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Part of our Profiled Universities
Location: United States
Focus area: A collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh and Covestro LLC takes aim at decreasing global waste and its impact on the environment and climate.
Teaching and Learning
The University of Pittsburgh formed teams of engineers, economists, anthropologists, and environmental assessment experts focusing on the fundamentals of 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., closing and slowing resource loops. (Learn more).
Courses that include circular economy teaching include:
Life cycle assessment
Engineering and sustainable development
Design for the environment
Design for circular economy
The Covestro Circular Economy Program - Through this graduate program, students are trained to strategically develop circular economy solutions for the spiralling global waste problem.
Applied Research
The University of Pittsburgh’s research engages industry stakeholders and decision-makers, as key partners in the co-production of knowledge through an iterative process of engagement. The launch of the Covestro Circular Economy Program is the first US graduate program on circular economy design solutions for global waste. It is designed to create opportunities for research, education, and innovative advancement of circular economy principles. The program will be housed between the University of Pittsburgh’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) and the Swanson School of Engineering.
The Circular Designs project is a multi-institutional circular economy research team of anthropologists, economists and engineers dedicated to sustainability and circular economy. The project is funded by the National Science Foundation and the group includes researchers from multiple institutions, including the University of Pittsburgh, RIT, the University of Maine, the University of Illinois Chicago and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The project has produced publications on circular economy and the built environment and circular building design (learn more).
Influence and Leadership
The University is co-organising with the City of Pittsburgh to become a circular economy hub. The City is striving for zero-waste landfilled by 2030 as part of its commitments in the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan v3 (2018). The University of Pittsburgh is on the steering committee to assess the construction and demolition sector and works with Metabolic. (Learn more)
Campus Management
Pitt Sustainability – The University of Pittsburgh has the goal to reduce landfill waste by 25% by 2030 from 2017 levels as part of its Zero Waste campus initiative. The University has a map of its campus-level sustainability activities, including ‘edible gardens’ and ‘raingardens’ to encourage biodiversity and water conservation (learn more). Some of the circular economy activities on campus include:
‘University of Thriftsburg’ – an on-campus thrift store run by students and open to the community to encourage reusereuseThe repeated use of a product or component for its intended purpose without significant modification. and recycling through the donation and resale of clothes and items.
Eliminating food waste and the Real Food Challenge – Pitt joined the ‘Real Food Challenge’ in 2015 with a goal to serve 20% “real food” by 2020 which the University achieved. “Real Food” sold on campus must meet one of four criteria: local and community-based, fair, ecologically sound and humane. The campus has also reduced food waste by 22% through the reduction of portion size, eliminating trays, and any wasted cooking oil goes to Fossil Free Fuel through the Refuel Pittsburgh initiative.
Green Roofs and Pitt’s Rain Gardens – At several campus buildings the University has installed green roofs to provide habitat for wildlife and productively utilise rainfall whilst reducing energy use and sewer overflows in the area.
Connect with
Dr. Melissa Bilec
Co-Director, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
Executive Director, Pitt Covestro Circular Economy Program
Gena Kovalcik
Co-Director, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
Project Coordinator, Pitt Covestro Circular Economy Program
