance for ethical food purchasing. The Guide is publicly available and includes requirements for food service providers. Specifically, this document states that: “Food from on-campus providers should not compromise the environmental, health, economic and social wellbeing of present and future generations.” Furthermore, food service providers should consider “sustainably and ethically produced supply chains (e.g., UTZ certified Rainforest Alliance Certified, Fair Trade certified)” (p.3)

Responsible and sustainable procurement in action

The University actively promotes sustainable procurement practices and encourages engagement with suppliers that demonstrate strong environmental, social and governance performance. Through social procurement and Indigenous procurement initiatives, the University also seeks to generate broader community benefit and support economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, social enterprises and local suppliers.

A key initiative for identifying and managing risks in our procurement has been our membership of the Australasian Universities Procurement Network (AUPN), a sector-wide collaboration of 41 Australian and New Zealand universities. The AUPN has dedicated resources to improve supply chain human rights transparency, collaborate on risks and issues for greater impact, and contribute to reporting requirements. In 2025, the University joined a sector-wide initiative to source expenditure data from a new platform to enable real-time data insights and enhance understanding of sector risks. The University uses this data and AUPN membership to understand our supply chains, identify risk, focus resources and inform actions for modern slavery risk management. We continued to leverage the due diligence work the AUPN carried out on high-risk global companies to inform our approach to modern slavery risk management, mitigation and remediation internationally, and concentrated our internal due diligence resourcing efforts on identified local high-risk suppliers.

In 2025, the University also reviewed and updated its Modern Slavery Act 2018 Legal Compliance and Monitoring Plan to ensure understanding of and compliance with all obligations of the Act that impact the University and to better facilitate oversight of the continual improvement process that is the foundation of the University’s management of the risks of modern slavery. For example, modern slavery questionnaires continued to be incorporated into the University’s request for tender documentation for all procurement over $200,000. These questionnaires provide ongoing identification and management of risk but also serve as an educative tool for prospective suppliers. Similarly, contracts continued to embed our expectations regarding modern slavery including in international agreements and partnerships, general MOUs, general and construction contracts, leases, and work integrated learning.

In 2025, the University also conducted due diligence assessments of all partners and agents in high-risk geographical areas. A mandatory second (and more extensive) round of due diligence was conducted by the Legal and Risk team for proposed partners from countries with alleged human-rights, including modern slavery abuses.

The University has a dedicated modern slavery reporting pathway for anonymous reporting by vulnerable students and staff. This is supported by information on dedicated internal and external University modern slavery websites. In 2025, no modern slavery-related concerns were reported.

While our endeavours to date have not identified any cases of modern slavery in either our operations or supply chains, we recognise that despite our best efforts, these crimes may be associated with the goods and services we procure due to the complex and diverse nature of our supply chains. By its nature, modern slavery can be difficult to detect given it often sits in ‘legitimate’ industries. Due to the effectiveness of the University’s controls, the residual risks of modern slavery are assessed as low to moderate based on the University’s Risk Management Framework.

Hazardous waste disposal

Hazardous waste disposal governance

The University's Chemical Management Framework establishes mandatory requirements for the procurement, storage, use and disposal of hazardous chemicals. The framework recognises that risks posed by hazardous chemicals must be appropriately managed to reduce the likelihood of harm to people, communities and the environment. Specific requirements relating to hazardous waste disposal include:

• Hazardous chemicals must not be procured or used unless a plan for disposal of waste and unused product is in place, and this requirement must be incorporated into the relevant task risk assessment.
• Users are required to clearly and accurately label all waste containers so that hazardous waste can be managed and disposed of safely.
• Hazardous waste must be appropriately segregated, and incompatible chemical wastes must not be mixed.
• Hazardous chemical inventories are maintained through the University's Chemwatch system, and regular stocktakes are undertaken to support safe management and disposal of chemicals.
• Legacy or out-of-date chemicals with no planned future use are required to be identified and disposed of through approved disposal processes.
• Chemical spills must be responded to immediately in accordance with Safety Data Sheets (SDS), risk assessments and relevant spill response procedures.

The University’s Safety and Wellbeing Procedure covers hazardous chemicals (Section 5.1.16) and provides guidelines for our community members to appropriately manage and dispose of these materials. The procedure requires community members working with hazardous chemicals to:

• complete relevant inductions and training before undertaking work involving hazardous chemicals;
• comply with approved safe systems of work and risk management controls; and
• work under arrangements where a Hazardous Chemicals Coordinator (HCC) is appointed for areas where hazardous chemicals are used or stored. HCCs must exercise due diligence and take reasonable steps to ensure chemicals are correctly stored, transported and disposed of.

Operational disposal processes

The Clean Out and Disposal Process Guide provides a step-by-step guidance for the proper disposal of controlled waste, including biological, chemical and other hazardous materials. The guide uses a decision-tree approach to assist staff in identifying waste categories and determining the appropriate disposal pathway. It also provides supporting information on controlled waste classifications to ensure compliance with regulatory and environmental obligations.

The University uses a licensed waste contractor for the collection and treatment of hazardous chemical waste, with regular collections scheduled across campuses. Staff coordinate disposal through Hazardous Chemical Coordinators, Facility Managers and the Safety and Wellbeing team to ensure compliance with legislative and environmental requirements.

The University's hazardous materials management practices operate in accordance with relevant legislation and standards, including the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (Tas), the Dangerous Goods Act 1976 (Tas) and the Poisons Act 1971 (Tas), together with relevant Australian Standards governing the storage, handling and disposal of hazardous substances.

Policy for landfill waste disposal and recycling

The University of Tasmania maintains a formal framework for waste disposal, resource recovery and waste measurement through its Waste Minimisation Action Plans, supporting policies and associated reporting processes. The University measures waste sent to landfill, recycling, composting and reuse across its operations and publicly reports performance against waste diversion targets.

Policy, governance and guidelines

The University's Sustainability Policy establishes the overarching requirement to develop, maintain and operate sustainable campuses and natural environments through the application of “outcomes driven sustainable design and regenerative principles, circular economy approaches, assurance frameworks and operational tools” (Principle 1.9). These commitments provide the institutional framework for reducing waste to landfill from campus operations.

The University's Stewardship for Sustainability reinforces these commitments by furthering the responsible management of resources throughout their lifecycle and applying circular economy principles to University operations. The framework specifically identifies a "circular economy approach integrated to contribute to waste management by prioritising waste avoidance, increased reuse and recycling, and minimising landfill disposal" as a key action to enable the achievement of our commitments and objectives (Operations section, p.21).

Furthermore, the University’s Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2021-2025 (now succeeded by the Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2026-2030) translates policy commitments into operational actions specifically aimed at reducing waste and supporting circular economy outcomes. The 2021-2025 Plan objectives (p.1) are:

• To implement a circular economy approach to waste management in all University operations and activities
• To engage and increase participation of students and staff in University waste minimisation initiatives
• To engage with external stakeholders for strategy, planning and operational linkages to meet or exceed Australasian tertiary education sector best practice
• To minimise greenhouse gas emissions associated with production and management of waste.

In addition, our University’s Contractors and Building Users Sustainability Guide and Clean Out and Disposal Process Guide also have guidelines requiring actions to minimise the amount of waste going to landfill through careful selection of items when purchasing, repairing and reusing as much as possible, and recycling appropriately.

Targets and performance

The University’s Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2021-2025 included a target to reduce operational waste to landfill from 2021 levels by at least 25% per EFTSL by 2025. The University exceeded the target, achieving a 33% reduction in operational waste to landfill per EFTSL by 2025. The subsequent Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2026-2030 notes that waste sent to landfill decreased by 47% in absolute terms between 2021 and 2024.. Hence, the current Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2026-2030 has established more ambitious targets, including:

• Achieve a diversion rate of waste from landfill by 2030 of:
  • 60% for operations
  • 70-80% for construction and demolition4
  • 95% for green and organic materials
• Longer-term aspiration to achieve zero waste to landfill

Measuring and reporting

The ‘Reporting and Review’ section highlights “auditing and measurement as critical to support evaluation of the success of this action plan as well as to support reporting requirements” (p.3). This section lists the data sources used by the university to measure the amount of waste sent to landfill and recycled, including waste contractors, food outlets, relevant internal and external stakeholders, and internal audits. The Plan also enumerates how data is used (p.4), including:

• Effective management of contracts, in particular servicing frequencies
• Reporting for certified carbon neutrality
• Ratings, rankings and sector benchmarking reporting
• Performance reporting to the Sustainability Committee, senior leadership, and University Council

The Plan includes multiple actions with quantitative indicators that require measurement of waste generation, diversion from landfill, reuse and recycling. For example:

• Action 1 (p.5): Increase coverage in University facilities of composting, recycling, and down-size waste-to-landfill infrastructure as part of standardised service requires " Quantity by weight of materials by type"
• Action 3 (p.6): Improved provision and coordination of e-waste reuse and recycling processes and infrastructure requires " Quantity by weight of organisational and individual/personal e-waste collected"
• Action 7 (p.7): Work with the Transformation Program teams and Project Managers (minor & capital works projects) and Facilities Managers to minimise generation of and increase recovery of ‘waste’ materials requires " Quantity of waste diverted from landfill / re-used /recycled by weight"
• Action 8 (p.7): Monitor and report on a green / garden waste management scheme requires " Quantity by weight and type of materials through system”

The University tracks waste to landfill, recycling, composting and re-use regularly, and reports our progress publicly through:

• The Sustainability Portal Resource and Waste Management website includes a section that reports on the University progress towards our key performance indicators. The Resource and waste management infographic is publicly available and updated annually, providing current and historical information on amount of waste per disposal stream and recycling rate among other metrics.
• The annual Sustainability Report, which includes progress against targets, and historical amounts of waste to landfill, waste diverted from landfill, and reused items. The recycling/reuse rate is also reported.
• The University also produces a dashboard that is available to University staff. The dashboard is updated monthly and enables monitoring of waste to landfill, recycling and resource recovery outcomes by region, site and waste stream.

The table below provides an overview of the University’s waste diversion tracking over the past five years. In 2025, the university diverted 37% of waste from landfill. The data shows substantial progress in reducing landfill disposal and increasing resource recovery. The waste diversion rate increased from 21% in 2021 to 37% in 2025, demonstrating progress toward the University's 2030 diversion targets.

This monitoring framework enables the University to track progress against the targets established in its Waste Minimisation Action Plans and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Implementation measures

The University owns a large amount of furniture and other items not needed by current users that can be re-used elsewhere. Our Re-use Program is an online catalogue and material redistribution system that has delivered significant financial savings, while avoiding waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

The University has 16 Recycling Walls across campuses for collecting difficult to recycle items. This service supports extracting value from materials that might otherwise have gone to landfill (e.g., chemist products, small e-waste, pens/markers/highlighters, personal hygiene/care, spectacles/sunglasses, and printer cartridges). These materials are processed by various companies and social enterprises and local resource recovery centres.

The University has a commitment embedded in our IT equipment contract to ensure that our equipment is recovered and recycled in a responsible manner. Our Asset Recovery Service operates in alignment with the ISO 14040/44 guidelines and includes donation programs, internal resale, asset recovery program through our IT hardware provider, and recycling for non-reusable items.

Policy for minimisation of plastic use

The University of Tasmania is committed to reducing plastic use across all campuses as part of its broader commitment to sustainable resource management, circular economy principles, and responsible procurement. This commitment is embedded within the University's Sustainability and Procurement Policies, Stewardship for Sustainability Framework, Sustainable Procurement Guide, Waste Minimisation Action Plans and resource management programs.

The University recognises that plastic use has significant environmental impacts, particularly in Tasmania's terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. In response, the University applies the waste hierarchy and circular economy principles, prioritising the avoidance, reduction, reuse and recovery of materials before disposal. These principles are implemented through the University's governance and resource management programs.

Policy, governance and guidelines

The University's Sustainability Policy establishes the overarching requirement to “develop, maintain and operate sustainable campuses and natural environments “through applying outcomes driven sustainable design and regenerative principles, circular economy approaches, assurance frameworks and operational tools” (Principle 1.9). These commitments provide the institutional framework for reducing the use of single-use plastics and other materials and preventing pollution from waste associated with campus operations.

The University's Stewardship for Sustainability reinforces these commitments by furthering the responsible management of resources throughout their lifecycle and applying circular economy principles to University operations. The framework specifically identifies a "circular economy approach integrated to contribute to waste management by prioritising waste avoidance, increased reuse and recycling, and minimising landfill disposal" as a key action to enable the achievement of our commitments and objectives (Operations section, p.21).

Likewise, the Procurement Policy mandates that procurement decisions will “consider sustainable and ethical principles” (Principle 1.1.d). The associated Procurement Procedure states that “In line with the University’s strategic goals, the purchaser should aim to maximise the sustainability of the procurement (for example by selecting items that can be repaired and reused instead of single use)” (Clause 5.2.a). The Sustainable Procurement Guide further advances the minimisation of “packaging, especially plastic” packaging, as a key principle of sustainable purchasing (p.1). This Guide also establishes specific requirements for food service providers, including that all food sold on campus is single use plastic free (p.3).

Furthermore, the University's Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2021-2025 (now succeeded by the Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2026-2030) translates these policy commitments into operational actions specifically aimed at reducing plastic waste and supporting circular economy outcomes. Relevant actions include:

• Implement preferred procurement guidelines in catering contracts that eliminate single-use plastics and non-compostable items (Action 10, p.8)
• Influence key suppliers to reduce or avoid the excessive use of packaging including materials such as plastic and foam (Action 11, p.8)
• Implement a single-use petroleum-based plastic ban (Action 14, p.9)

In addition, our University’s Contractors and Building Users Sustainability Guide and Clean Out and Disposal Process Guide also have guidelines to minimise plastic use through careful selection of items when purchasing, as well as repairing and reusing as much as possible.

As the University recognises that plastic use has significant environmental impacts, particularly in Tasmania's terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, plastic use is a key element in all these policies and governance documents.

The University's approach is further aligned with Tasmania's broader efforts to reduce plastic use. The City of Hobart (where the University’s main campus is located) has implemented a by-law to reduce single-use plastics. The Single-use Plastics By-law identifies specific items that are banned since 2021 to reduce plastic use, including plastic cutlery, straws, stirrers, takeaway containers, cold and hot cups and lids and other. Consistent with our policies, plans and strategies, the University supports and complies with these requirements across applicable campus operations.

Actions to minimise plastic use

The University complements its policy and procurement measures with a range of operational initiatives designed to eliminate unnecessary plastic consumption, increase reuse opportunities and ensure plastics are recovered through appropriate recycling pathways wherever possible. Our plastic minimisation actions include:

• Requiring commercially compostable take-away food and beverage packaging in on-campus catering contracts since 2021, reducing reliance on conventional single-use plastic packaging.
• Promoting reusable alternatives, including reusable cups and refillable drink bottles, with water refill stations available across campuses. These stations are available to students, staff and visitors and are featured in campus maps (which can be found in Our Campuses) or search for 'water station' in UniMaps.
• Our Re-Use program an online catalogue and material redistribution system that has delivered significant financial savings, while avoiding waste and greenhouse gas emissions. People involved in new builds and major refurbishments are encouraged to use the Re-use Program before ordering new. What we cannot reuse is donated to community groups, provided free to students, or disassembled for any recyclable components.
• Implementing sustainable event practices that encourage waste avoidance, reuse, recycling and composting, while reducing the consumption of disposable materials, with plastic items being key to several actions. Two guidelines are available, the Tasmanian Government Sustainable Event guidelines and the Australian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) Sustainable Events Checklist.
• Applying sustainable procurement principles that encourage the purchase of durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable products with minimal packaging, especially plastic
• Supporting a cross-University Plastics Minimisation Working Group through the Sustainability Committee to identify and implement opportunities to reduce plastic consumption and improve circularity outcomes.

Policy for minimisation of disposable items

The University of Tasmania is committed to reducing the use of disposable items across all campuses as part of its broader commitment to sustainable resource management, circular economy principles, and responsible procurement. This commitment is embedded within the University's Sustainability and Procurement Policies, Stewardship for Sustainability, Sustainable Procurement Guide, Waste Minimisation Action Plans and resource management programs.

The University recognises that waste pollution has significant environmental impacts, particularly in Tasmania's terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. In response, the University applies the waste hierarchy and circular economy principles, prioritising the avoidance, reduction, reuse and recovery of materials before disposal. These principles are implemented through the University's governance and resource management programs.

Policy, governance and guidelines

The University's Sustainability Policy establishes the overarching requirement to “develop, maintain and operate sustainable campuses and natural environments through applying outcomes driven sustainable design and regenerative principles, circular economy approaches, assurance frameworks and operational tools” (Principle 1.9). These commitments provide the institutional framework for reducing the use of single-use plastics and other materials and preventing pollution from waste associated with campus operations.

The University's Stewardship for Sustainability reinforces these commitments by furthering the responsible management of resources throughout their lifecycle and applying circular economy principles to University operations. The framework specifically identifies a "circular economy approach integrated to contribute to waste management by prioritising waste avoidance, increased reuse and recycling, and minimising landfill disposal" as a key action to enable the achievement of our commitments and objectives (Operations section, p.21).

Likewise, the Procurement Policy mandates that procurement decisions will “consider sustainable and ethical principles” (Principle 1.1.d). The associated Procurement Procedure states that “In line with the University’s strategic goals, the purchaser should aim to maximise the sustainability of the procurement (for example by selecting items that can be repaired and reused instead of single use)” (Clause 5.2.a). The Sustainable Procurement Guide further advances the minimisation of “packaging, especially plastic” packaging, and choosing “items that can be repaired and reused instead of single use” as key principles of sustainable purchasing (p.1). This Guide also establishes specific requirements for food service providers, including that all food sold on campus is single use plastic free (p.3).

Furthermore, the University's Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2021-2025 (now succeeded by the Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2026-2030) translates these policy commitments into operational actions specifically aimed at reducing plastic waste and single use items, and supporting circular economy outcomes. Relevant actions include:

• Implement preferred procurement guidelines in catering contracts that eliminate single-use plastics and non-compostable items (Action 10, p.8)
• Influence key suppliers to reduce or avoid the excessive use of packaging including materials such as plastic and foam (Action 11, p.8)
• Implement a single-use petroleum-based plastic ban (Action 14, p.9)
• Reduce reliance on single-use products such as paper towels by installing hand dryers at appropriate sites (Action 15, p.9)

In addition, our University’s Contractors and Building Users Sustainability Guide and Clean Out and Disposal Process Guide also have guidelines to minimise the use of disposable items through careful selection of items when purchasing, repairing and reusing as much as possible.

As the University recognises that waste pollution has significant environmental impacts, particularly in Tasmania's terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, the minimisation of disposable items is a key element in all these policies and governance documents.

The University's approach is further aligned with Tasmania's broader efforts to reduce  disposable plastic items. The City of Hobart (where the University’s main campus is located) has implemented a by-law to reduce single-use plastics. The Single-use Plastics By-law identifies specific items that are banned since 2021 to reduce plastic waste ending up in landfills, including plastic cutlery, straws, stirrers, takeaway containers, cold and hot cups and lids and other. Consistent with our policies, plans and strategies, the University supports and complies with these requirements across applicable campus operations.

Actions to minimise disposable items

The University complements its policy and procurement measures with a range of operational initiatives designed to eliminate unnecessary use of disposable items, increase reuse opportunities and ensure materials are recovered through appropriate recycling pathways wherever possible. Our disposable items reduction actions include:

• Requiring commercially compostable take-away food and beverage packaging in on-campus catering contracts since 2021, reducing reliance on conventional single-use plastic packaging.
• Requiring the offer of reusable crockery at campus cafes where feasible
• Promoting reusable alternatives, including reusable cups and refillable drink bottles, with water refill stations available across campuses. These stations are available to students, staff and visitors and are featured in campus maps (which can be found in Our Campuses) or search for 'water station' in UniMaps.
• Replacing disposable paper towels with hand dryers in toilets across all campuses, with 50% of replacement achieved in 2025.
• Our Re-Use program an online catalogue and material redistribution system that has delivered significant financial savings, while avoiding waste and greenhouse gas emissions. People involved in new builds and major refurbishments are encouraged to use the Re-use Program before ordering new. What we cannot reuse is donated to community groups, provided free to students, or disassembled for any recyclable components.
• Implementing sustainable event practices that encourage waste avoidance, reuse, recycling and composting, while reducing the consumption of disposable materials, with plastic items being key to several actions. Two guidelines are available, the Tasmanian Government Sustainable Event guidelines and the Australian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) Sustainable Events Checklist.
• Applying sustainable procurement principles that encourage the purchase of durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable products with minimal packaging
• Supporting a cross-University Plastics Minimisation Working Group through the Sustainability Committee to identify and implement opportunities to reduce plastic consumption and improve circularity outcomes.

Waste disposal policies: extensions to services

The University of Tasmania recognises that reducing waste and supporting a circular economy requires action not only within University operations, but also across the contractors, service providers and suppliers that support our activities. Hence, the University extends waste disposal policies and requirements beyond its direct operations to outsourced service providers and relevant elements of its supply chain through its sustainability framework, procurement requirements, contractor guidance and waste management programs.

This commitment is embedded within the University's Stewardship for Sustainability framework, which identifies circular economy principles, including waste management and disposal, as key components of the University's sustainability approach. The framework recognises the need to “accelerat[e] our broader contributions to a circular economy that eliminates waste” and confirms that sustainable procurement extends the University's influence beyond campus by ensuring supply chains, including outsourced services, support environmental and social outcomes (p.16). The document also requires procurement from “sustainably produced goods and services from businesses that demonstrate social, ethical and environmental responsibility” (p.21), and highlights a “circular economy approach integrated to contribute to waste management by prioritising waste avoidance, increased reuse and recycling, and minimising landfill disposal” (pp.21, 26).

The University's procurement approach incorporates sustainability considerations, including waste management and disposal, and extend these expectations to outsourced service providers and the supply chain. The Procurement Procedure requires “to use every purchasing activity as an opportunity to generate sustainable and social value beyond the value of the goods and services being procured” and states that “all Requests for tender, proposals or quoting documentation should require suppliers to specifically detail in their quotes or submissions their approaches to sustainable and social procurement to address these important requirements” (Principle 5.2, p.5).

The Sustainable Procurement Guide further extends waste disposal requirements to outsourced services. The Guide requires all tenders to include sustainability considerations, with “a minimum of 5% weighting on sustainability measures appropriate to the goods or services” (p.1), noting that this percentage is often higher and sustainability measures include waste management and disposal. For example, food service providers operating on campus are specifically required to demonstrate responsible waste management practices, including commitments to provide recycling and composting solutions, and support appropriate disposal of materials by customers. For instance, they must demonstrate “a commitment to responsible waste management and/or waste minimisation” and (p.3) to provide “recycling and compostable options and the education material at the bin site so that customers know how to dispose of materials” (p.3). These requirements ensure that waste disposal expectations apply directly to outsourced catering services.

The University's expectations regarding waste disposal are further extended to services through the Contractors and Building Users Sustainability Guide. The Guide contains a dedicated section on Materials and Waste Reduction and requires contractors to “minimise the amount of materials going to landfill through careful selection of items when purchasing, repairing and reusing as much as possible, and recycling appropriately.” The guide also requires service providers to “separate as much of [their] waste as possible for recycling” (p.9). This demonstrates that University service providers are required to manage and dispose of waste in accordance with University sustainability expectations rather than relying on standard disposal practices.

The University's Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2021-2025 (now succeeded by the Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2026-2030) further demonstrates that waste disposal requirements extend beyond University staff and students. The Plan applies to all “service providers, contractors, and visitors” (Scope, p.2). Action 7 requires the University to work with project managers, facilities managers and contractors to minimise waste generation and increase recovery of materials, including the requirement to “work with contractors to ensure they are not generating wastes (...) that are not reusable or recyclable” (Notes, p.7).

Together, these policies, procedures and operational requirements demonstrate that the University's waste disposal expectations extend to outsourced services and are incorporated into contractor and service-provider activities, contributing to improved recycling, composting, resource recovery and reduced landfill disposal.

Waste minimisation policies: extensions to suppliers

The University of Tasmania recognises that reducing waste and supporting a circular economy requires action not only within University operations, but also across the contractors, service providers and suppliers that support our activities. Hence, the University extends waste minimisation requirements beyond its direct operations to outsourced suppliers and broader supply chains through its sustainability framework, procurement procedures, supplier evaluation processes and circular economy principles

This commitment is embedded within the University's Stewardship for Sustainability framework, which identifies circular economy principles, including waste management and disposal, as key components of the University's sustainability approach. The framework recognises the need to “accelerat[e] our broader contributions to a circular economy that eliminates waste” and confirms that sustainable procurement extends the University's influence beyond campus by ensuring supply chains, including outsourced services, support environmental and social outcomes (p.16). The document also requires procurement from “sustainably produced goods and services from businesses that demonstrate social, ethical and environmental responsibility” (p.21), and highlights a “circular economy approach integrated to contribute to waste management by prioritising waste avoidance, increased reuse and recycling, and minimising landfill disposal” (pp.21, 26).

The University's procurement framework requires suppliers to actively contribute to sustainability outcomes, including through waste minimisation. The Procurement Procedure requires staff “to use every purchasing activity as an opportunity to generate sustainable and social value beyond the value of the goods and services being procured” and requires that “all Requests for tender, proposals or quoting documentation should require suppliers to specifically detail in their quotes or submissions their approaches to sustainable and social procurement to address these important requirements” (Principle 5.2, p.5).

The Sustainable Procurement Guide establishes specific waste minimisation expectations for suppliers and supply chains. The Guide requires procurement decisions to be guided by circular economy principles, including reducing unnecessary purchases, minimising packaging, prioritising reuse, selecting products that can be repaired and recycled, and supporting product stewardship programs (General Principles for Sustainable Purchasing, p.1). These requirements directly target waste generation across the supply chain and encourage waste avoidance before products reach the University.

The Guide further requires all tenders to include sustainability considerations, with “a minimum of 5% weighting on sustainability measures appropriate to the goods or services” (p.1), ensuring that supplier sustainability performance is formally considered during procurement evaluations and that the University's waste minimisation expectations are applied directly to suppliers. The Guide requires suppliers to support circular economy outcomes through durable, reusable and recyclable products. For example:

• Food suppliers on campus are expected to demonstrate responsible waste management and waste minimisation practices, including commitments to reduce waste to landfill (p.3)
• In relation to furniture procurement, suppliers are asked to detail where materials are sourced, made, and assembled (p.2).
• For merchandise procurement, suppliers are specifically asked about measures they take to ensure little, or no plastic packaging is used in the supply chain (p.5). The Guide also states: “The purchase of branded clothing and merchandise should consider the environmental and human rights impacts throughout the supply chain” (p.5).
• Cleaning, maintenance and facilities contractors are expected to prioritise green products and environmentally responsible practices in service delivery (p.4). Cleaning service providers are required to use Z-water, a non-toxic, biodegradable and environmentally friendly product that is produced on campus, resulting in the avoidance of ~1,320 five-litre single-use plastic containers from landfill annually and replaces 95% of chemicals used for cleaning.

These requirements directly address waste minimisation within supplier operations and across broader supply chains by reducing packaging waste and encouraging more sustainable sourcing practices.

The application of waste minimisation requirements to suppliers is further reinforced through the University's Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2021-2025 (now succeeded by the Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2026-2030). For example, Action 10 requires implementing “preferred procurement guidelines in catering contracts that eliminate single-use plastics and non-compostable items” (p.8). Action 11 requires the University to: “Influence key suppliers to reduce or avoid the excessive use of packaging including materials such as plastic and foam” (p.8). This action specifically targets waste generation at the supplier and supply-chain level, reducing waste before materials and products enter University operations.

Together, the Stewardship for Sustainability framework, Procurement Procedure, Sustainable Procurement Guide and Waste Minimisation Action Plan demonstrate that the University's waste minimisation policies extend to outsourced suppliers and supply chains through procurement requirements, supplier engagement, packaging reduction initiatives, product stewardship approaches and circular economy principles.

Proportion of recycled waste

Waste tracking

https://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1233446/Waste-infographic.pdf

Publication of a sustainability report

Publication of a sustainability report

https://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1944451/Sustainability-Report-2025.pdf