Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

CUHK is devoted to implementing efficient waste management procedures which go beyond Hong Kong’s minimum legal and regulatory standards.  Its Waste Management Policy and Waste Management Guidelines strongly emphasize the importance of disease prevention for public health and continuously enhancing waste management performance.  The University’s Waste Management Policy is based on a ‘waste management hierarchy’ that emphasizes the ‘6Rs’ principle: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle.  Reducing waste at the source is our key priority, and we encourage the cyclical use of resources.  All waste management-related issues relevant to a university context have been addressed using the ‘6Rs’ principle.

Under CUHK’s Sustainable Procurement Policy and Sustainable Procurement Guidelines, the University is required to purchase products and services that have minimal to no adverse effects on the environment and public health throughout their life cycle. Correction pens provide a typical example. They contain no ozone-depleting chemicals, and the printing ink contains soy oil or vegetable oils, which can be removed easier than regular ink from paper. This saves treatment costs during recycling.

CUHK hosts a large number of events either on or off its campus every year. The Guidelines for Sustainable Event Planning and Management and Guidelines for Sustainable Student Orientation have been developed for administrative units and students’ unions at CUHK. These guidelines facilitate planning, and are designed to reduce the possibility of bringing negative impacts to the environment, while still allowing students to enjoy their work and campus life.

Since 2010, the eight UGC-funded universities have been collaborating through the Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium (HKSCC) with the aim of creating a sustainable society. Launched in 2021, the Jockey Club Sustainable Campus Consumer Programme serves as a collaborative endeavour by HKSCC members to groom a new generation of more responsible and thoughtful consumers. The programme responds to SDG12 by focusing on 3 core areas: responsible choices, responsible consumption and responsible consumer activism.

Plastic waste accounts for 20% of our daily garbage in Hong Kong. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, recycling is essential to help minimize the usage of raw materials and the production of short-lived waste. In July and October 2022, two SDG forums ‘Plastic free: are we there yet? — Impacts of Plastic Waste’ and ‘Recycle Right? – Recycling Industry in Hong Kong’ were co-organized by the Office of University General Education and the Hong Kong chapter of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Speakers shared their experiences in the recycling industry and explored the challenges and opportunities of the field in Hong Kong. They also encouraged governments, businesses, and individuals to rethink the usage of plastics and commit to reduction at source.