Innovation for sustainability
Innovating new sustainable products, services, business models and forms of consumption can help tackle global challenges.
Sustainability in Business (SUB)
Our mission is to provide knowledge about innovative business models and transition paths that enhance sustainable development. As complex sustainability challenges call for multi-disciplinary knowledge and societally impactful research, we co-create solution proposals together with partners from different sectors of society.
Research areas
Sustainability transitions
Our research looks at several dimensions of the transition toward sustainability societies.
Circular economy
Circular economy keeps materials in use longer using strategies like reuse, remanufacture, recycling, and replacing ownership with rentals.
Corporate responsibility
Cross-national governance of businesses make ethical issues urgent.
SUB Publications
The latest publications from SUB researchers
Sustainability teaching
Sustainability course offerings in the School of Business
SUB seminar series
The SUB lunchtime seminar series provides a monthly forum for all interested to discuss topical research in social and environmental issues in management.
Seminar Schedule
Autumn 2025
Tuesday 9.12., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, U213
Kirsi Salonen, LUT University
Transitions to regenerative strategies
Thursday 13.11., 11:00-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, T003
Tomas Roslin, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Satu Teerikangas, University of Turku
Johanna Vähätalo, Ramboll
Biodiversity and business: What does biodiversity mean, and why is it important? How does it relate to business and organizing?
Thursday 30.10., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, X108 Alexander Sergejeff
Patrick Shulist, Aalto University School of Business
Positioning sustainability-oriented research in for management and sustainability-focused journals
Thursday 25.9., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, U213
Justine Loizeau, Aalto University School of Business
Jean-Philippe Decka, École Polytechnique
Clarifying business design with sufficiency: A systematic literature review
Spring 2025
Wednesday 23.4., 12:00-13:00
Ekonominaukio 1, U213
Soumyo Das, Emlyon Business School
Orchestrating the interplay of time and place to address grand challenges
Wednesday 16.4., 12:15-13:15
Ekonominaukio 1, U213
Tulin Dzhengiz, Manchester Metropolitan University
Samuli Patala & Minna Halme, Aalto University School of Business
When global formal meets local informal: institutional interfaces in circular economy transitions
Thursday 6.2., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, U213
Maria Ehrnström-Fuentes, Hanken School of Economics
Multispecies organizing as a matter of care: the ethico-political dimensions of building regenerative and socioecological just worlds
Thursday 16.1., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, U213
Sini Numminen & Mikko Jalas, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Salvatore Ruggiero, LUT University
Arina Värä, University of Helsinki
Institutional complexity impacting electricity retailers’ tariff offerings and dynamic pricing and demand response services for households in and through the energy crises 2021–2024
Awards and highlights
Leena Lankoski
Educational developer of the year 2023 award from the HSE Support Foundation. Read the announcement here.
Patrick Shulist
Teacher of the year 2023 award from the HSE Support Foundation. Read the announcement here.
Samuli Patala and Minna Halme
“Responsible Research in Management” Distinguished Winner for article: “Polycentric governance of privately owned resources in circular economy systems.” Journal of Management Studies, 59(6), 1563-1596. With Laura Albareda. 2023. Sponsored by the Academy of Management Fellows & Responsible Research in Business and Management. Read the announcement here.
Minna Halme
Academy of Management, Social Issues in Management Division Best Paper Award of 2023. With Jennifer Goodman and Jouni Juntunen.
Minna Halme
Alfred Kordelin Prize for key future actors who have created the conditions for a stronger, diverse, and sustainable society as well as a better future, 2022
Minna Halme, Leena Lankoski and Mika Kuisma
Article "When Is There a Sustainability Case for CSR? Pathways to Environmental and Social Performance Improvements" (co-authored with Jukka Rintamäki and Jette Steen Knudsen) received Business & Society’s 2020 Best Paper Award
Inês Peixoto
Finalist for the EGOS Best Student Paper Award with the paper “Risk organization and moral multiplexity in the EU biofuels market” (presented at EGOS Edinburgh 2019)
Minna Halme
HSE Support Foundation Societal Impact Award, 2019
Elizabeth Miller
Thesis "Trash to Treasure: A Multiple Case Study of Finnish Companies That Create Economic Value from Waste Materials" received award for top university master's thesis, Association for Environmental Management (Ymparistöjohtamisen yhdistys ry), 2018
Samuli Patala and Minna Halme
Article "Polycentric Governance of Privately Owned Resources in Circular Economy Systems" received Carolyn Dexter Award for international papers, Academy of Management 2018
Jouni Juntunen, Minna Halme, Angelina Korsunova and Risto Rajala
Article "Powering sustainable innovations: Strategies for collaborating with deviant partners" won Best Academic Paper at R&D Management Conference 2016, University of Cambridge
Minna Halme, Sara Lindeman and Paula Linna
Article "Innovation for Inclusive Business: Intrapreneurial Bricolage in Multinational Corporations", Journal of Management Studies, 2012 received the Emerald Citations of Excellence for 2015
The latest from SUB
Dive deeper into SUB's work through our blog posts and news articles.
Kestävyysmurroksen pyhä kolminaisuus (external link)
Kestävyyden ajan tavoitteiksi pitäisi nostaa eko-sosiaalinen hyvinvointi, pitkän aikavälin taloudellinen kannattavuus ja resilienssi.
Can circular economy replace collapsing global supply chains? A polycentric governance perspective - Management Studies Insights Blog (external link)
Blog post for Journal of Management Studies by Samuli Patala, Laura Albareda and Minna Halme
The New Sustainability in Business online course strengthens knowledge of sustainable business
How can companies create sustainable value for the economy, the environment and society?
SUB scholars win Business & Society’s 2020 Best Paper Award
SUB scholars Minna Halme, Leena Lankoski and Mika Kuisma have won Business & Society’s 2020 Best Paper Award.
Sustainability in Business (SUB) group awarded funding to research transition risks for low-carbon shipping and aviation
The newly funded T-Risk research project aims to shed light on transition risks in the maritime and aviation sectors, crucial for global trade and transportation.
Jouni Juntunen nominated to Network for Business Sustainability Sustainability Centres Community (SCC) Advisory Board
Jouni Juntunen has been nominated to Network for Business Sustainability Sustainability Centres Community (SCC) Advisory Board for a three year period starting from 2021.
Aalto sustainability news
Projects from Aalto University’s Bioinnovation Center and CHEMARTS featured at Dutch Design Week
Aalto University’s exhibition “Designs for the Material Future” at Dutch Design Week attracted up to 10,000 visitors over nine days, gained attention in international media, and received praise from attendees.
Interdisciplinary course in Lisbon on plastic-free oceans- apply by 15 December
The course takes place online from January to April 2026 and face-to-face in Lisbon, Portugal, in July 2026.
Application period for FITech’s spring courses is approaching – explore the spring 2026 course offering now!
Complement your degree with free courses from Finnish universities of technology, designed to meet the demands of the working life and help deepen your expertise! The application period for degree students starts on December 1st.
Recycling campaign ends - activities continue!
The university-wide recycling and sorting campaign ended at the end of September 2025.Events
Booster Open Doors (Period II)
Join "Booster Open Doors" Wednesdays 13:00-15:00 for advice on grants & projects. Enjoy coffee, snacks, and good company!
Sustaining Places: new practices of design and architecture
In this Design Interrupted talk, Anna-Riitta Kujala shares what it means to be responsible for urban vitality.The event is free, but requires registration.
'Better Business — Better Society: Tieto- ja palvelujohtaminen tänään' seminar
Better Business — Better Society Seminar Series offers opportunities to learn about and discuss current societally important topics monthly.
COP30 Debrief: Insights from UN Climate Change Conference
What happened at COP30? Join us with inspiring guests from the Finnish delegation from the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference.Who we are
Member of the Sustainability Centres Community
SUB is a member of the Sustainability Centres Community (SCC), hosted by the Network for Business Sustainability (NBS).
Get in touch
Address
Väre, Otaniementie 14
02150 Espoo
Contact
Karelia Dagnaud
karelia.dagnaud@aalto.fi