SDG 12 - Strategic Initiatives
Ethical Sourcing Policy
Western has a policy on ethical sourcing of food and supplies. Every dollar spent has social, environmental, and ethical impacts—both positive and negative. Western is committed to creating positive change through purposeful and proactive spending and supplier relations.
- Policy 2.8 Procurement of Materials and Services: Those responsible for the procurement of goods and services will have regard for associated environmental, social, governance, and ethical impacts.
- Procurement Services Sustainable Procurement Policy: Sets minimum standards for ethical procurement.
- Sustainable Procurement: Ensures that the products and services we buy are as sustainable as possible, with the lowest environmental impact and most positive social results, while achieving best overall value.
- Sustainable Procurement Strategy: Prioritizes carbon reduction, waste reduction, local economic development, certified diverse suppliers, community investment, relations with Indigenous communities, responsible supply chain management, reduced risk of child labour, human trafficking, and labour exploitation.
- Supplier Code of Conduct: Expects all university suppliers to affirm their compliance with the standards in this Code of Conduct, and ensure the standards are being upheld by any of their subcontractors.
- From Purple to Green: This guide complements Western’s Procurement Policy and serves as a tool to help our community continue making responsible and ethical purchasing decisions.
- Environmental Sustainability Policy: Western Retail Services has adopted a specific policy of accountability on behalf of Western’s community.
- Investing to Address Climate Change: A Charter for Canadian Universities: As a signatory, Western agrees to set an institutional framework for strategies that measure, evaluate, and shift investments to reflect environmental impact.
Hospitality Services also champions sustainability initiatives related to food, including:
- Providing only compostable and/or recyclable single-use containers.
- Offering reusable take-out containers and travel mugs to students in residence.
- Composting all organic waste in Residences, Great Hall Catering, and Green Leaf Café.
- Buying local and in bulk whenever possible.
- Donating excess food to the London Food Coalition by way of the Ark Aid Street Mission.
- Supporting the Western FairTrade Campus initiative in all our eateries.
- Maintaining honey bee hives for use in Great Hall Catering.
- Hosting a farmers’ market on campus from June to late October.
See Hospitality Services’ Sustainability Commitment Report for more details.
Landfill and Waste Management
Western University has a policy on waste disposal that includes measuring the amount of waste sent to landfills and recycling. The university adheres to all relevant federal, provincial, and municipal regulations regarding landfill waste disposal, including:
- The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which provides for the protection and conservation of the natural environment.
- The Waste-Free Ontario Act, which promotes re-use and recycling, as well as reducing reliance on landfills, aiming for zero greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector.
- The Environmental Assessment Act, which sets requirements for the design, operation, and closure of landfills to ensure environmental soundness.
- London’s Municipal Waste & Resource Materials Collection By-law - WM-12, which enforces landfill regulations.
- Policy 1.31 – Hazardous Chemical Waste ensures the safe and proper handling and disposal of harmful chemicals.
- The Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Handbook addresses the most common types of hazardous waste generated on campus with detailed instructions on proper waste disposal.
- Hazardous Materials Waste Pick-up is scheduled weekly by technical and environmental specialists from RPR Environmental.
- Policy 1.48 – Environment and Sustainability encourages recycling, reuse, and life cycle management of resources.
All waste and recycling generated on Western’s campus are managed locally, within a 5KM radius of the City of London. We manage multiple waste streams, including recycling, organics, e-waste, and wood waste. One of our student initiatives even allows for snack wrapper recycling. Our Sustainability team supports a free Waste & Recycling Portal, available to the entire Western community for all waste-related requests. Moreover, to divert from landfills, the organics waste stream is available campus-wide.
Consistent waste stations and signage across campus ensure the Western community is familiar with the waste management system, maximizing waste diversion and reinforcing individual ownership and responsibility for waste management.
Minimization of Plastic and Disposable Items
Western University is dedicated to sustainable procurement and reducing plastic, waste, and disposable items. Here are some key policies and initiatives:
General
- Policy 1.48 - Environment and Sustainability: Subscribes to the principle of institutional ecology, reducing the use of resources and the production of waste.
- Free Store: Campus community members donate items they no longer want and take home things for free. Repurposing items supports a culture of circularity, helping to reduce carbon emissions associated with the creation and transportation of new goods.
Sustainable Procurement
- Guidelines: Developed by Procurement Services and Sustainability, focusing on carbon and waste reduction. See also: Sustainable Procurement Strategy 2023-2025.
Retail and Hospitality Services
- Environmental Sustainability Policy: Mandates purchasing items with minimal packaging, including plastic, and emphasizes reducing waste.
- Hospitality Services Sustainability Commitment Report: This report prioritizes partnerships with local food providers and sourcing compostable and recyclable packaging.
- Compostable Packaging: Used in our eateries.
- Choose to Reuse Program: Offers reusable food containers cleaned by dining staff.
- Composting: Food waste is composted and used to generate energy.
- Plastic Water Bottles: No longer sold on campus; free drinking water fountains are available.
Facilities Management
- Waste Management: Supports waste reduction and diversion.
- Waste Streams: Reduce the amount of waste in landfills.
- Western Environmental System: This energy monitoring and control tool supports demand management.
Research and Innovation
- Hemp Plastics: Chemistry department developing hemp as an alternative to plastics.
- Sustainable Alternatives: Undergraduate Summer Research Internship focuses on creating sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics.
- Microplastics Research: Surface Science Western partners with industry to minimize environmental harm.
- Chemical Recycling: Engineering department collaborates with Aduro Clean Technologies to chemically recycle waste plastics.
- Low Impact Materials: Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Composites Research develops thermoplastics with low life-cycle impact.
Centre for Sustainable Curating
- Guide to Sustainable Curating: Encouraging the use of alternatives to plastic.
Waste Tracking
Western measures the amount of waste generated and recycled across the university. Every year a campus-wide waste audit is conducted to determine waste composition, the success of current waste diversion programs, and to identify possible program improvements in reducing, re-using, and recycling waste. Western’s Office of Sustainability publishes our historical waste diversion rates.
