SDG 12 In Number
Amount of waste generated (mt)
102
Amount of waste recycled (mt)
79
Amount of waste sent to landfill (mt)
23
12.2.7 Disposable Policy: Extensions to Services
Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) develops its campus environmental management efforts by restricting the use of single-use products and reducing material consumption in daily activities. The direction of this policy is set out in Vice Rector’s Circular Letter Number 29/UN27/SE/2020 on the Prohibition of Single-Use Plastic Drinking Water Packaging and/or Plastic Bags and reinforced through Rector’s Instruction Number 28 of 2023 on reducing paper and plastic use at the UNS Campus. Both instruments serve as references for promoting changes in material use patterns to be more economical and responsible. Applying these principles is also relevant to the procurement of goods and services and to cooperation with operational partners, so that waste reduction efforts can be extended to the various activities taking place at the university. These steps support the achievement of SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, especially through preventing waste generation and using resources more efficiently.
In 2025, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) strengthened its sustainability commitment by adopting more environmentally friendly practices in ceremonial activities and interactions with partners. This commitment was realized through UNS Rector’s Circular Letter Number 20/UN27/HK.06/2025 dated September 2, 2025, on the Appeal to Give Congratulations in the Form of Tree Seedlings. Through this circular letter, UNS urges that congratulations on birthdays, promotions, graduations, inaugurations, and other celebrations, previously given as flower arrangements, be replaced with tree seedlings more than one meter tall. Preferred plants are local trees, productive trees, or plants with ecological value that are easy to care for. This initiative encourages a shift in congratulatory practices from short-lived decorations to living plants that can provide long-term environmental benefits. The policy is also a form of UNS leadership’s commitment to supporting greening, climate change mitigation, and reducing potential waste generation from ceremonial activities. Involving the academic community, partners, and external parties through this appeal also extends the application of sustainability values within the university and supports the achievement of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Presentation of Tree Seedlings as Congratulations at the Inauguration of UNS Professors
Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) continues to promote the application of environmentally friendly principles in procurement of goods and services involving external parties. Vendors, contractors, outsourcing service providers, and suppliers are expected to support waste reduction efforts through efficient use of resources and the selection of more sustainable products and equipment. Applying these principles can be reinforced through procurement guidelines, cooperation requirements, and service implementation provisions that take environmental aspects into account.
In campus operations, efforts to reduce single-use items can be realized through the use of reusable eating and drinking utensils, restrictions on plastic packaging, and the selection of more environmentally friendly wrapping materials. Event organizing partners and catering providers can also contribute by reducing single-use supplies during activities. On the administrative side, the use of electronic correspondence and digital documents in coordination with suppliers and service providers can help reduce paper needs. These efforts are in line with UNS Rector’s Instruction Number 28 of 2023 on Reducing Paper and Plastic Use at the UNS Campus.
Strengthening sustainable practices in relations with third parties can be done by communicating environmental guidance to vendors, including relevant provisions in procurement documents or service agreements, and monitoring the execution of work. Aspects considered include material use, reducing excess packaging, using reusable equipment, and managing waste generated during operational activities. In this way, environmental considerations can become part of the process of providing goods and services at the university.
Involving providers of goods and services in these efforts is an important step in extending a culture of sustainability across UNS. Collaboration between the university and operational partners is expected to reduce dependence on single-use products, improve the efficiency of resource use, and support more responsible waste management. These efforts are aligned with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, particularly in promoting waste prevention and the development of sustainable procurement practices.
This involvement of external partners is in line with UNS research on partnerships and participation in waste management. Sari et al. (2025) identified the factors influencing community participation in waste banks in Sukoharjo Regency and their implications for the circular economy (EDP Sciences), while Ulfa et al. (2025) examined the use of black soldier fly to strengthen the local economy while managing organic waste in Mojolaban District (Indonesian Journal of Empowerment and Community Services). Both show that waste management is more effective when carried out together with partners outside the institution.