SUT: Policy for minimisation of disposable items

Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) has implemented a Disposable Items Minimisation Policy to promote sustainable resource use and reduce waste within the university.

Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) has implemented a Disposable Items Minimisation Policy to promote sustainable resource use and reduce waste within the university. Key projects include “SUT Say No Plastic” and “SUT Zero Waste,” which encourage shops and departments within the university to refrain from using plastic bags, straws, cutlery, and single-use packaging, and promote the use of reusable or biodegradable containers instead. Furthermore, there are campaigns to reduce paper and plastic use in offices and to switch to biodegradable cups and straws, aiming to make the university a model for sustainable resource and environmental management. SUT has actively implemented a plastic reduction policy under the “SUT Say No Plastic” project, which began on June 5, 2018, and continues to this day, to drive the university towards becoming a “Green University.” SUT collaborates with shops and businesses within the university to implement six measures to reduce single-use plastics: No longer providing plastic shopping bags, except for hot items. No longer selling bottled water with plastic bottle caps. No longer distributing plastic cutlery (automatic dispensers). Avoid using styrofoam and clear plastic containers; use sugarcane-based materials or paper instead. Reduce the use of plastic-wrapped straws and offer discounts to those who bring their own containers for food or drinks. These measures have reduced the use of plastic shopping bags by 100% within the university area, equivalent to over 6,000 bags per day. This helps reduce plastic waste, lowers waste management costs, and fosters sustainable environmental awareness among students and staff. Link: SUT Zero Waste

SUT Recyclebank

The Recycling Bank serves as a collection point for recyclable waste from students and staff, which is then sent to a recycling plant. It is open for purchasing recyclable materials every Thursday from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM. The bank accepts 25 types of recyclable materials, covering all categories, totaling 223,561 kilograms per year, representing 13% of the total waste volume. This aligns with the set target, and the revenue generated (73,731 baht per year) goes into the Environmental Fund to support environmental activities within the university.

The "Old Calendar" Project

In addition, we have donation boxes for New Year desk calendars, which will be donated to the Saints for the Blind Foundation of Thailand. These calendars are used as Braille materials for the visually impaired and also serve as a recycling initiative for the community and society, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 315 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.

Promote the use of biodegradable cups and straws.

Through the “SUT Zero Waste” project, Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) aims to continuously reduce waste, aligning with the university's strategy to create a “Green University” and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation's announcement supporting sustainable development based on the BCG (Bio-Circular-Green Economy) principles. This promotes the reduction of single-use plastics and the use of biodegradable alternative materials. Within the university, there are 17 shops and beverage outlets in the cafeteria. Of these, 9 have reduced the use of plastic cups and straws and switched to biodegradable cups by over 50%, a significant part of the university's efforts to reduce plastic waste. This project extends to all shops and beverage outlets within the university to create a model of responsible consumption and sustainable waste management across all sectors of the university community. Participating coffee and beverage shops include...

The "This Cup" project

is an environmental campaign designed to promote creative waste management. Donation boxes have been set up for collecting all types of beverage cups, both paper and plastic. These used cups are then recycled into plant pots, sustainably benefiting the community. Furthermore, the project collaborates with shops within the university to promote the initiative and serve as collection points, fostering participation from all sectors of the university in reducing waste and protecting the environment.

Paper Reduction Policy

The university has announced a policy on cost-saving measures, a key policy that all personnel and students must be aware of and adhere to seriously and continuously at all times. This is to conserve natural resources and the environment, and to ensure that limited resources and energy are used efficiently. The policy comprises seven cost-saving measures, one of which is conserving consumable materials, international mailing, and photocopying. This reduces paper usage by 6,083,036 sheets per year and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 20,979 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. Link: https://das.sut.ac.th/edcx/documents/45000/44368.pdf

E-DOCUMENT System

The university also has an electronic mail system that effectively reduces paper usage, as follows: 2.1 Online Document Registration System (iSaraban): To facilitate the quick sending and receiving of documents, various departments are responsible for the process. Therefore, the university has developed an online document registration system to enable the transfer of documents within the university, which reduces paper usage, saves time, and increases work efficiency. Link: https://sut.eoffice.go.th/api/auth/login

2.2 Electronic Meeting System (SUBT E-Meeting): This system manages electronic meetings for speed, cost reduction, time savings, and reduced paper usage by eliminating the need for physical document transmission. It facilitates the recording of meeting agendas and supporting documents. Meeting minutes are saved in SUT E-Meeting, and after the meeting concludes, participants can edit the minutes. The system records the meeting for review and storage by all participants, allowing for later retrieval. Link: http://eccs1.sut.ac.th/emeeting

2.3 Electronic Maintenance Request System (Building and Ground Work, Suranaree University of Technology) is a service system for the Building Management Division. It is used for repairs to electrical systems or air conditioning, landscaping (e.g., lawn mowing or tree trimming, etc.), and environmental work (e.g., wastewater pumping, outdoor waste disposal, etc.). This system saves time, reduces paper usage, and allows for online tracking of work progress. Link: https://misx.sut.ac.th/dbg/

2.4 Online Satisfaction Assessment System: This system allows faculty and students to assess their satisfaction with online facilities and services. Link: https://sites.google.com/g.sut.ac.th/questionnaires?pli=1

2.5 ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System: Electronic Document Archive System: This system is for storing documents related to the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system. Link: https://web.sut.ac.th/dbg/