Department of Management Studies

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.
A picture of the earth on a black background with the text "Sustainability in business 30 years #sub30"

Research areas

A girl and a man selling items in Brazil

Innovation for sustainability

Innovating new sustainable products, services, business models and forms of consumption can help tackle global challenges.

Department of Management Studies
Solar panels in front of mountains

Sustainability transitions

Our research looks at several dimensions of the transition toward sustainability societies.

Department of Management Studies
Recycling bins

Circular economy

Circular economy keeps materials in use longer using strategies like reuse, remanufacture, recycling, and replacing ownership with rentals.

Department of Management Studies
CSR news articles

Corporate responsibility

Cross-national governance of businesses make ethical issues urgent.

Department of Management Studies

SUB Publications

The latest publications from SUB researchers

Read more
Two people with pens hovering over articles

Sustainability teaching

Sustainability course offerings in the School of Business

Read more
Creative Sustainability students gathered around a laptop

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.

Read more
Plate of food with wooden spoons

Seminar Schedule

Autumn 2024

Wednesday 11.12., 11:00-12:00
Ekonominaukio 1, U213

Valentina De Marchi, ESADE Business School

The tetris of sustainability: Configurations of sustainability activities toward integrated business models in hybrid organizations

Thursday 14.11., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, U213

Joshua Hurtado Hurtado, University of Helsinki

Pluriverse imaginaries and the socio-ecological imagination

Thursday 10.10., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, U213

Juliana Rodrigues, Aalto University School of Business

Unpacking frugality: (re)newed principles for alternative organizing in the Anthropocene (or in a post-growth era)

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.

An image of a small child skipping in a sunny field

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?

vihreitä kasveja vedessä

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.

Business & Society 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.

Shipping port

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.

Network for Business Sustainability logo

Aalto sustainability news

Copper
Research & Art Published:

Battery demand is growing exponentially – BATCircle3.0 provides a leap in battery material and recycling research in Finland

The three-year BATCircle3.0 project, led by Aalto University, offers a strategic focus on new openings for battery materials refining and battery recycling.
Nautakarjaa laitumella.
Press releases Published:

Small reductions to meat production in wealthier countries may help fight climate change, new analysis concludes

Eliminating even a small fraction of current beef production could remove three years’ worth of global fossil fuel emissions
View of UN climate change conference COP29 event venue
Cooperation Published:

COP29: Aalto University offers new solutions for sustainable construction and calls for better alignment of policy with science

An international team of researchers coordinated by Aalto University calls on world leaders: achieving climate goals requires completely new ways of combining science and policy.
Kolme opiskelijaa ryhmätyön äärellä
Research & Art Published:

The School of Business’ approach to sustainability in business education stands out in Europe

With over 30-year history of research in sustainability topics, we can back up the classroom experience with top level research, Dean Timo Korkeamäki says

Events

Modern building with metal cladding, large windows, and green plants. The base has stone arches.
Lectures and seminars

Architecture Speaks - Lecture series 13.11.2024 - 29.01.2025

The 10th season of the Architecture Speaks lecture series begins in November. The online lectures are open to everyone and free of charge with prior registration.
Y Science event
Networking

Y Science

Y Science is an event that brings together the curious scientific community and the business world to inspire concrete action and contribution to the society in the field of life sciences.
NODUS Talks Header November 2024
Lectures and seminars

NODUS TALKS Caring for Neglected Spaces

Presentations and panel discussion with Hella Hernberg and Aku Vainikainen.
Event poster with the event graphics
Networking

Sustainable Connections 2024

Networking evening organised by Aalto Sustainability Club for Aalto sustainability alums, students and experts.

Who we are

 Minna Halme

Minna Halme

Professor
 Mikko Jalas

Mikko Jalas

Associate Professor
 Patrick Shulist

Patrick Shulist

Assistant Professor
 Samuli Patala

Samuli Patala

Assistant Professor
 Jukka Rintamäki

Jukka Rintamäki

Assistant Professor
 Leena Lankoski

Leena Lankoski

Senior Lecturer
 Ewald Kibler

Ewald Kibler

Associate Professor
 Tiina Ritvala

Tiina Ritvala

Associate Professor
 Heli Nissilä

Heli Nissilä

Academy Research Fellow
 Iqra Khan

Iqra Khan

Postdoctoral Researcher
 Linda Turunen

Linda Turunen

Postdoctoral Researcher
 Sofia Villo

Sofia Villo

Postdoctoral Researcher
 Anna Härri

Anna Härri

Postdoctoral Researcher
 Kaja Kirstine H. Lilleng

Kaja Kirstine H. Lilleng

Doctoral Candidate
 Karelia Dagnaud

Karelia Dagnaud

Doctoral Candidate
 Juliana Rodrigues

Juliana Rodrigues

Doctoral Candidate
 Emilia Eräpolku

Emilia Eräpolku

Doctoral Candidate
 Martta Nieminen

Martta Nieminen

Doctoral Candidate
 Claudia Kovács

Claudia Kovács

Doctoral Candidate

Marleena Halonen

Doctoral Candidate
Network for Business Sustainability logo

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

Elizabeth Miller
[email protected]

  • Published:
  • Updated: