91探花

Responsible consumption and production
Responsible consumption and production Sustainable Development Report Ethical sourcing Disposal of hazardous waste Waste sent to landfill Plastic use and disposable items Waste tracking Waste recycling Sustainability team Responsible Sourcing

Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)

SDG 12 asks institutions to do more and better with less: to use natural resources efficiently, to waste and pollute less, and to buy, consume and report responsibly. At 91探花, responsible consumption and production is a core operational theme, from paperless examinations and trayless dining to in-house composting, certified recycling and responsible procurement.

The progress report below sets out JGU's work against SDG 12 for 2025–26. The associated pages describe the policies, practices and data behind it.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production |Sustainable Development Goals: Progress Report | Reporting Year 2025–26

1. Introduction & Institutional Commitment

Sustainability is one of JGU's five core values, and the university's mission is closely aligned with implementing the 17 SDGs. Responsible consumption and production is a core operational theme: the Office of Sustainability (conceived in 2024) lists the circular economy, resource management and waste diversion from landfills among its Sustainability pillar priorities and its Climate Action pillar includes measures to reduce food waste. JGU's approach rests on source reduction, in-house segregation, composting, certified recycling, paperless examinations and responsible procurement, all within its commitment to become a Net Zero campus by 2035.

This report presents JGU's progress, key initiatives, and impact under SDG 12 across the following targets: 12.2 (sustainable use of natural resources), 12.3 (food waste), 12.4 (environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes), 12.5 (waste reduction, recycling and reuse), 12.6 (sustainability reporting), 12.7 (sustainable procurement) and 12.8 (awareness and education).

2. Key Figures at a Glance

Indicator This Year Target / Benchmark
Pages avoided through paperless exams (AY 2025–26) 76,80,000 pages (47.9 tonnes of paper) Full shift to computer-based exams
Food waste composted in the Organic Waste Converter 6,396 kg/year input; 2,112 kg compost 100% landfill diversion of food waste
Methane emissions avoided by composting 288 kg (8,064 kg CO鈧俥)  
E-waste collected / recycled 23 kg recycled (collection drive) Biannual drives and permanent e-waste bins
Paper and textile recycled 77 kg paper; 140 kg textiles Continue the drives
Waste reduction target Not reported 30% reduction
JGU scholarly output on SDG 12 ≈225–235 (2025) Upward trend (dashboard: rising)
SDG 12 share of JGU publications vs world share ≈7.2% vs ≈1.8% —
Cross-electives mapped to SDG 12 9 —

3. Research Progress

4. Policy & Governance

JGU's responsible consumption and production practices are guided by the university's sustainability framework, administered by the Office of Sustainability, with a focus on waste reduction, resource efficiency, recycling, and promoting sustainable practices across campus in alignment with SDG 12. The framework includes the No Plastic Use Policy, the Policy on Minimisation of Disposable Items, the Policy on Waste Management, Disposal and Recycling, and the Policy on Responsible Sourcing.

Policy objectives:

•      Reduce waste at source (trayless dining, paperless examinations, data-led food production) and work towards a 30% waste reduction target in dining operations.

Maximise in-house segregation and convert waste into useful products (composting, recycling) to cut landfill and incineration.

Promote reuse, collection drives and certified recyclers.

Embed sustainability in procurement, supply chains and reporting, and build sustainability literacy among students and staff.

Oversight & responsibility:

JGU is committed to advancing responsible consumption and production through the Office of Sustainability, which maintains sustainability data, monitors policy implementation, and coordinates sustainability audits. The university's efforts focus on waste reduction, resource efficiency, recycling, and responsible resource management across academic blocks, student hostels, faculty residences, dining halls, administrative facilities, and campus operations, in alignment with SDG 12.

5. Progress Against Targets

JGU's progress is reported against the UN SDG 12 targets most relevant to a university: 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7 and 12.8, with the remaining targets noted for completeness. Target wording follows the United Nations.

Target 12.1: Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries.

JGU's contribution: This target is addressed by national governments. JGU supports it through the practices reported under the targets below.

Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

In AY 2025–26 JGU moved from pen-and-paper examinations to fully computer-based, AI-enabled proctored assessments for 16,000 students across 12 schools, one of the largest such reforms in Indian higher education. The estimated annual benefit is 76,80,000 pages avoided, 47.9 tonnes of paper saved, 922 trees saved, 7,66,84,800 litres of water saved and 60 m³ of landfill space avoided. In-house compost (2,112 kg a year) is also used in campus horticulture, which reduces reliance on synthetic fertilisers and improves soil water retention.

Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.

JGU's technology-assisted Organic Waste Converter (OWC) turns campus food waste into compost: 6,396 kg a year of food waste (533 kg a month) yields 2,112 kg of compost at a 33.02% conversion rate, within the 25–40% industry range. The rest (4,284 kg, 67%) is released as moisture and CO鈧� during aerobic decomposition. All food waste is diverted from landfill, avoiding 288 kg of methane (8,064 kg CO鈧俥). The source-reduction measures behind this: trayless dining, wet and dry waste weighed in garbage rooms after every meal (three times a day) with monthly averages tracked towards a 30% reduction, and real-time dining-hall availability on the myJGU portal so that kitchens avoid overproduction and low-occupancy floors can be closed temporarily.

Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

JGU segregates and disposes of hazardous waste through authorised channels. Biomedical waste from the JGU Health Centre is segregated as per government regulations and collected by authorised vendors on alternate days and hazardous waste such as chemicals and batteries has its own bins. Menstrual waste goes to designated bins in restrooms and is collected by an authorised partner. E-waste is collected in designated bins under the E-Waste (Management) Second Amendment Rules, 2023. JGU marked International E-Waste Day in  by collecting over 35 kg in two days under an MOU with HME Waste Management Company, and recycled 23 kg through certified recyclers to prevent toxins such as lead and mercury from leaching.

Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

JGU follows a source-segregation system: dry, wet and hazardous waste. Dry waste includes paper, plastics, metals and packaging, and wet waste includes food and organic matter. Closed-loop collection drives recycled paper and packaging as well as textiles (upcycled), alongside e-waste.

Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

JGU reports its sustainability performance every year through the Sustainable Development Report, and uses the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard to measure emissions. For calendar year 2025, Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions were calculated and quantification of Scope 3 is in progress. JGU screened all 15 Scope 3 categories to find the most relevant. 

Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

JGU is committed to international sustainable procurement standards to reduce the highest carbon-impact areas in its supply chain. 2024 data reports that the procurement team is in ongoing discussions on Scope 3 emissions to ensure that suppliers meet strict sustainability and environmental criteria, and that the university is improving its data on the carbon footprint of its supply chain. Responsible procurement ensures sustainability is embedded at the point of origin for all campus resources, supported by strict alignment with third-party vendors.

Target 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.

JGU builds awareness of responsible consumption through teaching, student projects and training. It offers 350+ SDG cross-electives a year, 9 of them mapped to SDG 12 in 2025. In 2026 JGU became the first university in Asia to offer Sulitest's TASK sustainability knowledge assessment: JGU's average score was 64.79/100 against a global average of 53.8, and 53 of 69 test-takers scored above the global average. A mandatory, multi-tiered sustainability training programme for academic, administrative and grassroots staff is run by the Office of Sustainability and the Learning & Development team. Students in the Millennium Fellowship ran ReNew Earth, a student-led project on waste segregation, composting proposals and awareness sessions 

Target 12.a: Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.

JGU's contribution: Research on the digital circular economy at the Centre for Research on Digital Circular Economy for SDGs contributes knowledge on sustainable production. JGU does not run an institutional programme aimed at developing-country capacity under this target.

Target 12.b: Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.

JGU's contribution: This target concerns sustainable tourism. It is not addressed through institutional action.

Target 12.c: Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities.

JGU's contribution: This target concerns government subsidy policy. It is not addressed through institutional action.

6. Programmes, Research & Curriculum

  • Centre for Research on Digital Circular Economy for SDGs (DCE-SDG): aims to create India's first Circular Economy knowledge hub, linking industry and academia on digital technologies (blockchain, IoT, AI) that drive a circular economy, and on a transition from linear to circular models supporting SDGs 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13 (2025). Led by Prof. (Dr.) Sachin Mangla: 250 outputs, 14,939 citations, h-index 72; top topic Sustainable Development, Environmental Impact Assessment and Circular Economy (99.89 percentile); 61 SDG 12 publications.
  • Prof. (Dr.) Ashish Dwivedi, Jindal Global Business School: 28 SDG 12 publications (74 outputs) in 2024 and 37 (87 outputs, 2,203 citations, h-index 24) in 2024; top topics Circular Economy Framework for Sustainable Development (99.98 percentile) and Sustainable Supply Chain Management.
  • Dr. Ashutosh Samadhiya, Jindal Global Business School: 17 SDG 12 publications in 2024 and 22 in 2025 (76 outputs); topics include Circular Economy Framework for Sustainable Development (99.98 percentile), Lean Manufacturing and Sustainable Practices Integration (99.61) and Blockchain in Sustainable Supply Chains.
  • Dr. Rupesh Kumar, Jindal Global Business School: 17 SDG 12 publications in 2024 and 23 in 2025 (109 outputs). Other researchers with SDG 12 output include Prof. (Dr.) Abhiroop Chowdhury (13, 2024) and Prof. (Dr.) Aliya Naz (8, 2025).
  • Research trend: JGU's scholarly output on SDG 12 rose from 6 (2020) to 22, 36, 77 and 95 (2024) and the 2025 dashboard shows continued growth. SDG 12 accounts for roughly 7% of JGU's publications compared with about 2% of world publications (approximate chart readings), well above the world share.
  • Funded research: Digitisation and Circular Economy Practices in India: A Drive for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Digital India, Prof. Sachin K. Mangla, Jindal Global Business School.
  • Curriculum: SDG 12 cross-electives rose from 7 (2024; spotlight: Navigating Environmental Justice Challenges in Electronic Waste Management and Circular Economy Practices) to 9 (2025; spotlight: Sustainable Finance & Reporting). Related courses include Waste Management and Circular Economy and Operations of Modern Industrial Ecology.
  • Student projects: ReNew Earth (Millennium Fellowship, in collaboration with UN Academic Impact) on waste segregation, composting and awareness, mentored by Prof. (Dr.) Abhiroop Chowdhury.

7. Community, Partnerships & Outreach

  • HME Waste Management Company: MOU and certificate for safe, environmentally responsible processing of e-waste collected on International E-Waste Day.
  • Certified e-waste recyclers, paper and textile recycling: JGU plans strategic partnerships with NGOs to raise the volume of waste sent for recycling.
  • Authorised vendors and partners for biomedical and menstrual waste collection and disposal.
  • United Nations Academic Impact and Millennium Campus Network: Millennium Fellowship partnership behind the student-led ReNew Earth project.
  • Sulitest (TASK): 3-year pioneer programme partnership with JSES.
  • SGS India Pvt. Ltd. for Green Audit; THE and QS for external rankings and ratings.
  • Community outreach: collection drives open to the JGU community, and dissemination of e-waste awareness to students and staff.

8. Events & 91探花 Timeline

International E-Waste Day collection (October 2024)

JGU collected over 35 kg of e-waste in two days and processed it through an MOU with HME Waste Management Company, recovering metals and plastics.

ReNew Earth, Millennium Fellowship

Students led waste segregation, composting proposals and awareness sessions as part of the UN Academic Impact fellowship.

Dining waste tracking and 30% reduction plan

Waste from dining halls is weighed after each meal, trayless dining was adopted, and real-time dining availability on myJGU guides food production.

First Green Audit Report

SGS India Pvt. Ltd. audited energy, water, waste and environmental initiatives on campus.

Paperless examinations (AY 2025–26)

16,000 students across 12 schools moved to AI-enabled, computer-based assessments, avoiding 76,80,000 pages a year.

Organic Waste Converter operations (2025)

JGU composted 6,396 kg a year of food waste, diverted 100% from landfill and avoided 288 kg of methane.

Collection drives for resource recovery (2025)

Drives recycled e-waste, paper and textiles through certified, closed-loop channels.

TASK sustainability assessment (2025)

JGU, the first university in Asia to offer TASK, averaged 64.79/100 against a global average of 53.8.

Three external audits (2025)

Energy, environment and green audits were all rated satisfactory.

9. Awards & Recognition

  • External audits: all three audits received a satisfactory assessment and the audit team certified JGU's sustainability initiatives as well implemented and noteworthy.

10. Future Commitments & Roadmap

The source reports state the following forward-looking commitments and monitoring mechanisms:

  • Net Zero campus by 2035, with decarbonisation of fleet vehicles by 2027 and continued waste diversion from landfills.
  • Waste reduction: work towards a 30% reduction in dining waste and further cut waste sent to landfill and incineration through the in-house conversion of waste.
  • Circular economy: increase the volume of waste recycled through community-led collection drives and NGO partnerships; continue biannual e-waste drives and install permanent e-waste bins across campus.
  • Paperless operations: extend computer-based assessment and online processes to reduce paper waste.
  • Procurement and reporting: complete Scope 3 quantification and embed sustainability at the point of origin of campus procurement.
  • Monitoring mechanism: weighing dining-hall waste three times a day and annual audits (energy, environment, green).