-Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production calls for sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, and a substantial reduction of waste and pollutants, to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. Doğuş University advances this goal by promoting sustainability in its operations and academics. 

• Sustainable Campus Operations: Doğuş University integrates sustainable consumption practices into campus life. Recycling bins are placed throughout campuses to encourage waste separation (paper, plastic, metal, electronic waste). The university has implemented digital document systems to reduce paper consumption in administration. Cafeterias have moved toward biodegradable or reusable cutlery and dishware to cut down on single-use plastics. These measures significantly reduce the university’s waste footprint and instill a culture of recycling and waste reduction in the community. 

• Waste Reduction Initiatives: In line with SDG 12’s target to reduce waste generation, DOU runs periodic campaigns like “Bring a Mug” (to minimize disposable cup use) and participates in national programs such as electronic waste collection drives. The Environment and Sustainable Life Club has led campus clean-up days and upcycling workshops where students learn to repurpose materials. By 2025, the university aims to halve food waste in its cafeterias by improved inventory management and donating leftovers, demonstrating responsible consumption in practice. 

• Education in Sustainability: Many courses incorporate themes of sustainable production and consumption. Business students study green supply chain management; engineering students learn about clean manufacturing processes. In one interdisciplinary project, Doğuş University students audited the university’s own resource use and suggested improvements, such as motion-sensor lighting and double-sided printing defaults. This hands-on learning not only saves resources but also prepares graduates to implement sustainability in their future workplaces, amplifying Goal 12’s impact. 

• Carbon Footprint and Sustainability Application and Research Center (DOUKAS): Doğuş University’s new research center DOUKAS aims to conduct research on sustainable practices. The establishment of DOUKAS was influenced by the results of a “Scientific Research Project” (SRP) targeting “Analysis of Access to Sustainable Finance in Terms of Carbon Emission and Environmental, Social and Governance Risks”. The Main Objective of SRP: to identify sustainability-related risks under 3 main components, namely environmental, social and governance, of firms operating in Organized Industrial Zones and to assess the level of access to green finance of these firms. DOUKAS began operations in July 2024 to implement actions to achieve sustainable development goals. Its mission is to promote sustainable production and consumption models and support the green transformation of industry (doukas.dogus.edu.tr). For example, the center works with companies to develop cleaner production techniques and provides training on circular economy models (such as recycling waste into raw materials). In this way, Doğuş University helps sectors reduce their environmental impact while continuing to grow by building a bridge between academia and industry. 

• Innovation for Sustainability: Doğuş researchers and students innovate for responsible production. Engineering faculty have prototyped biodegradable materials (reducing plastic use), and design students created a mobile app that educates consumers on sustainable product choices. Through such innovations, the university contributes to shifting both production processes and consumer behavior toward sustainability. This aligns with SDG 12’s call for action from producers and consumers alike to ensure a healthier planet. 
   

• Research and Projects Highlights: 

  • Sustainable Manufacturing Research: Doğuş University’s industrial engineers have published case studies on cleaner production. In one study, a local furniture factory implemented DOU researchers’ recommendations on scrap wood recycling and solvent recovery, cutting its waste output by 40%. The study demonstrated how simple process changes in production can significantly reduce environmental impact, offering a model for SDG 12 in industry. 

  • TÜBİTAK Circular Economy Project: DOU’s Carbon Footprint and Sustainability Center (DOUKAS) is partnering with companies in a TÜBİTAK-funded project to develop circular economy models for manufacturing. The project pilots turning industrial paper waste into packaging material and reusing plastic off-cuts in new products. Early results show not only waste reduction but also cost savings for the firms involved. By scaling such practices, this project advances SDG 12’s objectives of waste reduction and sustainable resource use. 

  • Campus Sustainable Operations: The university’s own operations serve as a living laboratory. Doğuş University’s successful paperless campus initiative, implemented in 2024, was guided by internal research; an Engineering faculty study optimized digital workflows, leading to a 60% reduction in paper consumption in one year. These findings were shared in a national campus sustainability conference, contributing knowledge on how institutions can adopt responsible consumption practices (SDG 12). 

  • Selected Sample Publications:

  • Consumer Behavior Research: “Examining the motives affecting the demand for second-hand fashion products in the context of brand knowledge presence” (2025) – F.Ö. Baruönü. This business study found that young consumers with high brand awareness are increasingly motivated by sustainability to buy second-hand clothing. By identifying drivers (e.g. environmental concern, economic benefit) of thrift shopping, the research supports SDG 12’s push for responsible consumption, as second-hand markets extend product life and reduce waste.