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Institution: NOVA School of Business and Economics
Location: Carcavelos, Portugal, Europe
Focus area: Implementation of circular campus initiatives and projects. Incorporating circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. concepts in the business school curriculum and promoting student engagement. Proactively encouraging co-creation with the local community, public and private sectors and civil society.
Expertise: Circular practices on campus, testing innovative projects in urban farming and energy through a circular design approach.
Key Projects
Research & Leadership
Environmental Economics Education CentreNova SBE Environmental Economics Knowledge Center is a Knowledge Center at Nova School of Business and Economics for academic research and policy advice in environmental and natural resources economics. Its mission is to produce high-quality multidisciplinary research by fostering cooperation between economists and environmental scientists. It focuses on applied studies, and on creating knowledge and expertise to assist decision making in the public and private sectors.There are a number of completed and ongoing environmental economics research projects at the Centre, across a broad range of topics, such as marine and coastal ecosystem services, integrating ecology and economics to design forest management practices and more. Further information.
Smart Cities and Living Lab
Nova SBE is committed to being a place of demonstration and experimentation that contribute to the smart and sustainable cities of the future and is also committed to becoming a 'living lab' for innovative and scalable projects that contribute to environmental sustainability. Read more below.
Bios Urban Farm In the 2020/2021 academic year, Nova SBE established a partnership with Bios Tech to implement the Bios Urban Farm on Campus and explore a pioneering form of agriculture that contributes to a more circular economy and smarter way of living. Bios’ clean technology, implemented in the urban farm, uses Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) integrated inside urban buildings to repurpose exhaust airflow of climate control systems. Excess energy flows available in the campus building can be used to grow a wide range of crops directly on-site, providing access to a constant supply of fresh pesticide-free food or trees for forests. By monitoring air, CO2 circulation, thermal and electrical energy consumption, the database matches the demand of the CEA chamber to optimise data to achieve Green Buildings goals. Located in one of the buildings on the University Campus of Nova SBE, this farm aims to showcase how advanced technologies can interact with nature in favour of a more circular and carbon-neutral economy. In addition to supplying plants to service providers and businesses on the Nova SBE campus, the urban farm has a strong social engagement pillar. It will be the basis of a brand-new community-owned social food enterprise. Bios is also working closely with Nova SBE students, staff, and other community members to design and build a sustainable business model for the farm to balance three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental) while offering learning and developmental experiences in both the digital and physical world. Discover more about this project here.
Cascais Smart Pole The first decarbonization 'living lab' in the region of Cascais. Over 36 months, this innovative 'living lab' approach will engage multiple stakeholders and form a people-centred hub for a carbon-neutral and climate-resilient future, where the circular economy, biodiversity, renewable energyrenewable energyEnergy derived from resources that are not depleted on timescales relevant to the economy, i.e. not geological timescales., sustainable mobility and local culture all come together via a consortium led by the Alfredo de Sousa Foundation, together with Cascais City Council, academia and leading companies at national and international level. Through financing via the EEA Grants Program "Environment, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy", this project aims to enable Cascais to reach carbon neutrality, in line with the municipality's targets for decarbonisation, (as well as the national targets set for 2050). The Pole will be implemented in a multifunctional area (covering 4.2ha of green spaces) that includes housing, commerce, equipment and public spaces. The project will be developed through nine main interconnected activities which involve the entire community.
Campus Management
NOVA SBE’s new campus has been designed to be a living lab for sustainability projects. In addition to implementing a no plastic policy as a signatory to the EMF New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, NOVA SBE has implemented a deposit refund system on their vending machines, uses the green guide developed by Oikos Lisbon, and is developing sustainability living labs with local communities. Find out more below.
Zero Waste to Landfill by 2025
Nova SBE is committed to zero waste to landfill by 2025. In order to reach this goal and not overstretch the scarce resources of the planet by implementing a comprehensive campus strategy "to close the loop". At Nova SBE, this waste valorization is done either through reusing, recycling or compostingcompostingMicrobial breakdown of organic matter in the presence of oxygen. of organic waste.
Packaging - Packaging waste is collected through two sub-streams: beverage containers and 'other' packaging. Nova SBE has multiple recycling bins around campus for 'other' packaging, capturing different recyclable materials (such as glass, plastic, metals, paper and cardboard, organic waste) and non-recyclable materials that include ceramics, coffee cups, glass and windows, crystals and mirrors and other non-packaging plastics. Nova SBE distributes reusable food containers made of bamboo fibre at the beginning of each academic year to incentivize students to bring their own food and reduce packaging waste.For beverage containers, NOVA SBE has installed on its campus a refund deposit system, allowing students and consumers to deposit packaging waste (plastic, glass and metal containers) for recycling purposes. Consumers pay a deposit fee of 0,15 cents when they purchase an eligible drink container at the campus stores and restaurants and get their refund back, or donate it to the Carcavelos Community Centre, by returning the empty container. With this pilot, Nova SBE intends to contribute to the acquisition of knowledge and testing of alternative solutions that will help implement the mandatory deposit system (which will start in Portugal on January 1, 2022).
Electronic Waste - Electric and electronic waste, including batteries, can be deposited at Nova SBE and are delivered to ERP for recycling purposes.
Textiles - Oikos Lisbon Student Club established a partnership with Zero Desperdicio, a civil society organization focused on fighting waste and promoting a circular economy, to reduce textile waste from Nova SBE’s community members and the broader local community. A deposit container was installed on campus to collect textiles that are no longer in use and give them a new life. Student clubs are directly involved in the project operations and communications and the redistribution of clothing is done with the help of Carcavelos Community Center, (a local entity that supports people in need in Carcavelos).
Food - In the 2020/2021 academic year, the Nova SBE Food Student Club established a partnership with Zero Desperdicio to reduce food waste produced on campus and contribute to a more equal, inclusive society. The food surplus from the bakery and cafeteria on campus was collected every two days and delivered to individuals and families in need. This project engaged with Carcavelos Community Centre to distribute the food surplus and so far has delivered nearly 500 meals to those in need.
Organic Waste - Organic waste is selectively collected from restaurants and supermarkets on campus and delivered to TRATOLIXO to produce organic compost. Waste eligible for composting includes such as raw fruits and vegetables, coffee filters, tea bags, food contaminated paper of cardboard and dryer lint in vacuum or washing machines.
Water & Circular Irrigation Systems - Nova SBE is committed to minimising and optimising its water consumption. Nova SBE has water cisterns that capture, store and conserve water. This allows the reusereuseThe repeated use of a product or component for its intended purpose without significant modification. of rainwater for irrigation purposes, thereby reducing water consumption.
Energy & Solar panels - Nova SBE is committed to reducing its energy needs and reliance on fossil fuels, so the School has taken advantage of natural lighting and is moving towards energy self-sufficiency through solar panel rooftops.
Guides for the community on campus
NOVA SBE Green GuideThe purpose of the Green Guide is to lay the foundations for a sustainable way of living at the Carcavelos Campus, raising awareness amongst the NOVA SBE community and promoting more environmentally friendly habits. The aim is to map the initiatives and processes taking place on campus while providing a useful framework for environmentally conscious behaviour. The Guide is divided into different areas of impact (such as food, waste, deposit-refund system pilot, conscious shopping and mobility).
A-Z Recycling Guide - Oikos Lisbon created the A-Z Recycling Guide, under the guidance of Nova SBE's Sustainability Hub.
Teaching & Learning
Business Models for Sustainability Course Masters courseThis course aims to provide students with knowledge of how sustainability issues are becoming strategic for companies and the financial sector. Students are introduced to the SDG Agenda and challenged to reflect, discuss and deepen their understanding of sustainability’s role in the business model, covering topics such as green economy, circular economy, ESG issues, and green finance. By the end of the course, some working groups created projects focused on environmental sustainability. For example, one group created a consultancy document for international companies on how to integrate circular economy approaches into their business processes and models.
Applied Social Entrepreneurship Masters courseIn the Applied Social Entrepreneurship course, students actively participate in the process of social entrepreneurship through a practical approach to the theoretical understanding of the course. As business solutions can be designed to address a wide range of social and environmental problems, students are expected to have a broader perspective on the different challenges across the SDG agenda. In the second half of the academic year, three projects focused on the theme of environmental sustainability stood out, in particular, in the areas of waste and circular economy. These projects encompassed the following: Creating student cards using recycled fishing nets; Designing a deposit system for reusable shopping bags; Designing a deposit system for electronic waste and technical devices. All these projects went through the ideation phase, creation of a business model and pilot project, with contact with the local community being encouraged throughout the work.
Connect with:
Luís Veiga Martins
Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Sustainable Impact & Chief Sustainability Officer (Luis.veiga.martins@novasbe.pt)
Find out more:
NOVA SBE homepage
NOVA role to play
NOVA SBE Green Guide + A-Z Waste Guide
