SDG12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, "Responsible Consumption and Production," emphasizes the importance of sustainable and efficient resource use, waste reduction, and responsible consumption patterns. In Kuwait, a nation with a high level of resource consumption, and at GUST Gulf University, efforts are being made to align with this goal by promoting responsible consumption and sustainable production practices.
Responsible Consumption and Production in Kuwait:
Kuwait has initiated various strategies to promote responsible consumption and production:
1. Recycling Programs: The government has implemented recycling programs to reduce waste and encourage responsible disposal of materials.
2. Energy Efficiency: Kuwait focuses on energy efficiency measures, such as promoting LED lighting and energy-efficient appliances, to reduce energy consumption.
3. Water Conservation: The country encourages responsible water use through awareness campaigns and efficient irrigation practices.
4. Sustainable Agriculture: Kuwait explores sustainable agriculture methods to reduce the environmental impact of food production.
GUST's Contribution:
GUST actively promotes responsible consumption and production through various initiatives:
1. Campus Sustainability: GUST has adopted sustainable practices on its campus, including waste reduction, energy conservation, and water efficiency measures. The university's buildings are designed with sustainability in mind, reducing their ecological footprint.
2. Curriculum Integration: GUST integrates sustainability principles into its curriculum, raising awareness about responsible consumption and production among students. This ensures that graduates are equipped with knowledge and skills to promote sustainability in their future careers.
3. Research and Innovation: The university conducts research on sustainable production methods, waste reduction, and responsible consumption. Faculty and students engage in projects that explore innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact.
4. Community Engagement: GUST collaborates with local organizations and government agencies to promote responsible consumption and production practices in the broader community. This includes organizing workshops and awareness campaigns.
Operational Measures at GUST
Gulf University for Science and Technology is committed to embedding responsible consumption and production practices across all campus operations. In alignment with SDG 12, the University implements policies that reduce waste, promote safe disposal practices, and ensure that environmental responsibility is integrated into daily procedures. These operational measures help create a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable campus environment for students, staff, and the wider community.
Policy on Waste Disposal of Hazardous Materials
GUST maintains a formal process for the safe handling and disposal of hazardous waste, ensuring full compliance with environmental and safety standards. The University contracts a certified private waste-management company to regularly collect, transport, and dispose of hazardous materials generated on campus, such as laboratory chemicals and specialized cleaning agents.
The official contract outlines clear procedures for collection frequency, approved disposal methods, and safety requirements, ensuring that all hazardous waste is removed responsibly and without risk to people or the environment.
By implementing a structured hazardous waste disposal system, GUST fully meets SDG 12.2.3, demonstrating its commitment to safe environmental practices, regulatory compliance, and responsible campus operations.
Minimization of Plastic Use
GUST is committed to reducing plastic consumption on campus through a structured waste-segregation and recycling policy. The University provides clearly labeled recycling bins across all corridors, common areas, and outdoor spaces, enabling students and staff to separate plastic, paper, glass, and organic waste effectively. Solid waste, particularly plastic, is collected regularly and transported to approved government recycling facilities, ensuring environmentally responsible disposal. This campus-wide system reinforces GUST’s commitment to reducing single-use plastics and promoting sustainable waste management practices.
In addition to operational measures, GUST actively engages students in plastic-reduction awareness activities. In November 2025, the Public Relations Club organized Sustainability Week, an event dedicated to promoting responsible consumption. A large, visible recycling station was placed in the Campus Center, encouraging students to drop off plastic bottles and containers throughout the week. All collected items were sent for recycling, turning the initiative into both an educational and actionable effort to reduce plastic waste. Through these programs, GUST continues to foster a culture of environmental responsibility and aligns directly with SDG 12.2.5.
Minimization of Disposable Items
GUST implements several policies and daily operational practices aimed at reducing the use of disposable items across campus. To minimize paper waste, all university departments encourage the use of electronic records, digital correspondence, and online document management systems. Staff are instructed to rely on digital filing whenever possible, and routine administrative documents are printed double-sided to significantly reduce paper consumption. Additionally, digital platforms such as Asana and SharePoint are used for planning, communication, and documentation, further decreasing the need for disposable paper materials.
Beyond paper reduction, GUST also takes steps to limit other single-use items on campus. Campus events increasingly rely on reusable or environmentally friendly materials instead of single-use plastic or paper products. Water dispensers are widely available across campus to reduce reliance on disposable plastic bottles, and many offices encourage staff and students to bring reusable water bottles and mugs. The University also complements these policies with awareness activities, including campus-wide recycling campaigns where plastic bottles are collected and sent to approved recycling facilities.
Collectively, these measures directly support SDG 12.2.6, demonstrating GUST’s commitment to minimizing disposable item usage and fostering a culture of sustainable, low-waste practices across the institution.
GUST CSD Policy "Sustainable Innovation Under Stakeholder Pressure"
Written by Dr. Mohammed Laid Ouakouak on December 2025, this policy from the university's Center of Sustainable Development (CSD) discusses the importance of organizational innovation and how it relates to sustainability-oriented innovation. Seeing as this policy was made in collaboration with SDSN Kuwait, the country's Sustainable Development Solutions Network, it follows that this policy focuses on sustainability-driven strategies and solutions to environmental and ethical challenges.
Sustainability-based innovation has been attracting the attention of stakeholders as of late, therefore shifting their focus to more sustainable organizational innovation. With this change in stakeholder pressure comes pressure on organizations to follow. This push allows organizations to try different practices; for example, green human capital or employee environmental awareness. Green human capital can be defined as the abilities employees possess that would help them in supporting sustainable-oriented initiatives.
Following such strategies can help organizations achieve sustainability goals while strengthening their competitiveness in the marketplace.
Proportion of Recycled Waste at GUST
GUST actively monitors the amount and type of waste generated across campus as part of its commitment to responsible consumption and sustainable operations. Through annual waste management reports, the University tracks paper, plastic, organic, inorganic, and hazardous waste, allowing for accurate measurement and continuous improvement of recycling and disposal practices. This systematic tracking process directly aligns with SDG 12.3.1, as it ensures the University maintains a clear overview of its waste footprint and can assess year-to-year changes in waste generation. GUST also implements several programs each year aimed at reducing waste production, particularly paper and plastic, reinforcing a data-driven approach to sustainability planning. Additionally, GUST also keeps track of its annual electricity and water consumption to ensure responsible resource use and support long-term sustainability planning.
In alignment with SDG 12.3.2, GUST treats and recycles a significant share of its inorganic and organic waste through approved recycling partners and municipal systems. Hazardous and toxic waste is handled exclusively by certified contractors to guarantee safe and environmentally compliant disposal. The University has also adopted ICT-based monitoring tools to plan, evaluate, and refine its waste management initiatives, ensuring that recycling rates, waste reduction programs, and treatment processes remain efficient and transparent. Through these combined efforts, GUST demonstrates a strong and ongoing commitment to minimizing landfill contributions, improving recycling performance, and fostering a culture of sustainability across the campus community.
GUST celebrates Recycling Day!
The Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) Business Operations Department put together a recycling program for the university to make it easier for students, staff and faculty alike to recycle paper – and more importantly – confidential excess paper.
The Operations Department put together a program where anyone can send in their confidential paper, sealed. The paper is then placed in a secure storage area. The papers are then taken out with facility employees every Friday and are overseen by security officers to ensure that all papers are shredded securely.
The shredding machine is top of its line and ensures that all paper is secured in a plastic bag. All bags are then sent to a recycling facility.
This initiative is part of the university’s many goals to help and safe-guard its surrounding environment and for its students, staff and faculty to be as environmentally aware as possible.
GUST joins the GREEN Movement
The Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) hosted an environmental awareness seminar conducted by Khalaf Al-Enezi, a young Kuwaiti engineer and environmental activist. The main purpose of the presentation was clear: we, as inhabitants of this Earth, must take the necessary steps to protect the environment around us.
Among the things that Eng. Al-Enezi discussed were ways to reduce fossil fuels, lower green gas emissions and increase the use of natural resources. He also put together a presentation that listed a number of goals of the green technology initiative, namely the five ‘R’s: rethink, recycle, renew, reduce and be responsible.
The crowd was introduced to numerous green initiative innovations from around the globe, including green cities and neighborhoods in China and an eco-friendly library in Singapore. There are a number of ways we can take responsibility for our surroundings, starting by rethinking the way we live and behave on a daily basis. Mr. Al-Enezi urged the crowd to strive for a lifestyle that alters the way we use the energy and natural resources available to us. The presentation concluded with Mr. Al-Enezi stating that every individual can make a difference for a better world.
The seminar was followed by a Q&A session, where a number of questions were directed towards the presenter. Ms. Graham, an Art teacher at GUST, commended Mr. Al-Enezi for his eco work. A relevant statement, considering GUST is in the process of creating its first Global Awareness Club, slated to start recruiting members as of next fall, with Mr. Al-Enezi acting as supervisor. All in all, it was an enjoyable afternoon and a great learning experience for all those in attendance.
GUST hosts the founding general meeting of the Kuwait Green Building Council and the launch of “Mustadam” Initiative
GUST hosted and supported the launch of the Kuwait Green Building Council (KGBC). The KGBC is a national, non-profit organization that is committed to developing a sustainable property sector for Kuwait by encouraging the adoption of green building practices.
The launch started with a reception and an opening speech by founding members: Dr. Sulaiman T. Al-Abduljader, Founding Chairman and Assistant Professor of Real Estate and Finance at GUST, Abdullah Al-Mutairi, Founding Vice Chairman, Eng. Mohammad Al-Dowaisan, Founding Secretary, Eng. Hamad Al-Qattan, Founding Treasurer, Nora Zehery, Founding Board Member and Eng. Abdullah Fahhad, Founding Board Member.
Dr. Sulaiman Tareq Al-Abduljader, said in his opening remark, “We are honored today to launch the Kuwait Green Building Council (KGBC) after 15 months of committed team work with the founding members.” The KGBC aims topromote sustainable buildings by illustrating the positive effects on climate protection, resource consumption, health, quality and efficiency, the economy, and the labor market. The green building market currently has exceeded $600 billion in value and is expected to grow at double digit rates due to its economic feasibility in addition to its contribution to substantially reducing energy consumption. It is, therefore, the KGBC’s mission to encourage and engage both public and private sectors to adopt sustainable measures in the development sector in Kuwait.
Further, Mr. Abdullah Al-Mutairi said “KGBC is also committed to become the independent median to link green related technologies to the market. Al-Mutairi talked about the KGBC pre-establishment and the procedures and research that had to be perfected for the launch. While Mr. Hamad Al-Qattan, touched on that scientific/technical findings, reports about practice, and the projects implemented and certified shall be published to reach a broader audience.
Ms. Nora Zehery clarified the KGBC vision, to drive the transition of the Kuwait property sector towards sustainability by promoting green programs, technologies, design practice and operations as well as the integration of green building initiatives into mainstream design, construction and the operation of buildings.
The Founding Members also discussed the “Mustadam” Initiative which entails a country wide campaign involving government authorities, private sectors, academia, media and individuals collectively endorsing the green-related projects and initiatives in Kuwait. The campaign shall incorporate the social, economic and cultural benefits and effects of supporting green buildings on our lives and society in general. It is expected that a large media campaign shall accompany the initiative to underline the individuals and reputable institutions endorsing the initiative.
The founding board members also thanked the corporate founders for supporting the development of the council in its early stage. The corporate founding members are GUST, National Technology Enterprises Company, Al-Argan International Real Estate Company SignDesign, and Remas Group.
