Commitment to Reducing Disposable Items

Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA) is committed to reducing the use of disposable items across university activities and operations.

The university recognises that items designed for single or short-term use can contribute significantly to waste generation. For this reason, UNISSULA promotes the use of reusable alternatives and encourages procurement practices that reduce unnecessary disposable consumption.

Institutional Policy

UNISSULA formalised this commitment through Circular Letter No. 8412/J/SA/IX/2025, dated 10 September 2025.

The circular applies across faculties, RSIGM, bureaux, institutions, technical units, administrative units, and other relevant parts of the university.

The policy was established to reduce waste generation and encourage the sustainable use of reusable items throughout university activities.

Reduction of Disposable Items Across University Activities

UNISSULA requires all university units to reduce the use of disposable items in:

• Academic activities;
• Administrative activities;
• Meetings;
• Seminars;
• Student activities; and
• University services.

This broad scope helps ensure that disposable-item reduction becomes part of regular university operations.

Preference for Reusable Items

The university encourages the use of items that can be used repeatedly as alternatives to disposable products.

Examples include:

• Reusable food containers;
• Reusable drinking containers;
• Reusable cutlery;
• Refillable bottles;
• Reusable cups;
• Reusable bags; and
• Other reusable activity equipment.

This approach supports a gradual shift from single-use consumption toward longer-lasting products.

Reusable Food and Drink Containers

Food and beverage activities can generate significant amounts of disposable waste.

UNISSULA therefore encourages the use of reusable containers for food and drinks in meetings, seminars, student activities, academic events, and other university programmes.

This helps reduce dependence on disposable packaging and serving items.

Reusable Cutlery

Reusable cutlery is encouraged as an alternative to disposable spoons, forks, knives, and other single-use eating utensils.

Repeated use can reduce the volume of waste generated from university events and food-service activities.

Refillable Bottles and Reusable Cups

The use of refillable bottles and reusable cups is encouraged throughout the university.

These alternatives help reduce the repeated disposal of drink containers and support more responsible daily consumption habits among students and staff.

Reusable Bags

UNISSULA also promotes reusable bags as alternatives to disposable bags.

Reusable bags can be used repeatedly for university activities, procurement, distribution of materials, and other operational purposes.

Minimisation in University Events

Meetings, seminars, workshops, ceremonies, student activities, and other events can generate large quantities of disposable items.

University units are therefore encouraged to plan activities in ways that minimise the use of single-use products.

This includes considering reusable alternatives when preparing:

• Food and beverage services;
• Participant supplies;
• Event materials;
• Bags;
• Containers; and
• Other activity equipment.

Minimisation in Administrative Operations

The policy also applies to administrative activities.

University units are encouraged to avoid unnecessary disposable products in routine office operations and to choose reusable or longer-lasting alternatives where practical.

This integrates waste prevention into everyday administrative practices.

Minimisation in Academic Activities

Academic activities are also included within the university’s disposable-item reduction framework.

Faculties and academic units are encouraged to minimise disposable materials during lectures, practical activities, workshops, conferences, and other academic programmes where reusable alternatives are available.

Minimisation in Student Activities

Student activities form part of the institutional policy.

Student organisations and activity organisers are encouraged to reduce disposable-item use and consider reusable options when preparing events and programmes.

This extends responsible consumption practices across the wider campus community.

Sustainable Procurement

UNISSULA incorporates disposable-item minimisation into procurement decisions.

The university directs procurement and consumption activities to prioritise products that:

• Can be reused;
• Have a longer useful life;
• Produce less waste; or
• Provide more sustainable alternatives to disposable products.

This means that waste prevention begins before products enter the university’s waste stream.

Avoiding Disposable Items Where Alternatives Exist

The university encourages units to avoid disposable products where more sustainable alternatives are available.

This principle supports a practical hierarchy:

Avoid disposable items → Use reusable alternatives → Reduce waste generation

Such an approach places prevention ahead of disposal.

Waste Prevention at Source

Reducing disposable items is an important form of waste prevention.

Instead of focusing only on managing waste after it has been generated, UNISSULA seeks to reduce the amount of waste created in the first place.

This contributes to more efficient resource use and lower disposal demand.

Resource Efficiency

Reusable items generally remain in circulation longer than disposable products.

Encouraging their use therefore supports more efficient use of materials and reduces repeated consumption.

This is especially relevant for frequently used items such as food containers, cups, bottles, cutlery, and bags.

Responsible Procurement and Consumption

The reduction of disposable items is integrated with responsible procurement.

University units are encouraged to consider the expected waste impact of products before purchasing them.

Procurement decisions can therefore take into account:

• Reusability;
• Product lifespan;
• Amount of waste generated;
• Availability of alternatives; and
• Opportunities for repeated use.

Relationship with Plastic Reduction

The minimisation of disposable items complements UNISSULA’s separate efforts to reduce plastic use.

While plastic reduction focuses specifically on plastic materials, disposable-item minimisation has a broader scope and applies to single-use products regardless of material.

This can include disposable products made from:

• Plastic;
• Paper;
• Composite materials;
• Aluminium;
• Foam; or
• Other materials intended for short-term use.

Relationship with Waste Reduction

Reducing disposable products directly supports the university’s wider waste-management strategy.

The relationship can be expressed as:

Fewer disposable items purchased → Fewer items discarded → Lower waste generation → Reduced disposal burden

This helps strengthen overall waste-reduction performance.

Supporting a Reuse Culture

UNISSULA seeks to develop a campus culture in which reuse becomes the preferred option where practical.

A reuse-oriented culture encourages students, staff, academic units, and service providers to consider whether an item can be used repeatedly before choosing a disposable alternative.

This supports more sustainable day-to-day behaviour.

Environmental Awareness

The policy also contributes to environmental awareness across the university community.

Reducing reliance on disposable products can encourage individuals to become more conscious of:

• Material consumption;
• Waste generation;
• Resource efficiency; and
• Environmental impacts.

Institutional policy provides a common framework for supporting these behaviours.

Continuous Improvement

Disposable-item minimisation is an ongoing process.

University units can progressively identify additional products that can be replaced by reusable or lower-waste alternatives.

This enables continuous improvement in campus resource efficiency and waste prevention.

Responsible Consumption and Production

UNISSULA’s disposable-item reduction approach contributes to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

By reducing unnecessary single-use products, promoting reusable alternatives, and integrating waste prevention into procurement, the university supports more sustainable consumption patterns.

Evidence of Implementation

UNISSULA’s policy for minimising disposable items is demonstrated through:

1. Circular Letter No. 8412/J/SA/IX/2025.
2. Institution-wide requirements to reduce disposable-item use.