POLIcies

ESG Investment Policy

This document sets out the guiding principles of HKUST’s ESG policy, as applied to its Long-Term Investment Pool. HKUST adopted a Net-Zero Carbon Investment Strategy that will gradually remove investments in fossil fuels from "in-scope assets" and allocate around 5% of our investments to companies that offer climate solutions by end of 2025. This will be accomplished by partnering with investment managers for whom ESG considerations are integral to and manifested throughout their investment process.

Waste Management Policy

As a research-oriented institution, certain waste categories are generated from operations that require special handling before disposal. This policy outlines requirements to reduce waste on campus and manage waste under regulatory control.

Food Operation Policy

With the significant demand for food among the campus community, HKUST recognizes its responsibility to address sustainability impacts arising from food and catering. This policy covers all food procurement and disposal on campus, covering caterers, offices, and events.

Sustainable Landscaping Policy

This policy outlines guidelines for the use of eco-friendly soil amendments, water conservation techniques, and weed and invasive species management strategies to build and maintain a healthy and biodiverse campus landscape.

Guidelines on Special Leave for Participating in Volunteering Service and/or Wellness / Diversity and Equal Opportunities Initiatives

The University recognizes the benefits of volunteering service, wellness / diversity & equal opportunities initiatives to both the community and staff members. The provision of 4-days paid special leave offers an opportunity for staff members to contribute to the community and to promote their well-being through participating in volunteering service and/or wellness / diversity & equal opportunities initiatives during normal work time, leading to enhancement of employee engagement in the HKUST Community.

HKUST Net-Zero Building Standards

To align with the HKUST net-zero action plan, the overarching strategy for new buildings is: All New Buildings Must Be Designed and Operated as Net-Zero Carbon Buildings. To ensure that all new buildings on the HKUST campus are carbon net zero throughout their lifespan, specific strategies for minimising these emissions are contained in these standards. Performance-based targets includes embodied carbon in the construction process and operational targets for energy and water post-occupancy. Comply-or-explain requirements contain sustainability design strategies that shall be evaluated for each project. Non-compliance will require justification in the form of a technical feasibility study containing calculations, drawings etc. 

HKUST Second-Hand Goods Purchasing & Reimbursement Guidelines

These guidelines serve as the guide to staff for knowing the additional limits and supplementary documentation required for second-hand goods purchases. Also, for each step in the purchasing process in the document, the document contains links to the relevant supporting documents.

HKUST Sustainable Catering Policy

HKUST’s goal is to create food and dining facilities and services that provide clean, healthy, environmentally responsible food and surroundings, reflecting our campus sustainability vision and mission. To this end, HKUST has adopted the following Sustainable Catering Policy, which applies equally to HKUST managed caterers and caterers who supply services for one-time events on campus.

HKUST Tree Planting & Felling Policy

This policy sets guidelines that all contractors and consultants engaged in development projects on the HKUST campus must comply with, emphasizing the importance of responsible tree management.

GUIDELINES

HKUST Sustainable Events Guidelines

Events are one of the key areas with great opportunities for waste reduction. Examples are Congregation, student society promotion period, orientation camps, large dinners and receptions, and Open Day (Information Day). These Sustainable Events Guidelines suggest ways for staff, faculty, and students to organize and manage the events more sustainably through collective efforts by the departments, offices and student bodies across the campus.

HKUST Sustainable Printing Guidelines

The sustainable printing guidelines are intended to help our community improve sustainability performance in striving for this vision.

HKUST Staff Mobile Computing Guidelines

These guidelines serve as recommendations and considerations on mobile computing capabilities for HKUST staff. The term “mobile computing” encompasses the devices, network connectivity, and cloud services that enable users to perform their duties while not based in one fixed location. For the purpose of this guideline, we consider “mobile computing” is switching from using a desktop PC towards a laptop as a first step.

HKUST Sustainable Office Standards & Guidelines

This document provides a clear set of Standards and Guidelines for improving the sustainable operations offices on campus. This includes sustainability network representatives, sustainability-driven human capital, sustainable sourcing and use of materials, sustainable communications and outreach, sustainable work spaces and sustainable meetings and events, sustainable student support, sustainable renovations, and sustainability monitoring.  

HKUST Operational Guidelines on Sustainable Purchasing for Departments

The operational guidelines highlight the approach towards purchasing decisions that can result in our positive and desired outcomes towards sustainability. Requirements relate to appliances / equipment, stationary / supplies, IT equipment, cleaning / food-related supplies, and event supplies.

HKUST Sustainable Purchasing Requirements For Suppliers and Contractors

HKUST has adopted a life cycle thinking approach as standard practice in evaluating procurement, meaning that in addition to lowest costs, we also look for costs (or savings) over time, environmental impacts along the supply chains, green certifications, and end-of-life impacts. Requirements are for products relating to cleaning, energy / water-consuming products, timber, paper, electronic, paints, adhesives, furniture, and furnishing,