Waikato expands timber expertise to support construction sector
A WIDE Trust-funded appointment will connect research, teaching and industry partnerships to advance low-carbon building solutions and prepare the next generation of engineers.
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Reduce
We work to reduce waste and single-use items through our waste minimisation plans, procurement practices, and sustainable catering.
Reuse
We extend the life of resources, including IT equipment, through reuse, refurbishment, and responsible disposal practices.
Recycle
We track the waste we generate and recycle, while working to divert more waste from landfill and support a circular economy.
Ethical sourcing of food and supplies policies
The University of Waikato has procurement requirements that support the ethical and responsible sourcing of food and supplies. The Procurement Policy (opens in a new tab) requires all procurement to uphold high ethical standards and states that sourcing must take an ethical approach throughout the procurement process and supply chains. Suppliers and their extended supply chains must comply with the University's Supplier Code of Conduct (opens in a new tab), which specifically covers ethical sourcing, human rights and working conditions, environmental management and modern slavery.
Reducing and managing waste
Our commitment to waste reduction on campus
Our comprehensive Waste Minimisation and Management Plan (opens in a new tab) (PDF, 2.1MB) lays out a clear roadmap for reducing and recycling waste on campus. We annually assess waste and report on how we are tracking and work closely with our students, staff and suppliers to change mindsets and behaviour.
The Plan contains actions relating to:
- Systems to manage, minimise and measure waste streams
- Programmes to prevent, divert and reduce waste to landfill (including plastic waste)
- Responsible management of hazardous waste and ‘Ewaste’
- Promoting behaviour to minimise waste in the University and community (including our suppliers)
Minimisation of disposable items
The University of Waikato has policies and plans that support the reduction and phase-out of disposable and single-use items. The Waste Minimisation and Management Plan 2024–2027 (opens in a new tab) specifically identifies reducing plastics and packaging as a priority, including reducing single-use plastics and phasing out plastic packaging on food products. The Plan also calls for compostable alternatives and identifies University shops, cafés and suppliers as being responsible for implementation.
The Environmental Sustainability Policy (opens in a new tab) establishes the University's broader commitment to environmental sustainability and identifies the Waste Minimisation and Management Plan as a key supporting document.
The University's onsite catering provider, Kahurangi, also commits to reducing disposable packaging as part of its sustainable catering practices (opens in a new tab).
Measuring waste generated and recycled
In 2025, we generated 390 tonnes of waste, of which 121 tonnes was recycled. This is a reduction in overall and landfill waste and an increase in the amount recycled compared to 2024.
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waste generated across the University (metric tonnes) | 627 | 420 | 390 |
| Waste recycled across the University (metric tonnes) | 222 | 91 | 121 |
| Waste across the University going to landfill (metric tonnes) | 405 | 329 | 269 |
| Proportion diverted from landfill | 35% | 22% | 31% |
Reuse, recycling, and the circular economy
Making our use of IT equipment more sustainable
Through our partnership with PB Tech (opens in a new tab) the University of Waikato is committed to reducing waste at all points in the life-cycle of our computing equipment. This starts with minimising packaging and shipping emissions associated with new IT equipment, and goes through to reducing e-waste by reusing, reselling, and recycling equipment at the end of its life-cycle.
PB Tech assesses all computing equipment decommissioned in the university, which includes staff computers, as well as computers in labs and teaching spaces. High quality laptops and computer lab desktops are donated to a Waikato Schools program who rebuild computers and target donations across the region to address student inequity. All good quality desktops are refurbished and onsold by PB Tech into the New Zealand market for a second life. All remaining e-waste is gathered by PB Tech, who then send it to Echo Tech (opens in a new tab), a specialist e-waste recycler, who disassembles the devices to recover the reusable parts. This ensures that components will be reused and recycled where possible, with harmful pollutants diverted from landfill.
Advancing a Circular Economy Concept for New Zealand
The University of Waikato is leading a multidisciplinary project, Āmiomio Aotearoa, focused on developing a circular economy concept for Aotearoa, New Zealand. The project aims to reduce waste and develop a more sustainable model of production and consumption with a focus on the construction and packaging industries.
Led by Professor Kim Pickering (opens in a new tab), a global expert in materials engineering, Āmiomio Aotearoa is backed by $10.9 million courtesy of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). It brings together a diverse range of people including scientists, engineers, business experts and policy advisors to focus on waste reduction in the construction and packaging industries, incorporating Indigenous perspectives and traditional Māori knowledge (mātauranga Māori).
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