SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
12.2 Operational measures
AUM Reducing waste generation
We aim at not producing unnecessary waste through awareness of its impact on the environment where every product requires natural resources. For instance, as of 2021, AUM switched from paper-based exams to PC-based exams to save papers, thus trees. Also, there are several initiatives to reduce plastic use. We adopt sustainable procurement on campus as part of our dedication to making sustainable choices in our procurement processes, contributing positively to our campus and the broader community.
We are thrilled to launch the AUM Recycling Project ♻️to engage you further in our recycling operations.
Join us in recycling paper and plastic and help save the environment. ☘️🪴♻️ Please watch the video carefully to be aware of the proper segregation practices and follow the instructions written on the bins across campus.
Stay tuned for more updates and activities related to recycling!
In Fall 2021, one of the very first initiatives when students came back to campus after Covid-19 period, was the launching of “Toward Zero Waste Campus” Initiative led by students to strengthen awareness, promote ethical sourcing and remind them on the importance of recycling.
Strong guidance was given on how waste should go to each dedicated bin: paper, plastic, other waste.
The university has rigorous sourcing and recycling practices that are classified by different types of waste including hazardous waste from biology, chemistry and chemical engineering laboratories.
AUM collaborated with SLB to host The Sustainability Village on November 9 and 10, 2022. A sustainability mini walk-through experience linked with a number of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals and local sustainability goals. The purpose behind the project is to showcase the importance of these topics to the modern-day Kuwaiti Household.
One of the three main booths was “Waste Management – In Our Typical Modern Kuwaiti Household” in addition to the other two booths: “Electricity Consumption Booth” and “Health and Wellbeing”. The booth was designed in an interactive way that would encourage individuals to participate and experience how sustainability and especially waste management can make a difference in their lives.
On the occasion of World Environment Day, the American University of the Middle East (AUM) organized a competition among students and alumni to encourage them to think in a more environmentally friendly way and come up with creative solutions that can make the campus more sustainable.
World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5 to keep the environment top of mind among people, and to remind them that nature should not be taken for granted and must be respected for its values.
Students and alumni submitted their ideas through written reports and videos where they came up with creative solutions that can reduce the carbon footprint of university campuses.
As part of AUM’s approach to sustainability, the university will be exploring the implementation of these ideas and initiatives with students and alumni in the future.
Certification of participation and plants were distributed to all participants, in addition to prizes to the top three winners: Danah Afat, Ayah Sharaf, and Ali Hashem.
Who would have imagined that the paper used could turn into masterpieces! 🎨
AUM students celebrated World Sustainability Day by participating in a workshop where they learned how to recycle used paper and turn it into paintings. ✨
AUM launched an upcycling workshop series as part of its efforts to teach students about waste management, recycling, and responsible consumption.
The first series of workshops was titled “Plastic to Plant” and comprised two sessions on the first week of December and another two sessions on the second week of the same month so both groups of students can attend, while taking all the necessary health and safety precautions.
The workshop started with an informative session about recycling, upcycling, the negative effects of waste on the environment, and the sustainable development goals. Different ideas about what kind of wastes can be upgraded into something artistic and have real usage were discussed during the workshop.
During the session, students learned how to give life to used plastic bottles by turning them into plant pots. Students enjoyed creating a pot from the plastic, designing the water bottle, and adding soil and a plant to it. After the workshop, students hung the plants on a designated wall on campus.
AUM in the Top 4 Most Sustainable and Green Universities in the Gulf and Maintains its positioning as the Most Green and Sustainable University in Kuwait
In December 2023, AUM has been ranked as the most Sustainable and Green University in Kuwait, by UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2023. Compared to the previous year, AUM advanced up to the 229th worldwide and made it to the #4 Most Sustainable and Green University in the Gulf Region and #17 in the Arab Region.
The UI GreenMetric World University Rankings is one of the most credible sources related to university rankings on sustainability and its rising popularity made it reach 1183 universities participating from 84 different countries in 2023.
Student projects on SDG12. Responsible Consumption and Production in collaboration with industry
Catalytic cracking of used lubricant oil in Kuwait: sustainable waste management (in collaboration with Kuwait Lube Oil Company and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research)
Innovation Framework in Supply Chain Sustainability (in collaboration with Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company)
Application of Assembly Line Balancing Rules in a Local Factory (in collaboration with AlHassawi Factory)
1st place winner of IEOM Supply Chain and Logistics Competition at International Conference and competition participation, 13th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (IEOM) in Manila, Philippines, March 6-9, 2023: The study targeted three soft drink companies in Kuwait, to successfully identify sustainability problems relating to the three pillars of sustainability in the companies’ supply chains. To illustrate the benefit of the sustainability initiatives, a multiple regression model was built by collecting data from the Refinitiv database. The regression results showed that there is a U-shaped relationship between the firm value and environmental sustainability performance.
Two achievements in AUM Startup Challenge 2022 reducing plastic and rubber
Seaweed Bioplastic - First Place in AUM Startup Challenge 2022 and among Finalists in Babson Student Global Challenge 2022: The idea consists of opening a factory that produces degradable and consumable bioplastic made from seaweed
Team members: Mohammad AlKharashi and Mohammad Al Mansour
Re-Rub - Third Place in AUM Startup Challenge 2022: Since Kuwait has one of the largest tire yards in the world, the project aims to use recycled tires materials, which are rubber and steel to produce home furniture.Team members: Omar Bassel Abu Orf, Hanen Awad, and Sana Tabashir
Thereafter, Seaweed team participated in Babson build UG 1-week program experience from 11-15 of July 2022 at Babson college, Boston. The students were congratulated for their performance during the Babson Student Global Challenge and received their certificates as Finalists of the competition.
