Article of Financial Times, November 25, 2007. Della Bradshaw
Business schools have been slow to embrace sustainability issues in their course material, but even slower off the mark in assessing how their own campuses could be more ecologically sound...
A growing group, however, is trying to address this shortcoming. In Europe, London Business School is widely credited with raising awareness of institutions’ role with its “Walk the Talk” environmental management programme...
In Spain, the Madrid-based Instituto de Empresa claims to be leading the way with its EcologIE initiative, launched in June. Starting with small gestures – recycling bins are currently being distributed around its campus buildings – the school plans a thorough reorganisation of working practices aimed at reducing its carbon footprint.
With the help of the environmental consultants Ingenieros Asesores, students and faculty are assessing energy use and waste production at the school’s various campus sites. Once the findings are out, they will implement recycling and energy and water conservation schemes similar to those in place at London Business School. Measures may even extend to reducing the amount of time faculty spend on aircraft.
Javier Carrillo, director of the school’s Centre for Eco-Intelligent Management, argues that innovation in production and systems is the key to creating sustainable business...
As in most cases, IE’s green initiative came from a student: Melanie May Happel, who is completing an International MBA. Inspired by the London Business School case and drawing on her own experience in an environmental management consultancy, she approached faculty heads this year with her proposals for greening the Spanish school. They offered their “full support”, she says.
“Schools have become good at preaching the importance of ethical business, but these are not necessarily applied on campus,” says Ms Happel. “Basically, we’ve decided to walk the talk.”
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