Organisations Sustainability

Objectives

Students will develop skills particularly in the following areas:

- Understand major corporate sustainability strategies and their contribution to the creation of shareholder and stakeholder value.

-  Understand the concepts of ecoefficiency, natural capitalism and corporate sustainability.

-  Ability to promote the adoption of cleaner production strategies in companies.

-  Ability to identify and assess circular economy opportunities and develop circular business models

-  Master ecodesign, corporate social responsibility and business sustainability assessment and reporting tools.

-  Writing and oral communication skills and teamwork.

General characterization

Code

12665

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Maria Paula Baptista da Costa Antunes

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - 56

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

N.a.

Bibliography

Hitchcock, D., Willard, M., 2006. The Business Guide to Sustainability: Practical Strategies and Tools for Organizations. Earthscan.

Schaltegger, S., Burritt, R., Petersen, H., 2003. An introduction to corporate environmental management: Striving for sustainability. Greenleaf.

Weetman, C. 2016. A circular economy handbook for business and supply chains: Repair, remake, redesign, rethink. Kogan Page Publishers.

Teaching method

 The UC comprises a set of theoretical-practical classes where the main corporate environmental management in tools are discussed and applied.

Teaching methods are based on theoretical-practical classes where the introduction of main principles and concepts is combined with their application. The practice component includes oral presentations and discussions by students, the analysis and discussion of case studies, simulation of environmental audits, seminars with professionals and study visits to organizations with good environmental management practices. 

Research and autonomous study are strongly encouraged.

Evaluation method

Evaluation:

• Assignment 1- Business sustainability strategies

• Assignment 2 – Ecodesign and circular business models

• Assignment 3 – Sustainability reports – SDG reporting

• Practical classes work

• 2 Individual tests.

Subject matter

1. Sustainability and value creation for shareholders and stakeholders

2. Corporative Sustainability Strategies – ecoefficiency, natural capitalism, craddle to craddle, biomimetism and tripple bottom line.
3. Cleaner production and industrial symbiosis.
4. Ecological design of products and services. Ecological labelling.

5. Circular economy – concept, approach and CE policies. Circular business models.

6. Corporate Social Responsibility.

7. Sustainability evaluation and reporting. GRI guidelines. Business Reporting on Sustainable Development Goals.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: