Thammasat University’s suite of 14 sustainability policies presents a comprehensive and deeply interlinked framework, demonstrating a robust commitment to sustainable development. This framework can be understood through three core pillars that align with the university’s core mission and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The first and most extensive pillar is The “Green” Pillar (Environment & Operations). This group of policies reflects a determined focus on managing the university’s physical and environmental footprint. It covers the full spectrum of operations, from the high-level aspirational goal of achieving Net Zero emissions ¹ to tangible, everyday actions like waste management, the elimination of single-use plastics, and energy conservation. Critically, this pillar leverages the university’s institutional power through a “Sustainable Public Procurement” policy², using its purchasing power as a key lever to drive the market for sustainable goods and services.

The second pillar, The “Social & Inclusion” Pillar, powerfully reaffirms the university’s “For the People” ethos. This set of policies establishes a progressive and modern framework for non-discrimination, explicitly protecting marginalized communities, including LGBTIQA+ individuals ³ and persons with disabilities. This commitment is extended and operationalized through new policies on “Fair Employment,” which notably includes protections for outsourced staff and a “Lifelong Learning” policy. This second policy aims to fully realize the university’s original “market for knowledge” spirit, making education accessible to all via mechanisms like a “Credit Bank”.

The final pillar, The “Core Mission & Governance” Pillar, integrates sustainability directly into the university’s primary functions: teaching and research. This pillar strikes a careful balance between upholding the foundational principle of “Academic Freedom” ⁴ and ensuring institutional responsibility. Simultaneously, it addresses fundamental governance and welfare issues, such as ensuring a “Non-smoking Area” ⁵and promoting “Pedestrian Safety” ⁶ to create a safe and healthy campus environment for the entire community.

Together, these 14 policies do not function in isolation; they are designed to be mutually reinforcing (e.g., procurement policy supports energy policy), creating a holistic ecosystem for sustainability at Thammasat University.

Summary of the 14 Sustainability Policies

Pillars	Policies
The “Green” Pillar (Environment & Operations)	1. Policy on Environmental Management 2. Policy on Net Zero Emissions 3. Policy on Energy Conservation (Framework) 4. Policy on Energy Conservation (Measures) 5. Policy on Solid Waste Management 6. Policy on No Single-Use Plastic 7. Policy on Sustainable Public Procurement
The “Social & Inclusion” Pillar	8. Policy on Gender Equality and Non-discrimination 9. (Draft) Policy on Fair and Good Governance Employment 10. Policy on Disability and Reasonable Accommodation 11. (Draft) Policy on Lifelong Learning
The “Core Mission & Governance” Pillar	12. Policy on Academic Freedom 13. Policy on Pedestrian Safety 14. Policy on Designated Thammasat University as a Non-smoking Area

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