Policy for Minimisation of Plastic Use

The University of Newcastle has policies, processes and practices aimed at minimising use of plastic. In particular, Clause 12(c) of the Environmental Sustainability Policy requires that the University will minimise the use of plastic and disposal items across our campuses.

Policy basis: Environmental Sustainability Policy, Clause 12(c)

  • Under “Waste and Recycling”, Clause 12 of the Environmental Sustainability Policy includes several sub‑clauses. Clause 12(c) states the University will “minimise the use of plastic and disposal items across our campuses.”

The Environmental Sustainability Policy was effective from the 8th of December 2022, remained in force during 2025, and will be reviewed in June 2026.

Plastic Free campaign and targets

In 2025, the University's Plastic Free program supported the policy commitment by promoting reusable alternatives, compostable takeaway packaging, plastic-free and compostable retail products, and removal of single-use plastics from University-catered events, with a target of removing single-use plastic products from key campus areas by the end of 2025. At University‑catered events, the University has pledged to remove single-use plastic items. These steps indicate that the policy is being translated into real campus actions towards plastic use minimisation.

plastic free logo

Behavioural & engagement measures

  • The University encourages BYO (bring your own) reusable items such as cups, lunch boxes, utensils, and offers discounts for using reusable cups at campus cafés.
  • There is a Plastic Free Guide for staff, students and vendors, offering tips and guidelines to reduce plastic use on campus.
  • The University aligns itself with state and federal plastic reduction regulations. For example, we support the ban on certain single‑use plastics in NSW (from 1 January 2025) and we encourage vendors to comply.

Integration with procurement & supplier alignment

  • The policy domain is tied to procurement — the Environmental Sustainability Policy states that the University, in implementing our Procurement Policy, will favour suppliers aligned with our sustainability goals (which includes plastic minimisation).
  • This means the University can select suppliers whose packaging, product choices or operations are lower‑plastic or plastic‑free, reinforcing the plastic reduction aim in the supply chain.