Application of sustainability and waste policies to outsourced services and operations.
Sustainability Policy for Outsourced Services (12.2.7)
Introduction:
Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) enforces a comprehensive Sustainability Policy for Outsourced Services, ensuring that all external suppliers, contractors, and service providers comply with the university’s environmental and social-responsibility standards.
This policy integrates sustainability, waste minimization, and ethical-procurement principles into every outsourced operation; such as cleaning, catering, maintenance, security, landscaping, and transportation.
The policy aligns with SDG 12.6 and 12.7 (Responsible business practices and sustainable procurement) and adheres to ISO 20400 Sustainable Procurement Guidelines and Jordan’s Waste Management Law No. 16 (2020).
Through clear contractual requirements, supplier audits, and performance monitoring, AAU guarantees that sustainability is embedded beyond its campus boundaries; ensuring that every outsourced service contributes to resource efficiency, waste reduction, and ethical supply-chain practices.
Centers and Departments:
Activities:
Impact Evaluation & Development Plan
- Performance Evaluation
- 100 % of AAU’s outsourced service contracts now include environmental and waste- management clauses.
- Over 75 % of outsourced suppliers have been audited for ESG compliance (2025 data).
- The “Green Cafeteria Program” eliminated single-use plastics in outsourced catering operations.
- Digital reporting systems track outsourced performance and feed directly into SIRC’s sustainability dashboard.
- Development Actions
Action 1: Green Contracting Framework, Integrate 100 % sustainability criteria in tender evaluation by 2026, to be Verified annually in sustainability report.
Action 2: Supplier Sustainability Audits (2025 – 2028) Conduct annual third-party audits for all outsourced vendors, 100 % supplier coverage by 2027.
Action 3: Digital Sustainability Dashboard (2025 – 2028) Real-time tracking of outsourced resource consumption and waste data, Live by 2026.
Action 4: Circular Procurement Program (2025 – 2028Promote reuse and recycling of materials from outsourced operations, 90 % reuse rate by 2028.
Action 5: Sustainable Training Partnerships (2025 – 2028), Train outsourced workers through HEC modules on ESG compliance, 1,000 trained by 2028.
- Benchmarking & Best Practice
AAU benchmarks its outsourced-service policy against global leaders like the University of Melbourne, Cambridge, and KAUST, recognized for sustainable supply-chain integration. Adopted practices include: supplier sustainability audits, eco-contracting, data-driven ESG evaluation, and annual transparency reports.
AAU aligns all operations with Jordan’s Green Economy Framework and the Ministry of Environment’s National Sustainability Guidelines.
Future Goal (2028): Establish the AAU Sustainable Procurement and Outsourced Services Observatory, publishing data on supplier performance and ESG impact across Jordanian universities.
Institutional Integration SummaryThe implementation of the Sustainability Policy for Outsourced Services is centrally managed by the Sustainability and International Ranking Center (SIRC), in coordination with the General Supplies Department and Facilities Department.
SIRC reviews quarterly reports submitted by outsourced partners and verifies their compliance with AAU’s waste-management and sustainability requirements.
All verified data are incorporated into AAU’s Sustainability Dashboard and Annual Report, ensuring transparency, accountability, and public accessibility.
By embedding sustainability criteria in outsourced contracts and supplier operations, AAU extends its environmental impact beyond campus boundaries, directly supporting SDG 12.6 & 12.7, and indirectly contributing to SDG 9 (Innovation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
This comprehensive governance system positions AAU as a national benchmark for sustainable outsourcing and responsible supply-chain management.
