PUP drives sustainable consumption and production by promoting waste reduction, responsible resource use, and environmental stewardship across academic, administrative, and student-led initiatives. These efforts ensure that the University meets present needs without compromising the ecological integrity and social well-being of future generations.
In line with this, the University has established a robust, multi-layered framework to advance responsible consumption and production, aligned with Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000), NSWMC Resolution No. 1363, s. 2020, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.
Pursuant to Office of the Vice President for Administration (OVPA) Office Memo No. 4, Series of 2024, the University launched the Bring Your Own Reusable (BYOR) campaign to address the rising issue of single-use plastic waste on campus by encouraging students and staff to use personal tumblers, utensils, and eco-bags—especially in canteens and during events.
This campaign reinforces PUP’s commitment to environmental sustainability and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on Responsible Consumption and Production. By fostering a culture of mindful consumption, BYOR demonstrates how individual actions, when practiced collectively, can drive meaningful and lasting change for the campus community and the broader environment.
In line with the operational measures made to ensure responsible consumption and production, the University consistently produces sustainability reports and related presentations.
One notable example is the synthesis study titled “Iron-Doped Carbon Nanodots from Waste Expanded Polystyrene and its Application in Carbon Monoxide Gas Detection,” which was presented at the 13th International Conference on Nanostructures, Nanomaterials and Nanoengineering (ICNNN 2024) in Osaka, Japan—an example of waste valorization supporting sustainable materials innovation. This research exemplifies waste valorization—transforming post-consumer polystyrene into functional nanomaterials for environmental sensing—and underscores PUP’s commitment to sustainable materials innovation.
Further evidence of scholarly engagement is reflected in a bibliometric overview showing 506 Scopus-indexed publications from PUP between 2006 and 2024. Output has grown significantly in recent years, with 105 documents published in 2023 and 100 in 2024, spanning disciplines including Environmental Science, Engineering, Computer Science, and Social Sciences. This trend highlights the University’s increasingly interdisciplinary and robust research footprint in support with responsible consumption and production.
On September 5, 2024, the OVPA issued Office Memorandum No. 18, Series of 2024, establishing a structured waste collection schedule and classification system to promote proper waste segregation and compliance with ecological solid waste management protocols.
The memorandum categorizes waste into four streams:
Recyclable waste (disposed in green bins),
Compostable waste (collected in designated plastic bags by janitorial staff),
Residual waste (non-recyclable and non-compostable materials placed in red bins), and
Infectious or biohazard waste (e.g., used masks and gloves, placed in yellow bins or clearly labeled sealed bags).
General waste is collected twice daily, while infectious waste is picked up daily at 6:00 PM.
This initiative reinforces PUP’s institutional commitment to responsible waste management and environmental sustainability, aligning with national guidelines issued by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC).
Under OVPA Office Memorandum No. 20, Series of 2024, the University prohibits the use, sale, and distribution of single-use plastics (SUPs) on weekends as part of its broader sustainability efforts aligned with national environmental laws, including Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000), and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Effective September 1, 2024, all campus concessionaires are required to transition to eco-friendly alternatives—including paper-based packaging, reusable containers, and bamboo utensils. Compliance is overseen by the Single-Use Plastics Committee, with support from university offices and student organizations, while a Rewards and Recognition Program incentivizes active participation.
This initiative underscores PUP’s commitment to achieving a zero-plastic waste campus and positions the university as a leader in modeling sustainable environmental practices within the Philippine higher education sector.
Under the Office Memorandum No. 18, Series of 2024, the University implemented a systematic waste tracking process under its Waste Segregation and Collection Policy, which mandates the use of color-coded bins to separate general, recyclable (green), residual (red), and infectious or biohazard (yellow) waste across all offices and facilities.
Waste is collected daily at noon by STARCOM and delivered to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for proper segregation, processing, and documentation. This daily monitoring helps determine the amount and sources of waste generated, guiding the university in improving waste management and recycling practices. Through this effort, PUP continues to promote cleanliness, sustainability, and environmental responsibility within the campus.
With this system, waste tracking became more accurate and efficient. The segregation process allows the university to identify the volume and type of waste generated by different departments, making it easier to monitor disposal patterns and address problem areas. It also supports data gathering for sustainability reports and ensures that all waste, especially infectious materials, is handled safely and in compliance with environmental standards.
Through this policy, PUP not only maintains cleanliness but also promotes accountability and transparency in waste management. By tracking waste through segregation, the university moves closer to its goal of a sustainable and eco-friendly campus.
Sintang Paaralan consistently tracks its solid waste generation by weighing and counting the number of waste bags collected daily from various campus areas.
Waste is collected at noon by STARCOM and delivered to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for proper segregation, processing, and data recording. Using an estimated average weight of 5 kg per bag (or 0.005 tons), PUP quantifies the total waste generated, monitors how much is sent to landfill, and measures the volume of recyclable materials recovered.
This data-driven approach enables evidence-based enhancements in waste management practices, strengthens recycling efforts, and reinforces PUP’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the principles of responsible consumption and production
In line with the operational measures to advance responsible consumption and production, the University consistently produces sustainability reports and related knowledge output.
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