Introduction
Please note that this is a preliminary course description. The final version will be published in June 2027.
Achieving sustainability requires rethinking how businesses operate. Facing environmental and social challenges, companies must develop innovative, circular, and future-oriented business models. This transformation calls for creative thinking, cross-sector collaboration, and transdisciplinary approaches that engage multiple stakeholders and expertise areas.
This course explores how businesses can shift from linear to circular models using strategy, systems thinking, and innovation. Students will engage with concepts such as eco-design, industrial symbiosis, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling. Emphasis is placed on reducing waste and turning waste into resources and integrating sustainable strategy at the core of operations are key elements. The course highlights the importance of collaboration across sectors, future thinking, and responsible leadership. It also contributes to responsible management education by equipping students with the mindset and tools needed to lead sustainable transformation in business. In a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, with increasing national, EU, and international laws targeting waste reduction and circular practices, it is essential for businesses to stay ahead of compliance requirements and leverage these shifts strategically—making knowledge in this field more critical than ever.
Students will explore real-world cases and sector-specific challenges in industries such as electronics, construction, transport, food, plastics, and textiles. In addition, the course examines sustainability communication, stakeholder engagement, governance, and ESG practices. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide an overarching framework for evaluating business impacts and guiding strategic alignment. Change management theories and tools like SWOT and Kotter’s 8-Step Process will support upscaling successful circular practices.