Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) continues to strengthen its commitment as a Conservation University by issuing Rector’s Regulation Number 21 of 2019 on the Prohibition of Single-Use Plastic Usage within UNNES Environment. This policy aims to reduce plastic waste generation and encourage the entire academic community to adopt environmentally responsible practices.
The regulation, signed by Prof. Dr. Fathur Rokhman, M.Hum., serves as a concrete implementation of the national directive from the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (Instruction No. 1/M/INS/2019) regarding the ban on single-use plastic packaging in the ministry’s working environment.
This UNNES policy aligns with several national laws, including:
- Law No. 20 of 2003 on the National Education System,
- Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management, and
- Government Regulation No. 81 of 2012 on Waste Management.
The regulation mandates that all units within UNNES—faculties, offices, laboratories, and student organizations—must avoid using plastic bags, straws, Styrofoam, and disposable bottles. Instead, they are encouraged to use reusable or biodegradable alternatives, such as tumblers and eco-friendly packaging.
To support this, each unit is required to:
- Provide refillable water stations or dispensers in buildings and activity centers.
- Promote the use of reusable drinking bottles among students and staff.
- Replace plastic-based event materials (banners, souvenirs, packaging) with environmentally friendly materials.
- Actively engage in education and monitoring programs, in collaboration with the Hijau Bersih dan Sehat (H-BaS) working group.
Violations of this regulation are categorized as minor offenses but are still subject to institutional monitoring and evaluation.
Through this regulation, UNNES demonstrates leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable campus governance. The university’s initiative directly supports the realization of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
🟢 SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
🟢 SDG 13 – Climate Action
🟢 SDG 14 – Life Below Water
🟢 SDG 15 – Life on Land
By embedding these principles across academic and operational activities, UNNES reinforces its identity as a Green and Conservation-Oriented University, serving as a national model for sustainable higher education.
