Ethical Sourcing Policy

Leyte Normal University is committed to the ethical sourcing of food and supplies used on campus. The university seeks to uphold principles of social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and community partnership in its procurement practices.

Objectives:

• To prioritize the purchase of food and supplies from vendors who demonstrate adherence to fair labor standards, sustainable production practices, and environmental stewardship.
• To support local farmers, producers, and suppliers wherever feasible in order to strengthen local economies and minimize environmental impact through reduced transportation.
• To encourage the sourcing of certified safe, nutritious, and sustainably produced food for all canteens, events, and academic activities.
• To avoid products known to have harmful social or environmental records, child labor, exploitative conditions, or unsustainable methods.
• To periodically review and improve procurement guidelines through benchmarking against national and international best practices.

Implementation:

• All university departments and units involved in procurement must evaluate suppliers based on ethical, environmental, and social criteria.
• The university will maintain a directory of preferred suppliers that meet the criteria and will work to phase out contracts with vendors that do not comply.
• Contracts and purchase orders should contain clauses on ethical compliance and sustainability standards as part of the university’s commitment to social responsibility.
• Training and awareness campaigns will be conducted for students and staff regarding the impact of sourcing decisions.

Responsibility:
The Office of Vice President for Student Development and the Procurement Office are jointly responsible for policy implementation, monitoring, and annual reporting.

Review:
This policy will be reviewed annually and updated in response to new developments in sustainability, best practice, and community needs.

Policy on Waste Disposal for Hazardous Materials

Leyte Normal University is dedicated to safeguarding the health of its community and protecting the environment by ensuring the safe, responsible handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials generated on campus. The university adheres to national and international standards for hazardous waste management as integral to its sustainability and risk reduction commitments.

Objectives:

• To identify, segregate, and manage hazardous waste in all university offices, laboratories, clinics, and maintenance areas.
• To minimize the generation of hazardous waste through proper procurement, storage, and handling of chemicals, biological agents, electronic waste, and other potentially harmful substances.
• To ensure that hazardous materials are collected, stored, transported, treated, and disposed of in a manner that minimizes risk to people and the environment.

Implementation:

• All units must maintain an updated inventory of hazardous materials and waste streams relevant to their operations.
• Designated waste collection points for hazardous materials (e.g., expired chemicals, laboratory waste, batteries, electronics, medical waste) must be provided and clearly labeled.
• Trained personnel must handle hazardous waste using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and according to established safety protocols.
• Contracted service providers for hazardous waste disposal must be properly accredited and comply with all regulatory requirements.
• All hazardous spills or accidental releases must be immediately reported to the Safety and Risk Management Office for containment and remediation.
• Information, education, and training on hazardous materials management shall be conducted regularly for all staff and students.

Monitoring and Review:

• Regular audits and inspections of hazardous waste management practices will be performed.
• The policy and procedures will be reviewed annually or following any incident, regulatory update, or development in industry best practices.

Responsibility:
The Safety and Risk Management Office, in coordination with laboratory supervisors and the Health Services Office, is responsible for policy enforcement and compliance monitoring.

Policy on Waste Disposal – Landfill Policy

Leyte Normal University is committed to reducing waste sent to landfill and maximizing recycling through systematic waste measurement, segregation, and responsible disposal. The university seeks to minimize its environmental footprint and support national efforts toward a circular economy.

Objectives:

• To measure, monitor, and reduce the volume of waste generated and sent to landfill by the university.
• To expand campus recycling programs and ensure the proper segregation of recyclable, compostable, and residual waste.
• To promote waste reduction, reuse, and responsible consumption among students, faculty, and staff.

Implementation:

• All campus waste points will be equipped with labeled bins for biodegradable, recyclable, residual, and hazardous waste.
• Facilities and maintenance teams will record the amounts of waste collected and transported, distinguishing landfill versus recycled materials on a monthly basis.
• The university will partner with accredited recycling and composting service providers.
• Awareness campaigns and trainings will be conducted to educate the campus community about proper waste segregation.
• Annual reports on waste management metrics (landfill, recycling, composting) will be compiled and shared with stakeholders.

Monitoring and Review:

• Waste collection data will be reviewed regularly to identify trends, areas for improvement, and to track progress toward reduction targets.
• The policy will be reviewed annually alongside updates to regulatory standards and best practices.

Responsibility:
The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, in coordination with the Physical Plant and Facilities, are responsible for policy oversight, recordkeeping, and reporting.

Policy for Minimization of Plastic Use

Leyte Normal University is committed to eliminating or reducing the use of single-use plastics and promoting sustainable alternatives throughout all university operations and activities. The university supports global and local efforts to reduce plastic pollution and encourages responsible consumption at all levels.

Objectives:

• To phase out single-use plastics (e.g., bags, bottles, straws, packaging) in all campus canteens, shops, events, and facilities.
• To promote the use of reusable, recyclable, and compostable materials by all students, faculty, staff, and vendors.
• To educate the university community about the negative impacts of plastic pollution and the benefits of sustainable alternatives.
• To partner with local suppliers and organizations to source environmentally friendly products and materials.

Implementation:

• University purchasing guidelines will prioritize plastic-free and sustainable alternatives.
• Vendors, canteens, and shops operating on campus must comply with “no single-use plastic” policies.
• Reusable containers/bags/water bottles are to be encouraged or required for all university events and student activities.
• Awareness campaigns and eco-initiatives (such as plastic-free weeks and zero-plastic challenges) will be held regularly.
• Collection and recycling points for plastics will be established, with regular monitoring and data reporting on plastic waste volumes.

Monitoring and Review:

• Compliance audits of campus facilities, vendors, and events will be carried out to ensure adherence to the policy.
• The policy will be reviewed annually and updated in line with new research, best practices, and regulatory standards.

Responsibility:
The Procurement Office and Student Development Office are jointly responsible for implementation, vendor coordination, compliance monitoring, and reporting.

Extension of Policies to Services

Leyte Normal University is committed to sustainability by ensuring that waste minimization and disposable-reduction policies are observed not only within campus operations but also by all outsourced service providers and in the university’s supply chain.

Objectives:

• To require all external partners—such as canteens, cleaning services, event contractors, and suppliers—to adhere to the university’s policies on minimizing disposable items and promoting reusable alternatives.
• To include environmental responsibility clauses in all service contracts and vendor agreements.
• To encourage the adoption of sustainable practices by all stakeholders supplying goods or services to the university.

Implementation:

• Contracted suppliers and service providers shall be informed of the university’s sustainable procurement and disposable items policy prior to engagement.
• All requests for proposals, purchase orders, and contracts must specify the requirement to minimize or eliminate single-use and disposable products.
• Vendors and partners must document and monitor their waste minimization efforts as part of performance evaluation.
• The university will provide orientation and regular sustainability workshops for its suppliers and contractors.

Monitoring and Review:

• Compliance with these requirements will be periodically assessed by the Procurement Office and Sustainability Committee.
• Non-compliance or repeated violations may lead to review or termination of contracts.
• The policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary for improvements or regulatory changes.

Responsibility:
The Procurement Office, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance, is tasked with ensuring policy implementation and compliance among all external partners.

Minimization Policies Extended to Suppliers

Leyte Normal University upholds its commitment to sustainable operations by requiring all suppliers—including those providing equipment, stationery, building contracts, and other outsourced goods and services—to comply with the university’s waste minimisation, plastic reduction, and sustainability standards.

Objectives:

• To ensure that sustainability requirements relating to waste minimisation and reduction of disposable items are included in all procurement and supplier contracts.
• To encourage and support suppliers in adopting environmentally responsible practices in their production, packaging, and delivery processes.
• To actively review and select suppliers with demonstrated commitments to sustainable sourcing and minimal waste.

Implementation:

• All procurement requests and contracts for equipment, stationery, construction, and related external services must state university policy requirements for minimising packaging, reducing waste, and using sustainable materials.
• Preference is given to suppliers who offer recycled, recyclable, or reusable products and support environmental stewardship in their own processes.
• Supplier audits and regular reporting will include verification of compliance with university minimisation standards.
• The university will facilitate training, information resources, and periodic collaboration with major suppliers to continually improve sustainability performance across the supply chain.

Monitoring and Review:

• The Procurement Office will coordinate ongoing assessments of supplier compliance and sustainability impact.
• Supplier performance, environmental certifications, and minimisation initiatives will be factored into renewal and contract award decisions.
• This policy will be reviewed annually and revised as needed to reflect emerging best practices and regulatory changes.

Responsibility:
The Procurement Office, in partnership with the Physical Facilities Office is responsible for policy implementation, supplier engagement, and monitoring.