Sustainability practices

Supporting ASU's goals

To support ASU's sustainability goals, the Trademarks and licensing team may ask departments to choose alternatives to products made from single-use plastics, favoring options made from organic, recycled or upcycled materials. This is because nearly 14% of the waste produced at ASU is single-use plastics. Minimizing, and eventually eliminating, single-use plastics is a key strategy in reaching ASU’s circular resource system goal of 90% diversion and 30% aversion by 2025.

Strategic partnerships with ASU’s suppliers will be a key step in the elimination of single-use plastics.

Please see ASU's Sustainable Purchasing website for more sustainability tips.

Examples of sustainable products

Sustainability guidelines

ASU has a goal to be a fully sustainable university and therefore has established sustainable purchasing guidelines.

ASU promotes Zero Waste by adapting the goods we consume to maximize their use before sending them back into the economy for the most productive use possible.

All vendors should be asked to consider our Zero Waste policy and must be FLA certified.

All vendors should consider the following:

Packaging materials should be organic materials: cardboard or brown sheet paper should be used, and only when necessary to prevent damage to items.
Preference should be given to items that are durable, long-lasting, reusable, or refillable.
Prioritize evergreen materials.
Avoid single-use items and prioritize items made from organic materials and easily composted in ASU diversion programs.

Below reflects a priority list of plastic items targeted for elimination ("Priority SUP"). This list does not reflect all plastic items that are targeted.

Shopping bags
Promotional items
Packing materials like peanuts or air pillows
Plastic packaging

It is essential to show progress. Please share any efforts you are making to contribute to our goals. We want to hear about your successes in being a better partner to our planet.

If you have any questions on which items should be prioritized, please contact [email protected].

More guidelines

How to upcycle unused apparel

ASU has partnered with Refried Apparel to keep unused apparel out of landfills. If any misprints or damaged fabric can be repurposed, you are welcome to send to ASU surplus, tagging the items for use in the Refried program.

Refried: We turn fashion waste into fashion forward, nimbly sidestepping landfills and reducing harmful carbon emissions from incinerators—a key factor in climate change. And with every Refried product we create, we’re conserving natural resources by eliminating the environmental impact of typical manufacturing processes – not to mention reducing the amount of new product entering the marketplace.

Single-use plastic reduction guidelines

ASU aims to reduce single-use plastics to prevent items ending up in our oceans and natural waterways. Reducing single-use plastics will reduce materials that may become litter. In addition to being unsightly, this litter carries an environmental cost as it ends up in our natural areas and waterways.

ASU defines single-use plastics as goods that are made primarily from fossil fuel–based chemicals and are meant to be disposed of after a single use. ASU considers bioplastics, compostable plastics and plant-based plastics as single-use non-divertible plastics.

Below reflects a priority list of plastic items targeted for elimination (“Priority SUP”). This list does not reflect all plastic items that are targeted.

🚫 Shopping bags

🚫 Promotional items

Plastic air pillows used as packing material

🚫 Packing materials (peanuts, air pillows)

🚫 Plastic packaging

How to reduce single-use plastic

Preference should be given to items that are durable, long-lasting, reusable or refillable. Prioritize evergreen materials.
Avoid single-use items and prioritize items made from organic materials and easily composted in ASU diversion programs.
Be strategic when handing out swag, gifts or office supplies, by allowing guests and attendees the option to take items to keep them out of the landfill.