Sustainability in Business (SUB)
Research areas
Energy transitions
Renewable energy production and storage technologies change the way we produce and use energy, do business with it, and innovate.
Innovation for poverty alleviation
Frugal innovations by businesses in resource-scarce environments are one promising approach to poverty alleviation.
Innovation for sustainability
The innovation of new sustainable products, services, business models and forms of consumption can help tackle big problems like climate change and resource depletion.
Circular economy
Circular economy keeps materials in use longer using strategies like reuse, remanufacture, recycling, and replacing ownership with rentals
Corporate responsibility
Ethical issues are urgent in our globalized world where the public and civil governance of businesses is often underdeveloped and firms are located in different national regulatory systems.
New economy
Broader descriptions of economy, work and money are being developed that can help our economy function better.
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.
Upcoming seminars
Spring 2019
Friday 15.2, 12.00-13.30
Väre (Otaniementie 14), F101
Professor Jeremy Hall, Centre for Social Innovation Management, Surrey Business School. From the ‘Eroom’ Effect (Moore’s Law Backwards) to Borlaug’s Paradox: Emerging Challenges and Unintended Consequences of Sustainable Development Innovation.
Co-hosted by the Aalto Sustainability Hub.
Monday 18.2., 10.00-12.00
Väre (Otaniementie 14), L208
Dr. Stelvia Matos. Surrey Business School. Crafting papers for publication in the field of sustainable development innovation.
Friday 1.3. 12.00-13.00
Väre (Otaniemientie 14), M102
Prof. Myrto Chliova. Moving from small to big wins: Tensions in the evolution of participatory organizing within the context of a displacement crisis.
Friday 5.4. 12.30-13.30
Väre (Otaniementie 14), M102
Cecilia Bayas, Autonomous University of Madrid. Sustainable development in the Spanish universities campuses from a stakeholder approach.
Awards and highlights
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)
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.
Many Shades of Cocreation: Research Designs for Collaboration
When academics and practitioners work together on research, there’s no standard template to follow. Aalto researchers provide a model.
'The solutions for circular economy are not achieved alone'
A circular economy workshop series develops new collaborations between engineers and business researchers.
How to accelerate the circular economy
It sounds simple — one business’s waste becomes another’s input. But the reality is challenging. Three case studies provide best practices.
Aalto sustainability news
Many Shades of Cocreation: Research Designs for Collaboration
When academics and practitioners work together on research, there’s no standard template to follow. Aalto researchers provide a model.
What can you do for the climate?
Within the next ten years, Finns need to cut down more than 75% of our carbon footprint. The change is enormous, and will be based on new lifestyles, says Michael Lettenmeier.
How can we use rivers sustainably?
Humans have long altered the natural state of rivers. Now nature’s own methods can help us to manage rivers more sustainably.
The Polaris study project visualizes climate change anxiety
Finnish Broadcasting Company’s mobile story tries to capture how young adults experience climate change.
Events
World Circular Economy Forum – Aalto University side event
Combating climate change by circular economy and systemic change:closing the material loops and creating new business possibilities
Graduation Party exhibition 12 June 2019
Student works reflect environmental issues and sustainability as well as collaboration of science and arts.
Organizing to Deliver Social Value
This interactive seminar brings together academic researchers, social entrepreneurs, and leaders in the non-profit sector. Using real-life case studies and current academic research, we explore and share observations and insights on processes and practices that help organizations deliver social value. With companies looking to create value beyond economic benefits, and increasing competition among non-profit organizations, there is a renewed attention to finding innovative ways for organizations to address societal challenges and the pressing needs of marginalized communities.The purpose of this first practitioner workshop held by Aalto University’s Organizing for social value research group (https://aaltosocialvalue.net) is to start a dialogue among practitioners and researchers and share actionable knowledge. We hope to see you on June 12th!
Sincerely yours,
The Organizing for Social Value team
Apply now for Digital Business Master Class
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Who we are
Jouni Juntunen
Maria Joutsenvirta
Tatu Lyytinen
Get in touch
Address
Lapuankatu 2 (Arkadia building, 3rd floor)
00100 Helsinki
Contact
Elizabeth Miller
[email protected]