Extension of sustainability and ethical sourcing policies to suppliers and contractors.
Sustainability Policy for Suppliers (12.2.8)
Introduction:
Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) implements a comprehensive Sustainability Policy for Suppliers, grounded in its officially published Ethical Sourcing of Food and Supplies Policy, to ensure that all external partners, suppliers, and contractors comply with the university’s ethical, environmental, and social responsibility standards. This policy extends AAU’s sustainability commitments beyond its internal operations by integrating sustainability requirements into procurement decisions, supplier selection, and contract terms.
In alignment with SDG 12.6 (Responsible Business Practices) and SDG 12.7 (Sustainable Public Procurement), AAU mandates that all suppliers demonstrate responsible resource use, environmentally sound practices, transparent supply-chain operations, and adherence to fair labor conditions. Supplier compliance is guided by the principles of ISO 20400 Sustainable Procurement, ISO 14001 Environmental Management, and national frameworks such as Jordan’s Green Economy Strategy and the Environmental Protection Law.
Through the university’s Supplier Ethical Sourcing Assessment Process, all vendors are evaluated on criteria including environmental footprint, reduction of hazardous and plastic materials, waste management performance, ethical employment, and alignment with AAU’s sustainability goals. These criteria ensure that goods and services procured by the university support responsible consumption, minimize environmental impacts, and uphold human-centered values.
By embedding sustainable procurement requirements into all contractual relationships, AAU ensures that its supply chain contributes to a broader circular-economy transformation, reinforces transparency and accountability, and strengthens long-term institutional and environmental sustainability across the university and its external partnerships.
Centers and Departments:
Activities:
Impact Evaluation & Development Plan
A.Performance Evaluation
- 100 % of AAU’s active suppliers are registered under the Supplier Sustainability Monitoring System (SSMS).
- In 2025, 85% of audited suppliers met the ethical-sourcing criteria, contributing to an overall Ethical Sourcing Compliance KPI of 95%.
- All catering and maintenance suppliers eliminated single-use plastics by 2025.
- The introduction of supplier training modules improved transparency and waste reporting accuracy by 40 %.
B. Development Actions
Action 1: 100 % Sustainable Supplier Network, Full compliance of all suppliers with sustainability policies, Verified annually.
Action 2: ESG Rating System for Suppliers (2025 – 2028) Introduce scoring for environment, social, and governance (ESG) factors, Operational by 2026.
Action 3: Supplier Sustainability Dashboard (2025 – 2028) Real-time monitoring of supplier performance data, Launched by 2027.
Action 4: Local Supplier Empowerment Program (2025 – 2028) Support local eco-friendly businesses through sustainable procurement, 60 % local sourcing by 2028.
Action 5: Annual Supplier Sustainability Forum (2025 – 2028), Host a regional forum for sharing best practices and innovations in responsible supply chains, Annual event from 2026.
C. Benchmarking & Best Practice
AAU benchmarks against University of Cambridge, University of Melbourne, and KAUST, which lead in sustainable supplier engagement and transparent reporting.
Adopted practices include ESG supplier scoring, public sustainability reporting, and joint innovation projects.
The AAU Supplier Policy aligns with Jordan’s Sustainable Development Vision 2030 and the UN Global Compact Principles.
Future Goal (2028):
Launch the AAU Sustainable Supplier Observatory, publishing annual reports on supplier performance, compliance rates, and sustainability impacts.
Institutional Integration Summary
The Sustainability and International Ranking Center (SIRC) leads the oversight of supplier compliance with sustainability standards, supported by the General Supplies Department and the Finance Department.
All supplier contracts are verified to include sustainability clauses covering ethical labor, waste management, environmental compliance, and transparency.
Quarterly audits are conducted, and the findings are integrated into AAU’s Sustainability Dashboard and Annual Impact Report, which are publicly accessible.
This integrated approach ensures that AAU’s environmental responsibility extends across its entire supply chain, transforming procurement into a driver of sustainability and innovation.
By aligning suppliers with SDG 12.6 and SDG 12.7, AAU ensures measurable progress toward a sustainable, ethical, and circular economy, reinforcing its position as a national and regional leader in responsible supply-chain governance.
