Sustainable Campus
A significant part of Bocconi's commitment to environmental sustainability runs through the design and management of the University’s physical infrastructure, as well as the development of specific projects, opportunities and services aimed at promoting sustainable practices in campus activities and, more broadly, university life.
Services and Projects
Library of Things
The Library of Things is a circular economy initiative launched in 2025 as a pilot project within the broader MUSA-Spoke 5 (Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action) Program developed by Bocconi together with other Milanese universities, and subsequently confirmed in 2026.
It consists of a shared space designed toallow the Bocconi community (primarily students, but also faculty and staff) to borrow everyday objects free of charge.
The Library is located in the basement of the Via Sarfatti 25 building and features a system of lockers holding approximately 40 items of various types and sizes (from small appliances and tools, such as portable vacuum cleaners, drills, hair dryers and steam irons, as well as recreational and sports items, such as Pilates mats, bicycle pumps, sports balls and board games).
There is a dedicated app to book, collect and return the items of the Library. The app allows item loans and returns to be monitored by registering users and tracking all transactions.
The initiative has a twofold aim:
- Environmental, as it aims to discourage unnecessary purchases, promoting a more sustainable and circular model of consumption;
- Social, because it meets the needs of those who have just come to Milan or stay just for a short time (e.g. out-of-town and exchange students, etc.) and have limited budgets and space, while simultaneously promoting a sense of community through the responsible sharing of resources.
The Library of Things project also includes a research component, as it intends to measure the reduction in environmental impact resulting from the shared use of objects compared to an individual purchase through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study.
Food Policy
As evidence of the importance the University places on food and nutrition, and the impact these can have on the health of the planet, the community and individual wellbeing, Bocconi adopted its own Food Policy in March 2023.
The document (available at this link) was developed in collaboration with a food ethnologist following a process driven by participation in the "Guidelines for the Sustainability of Universities’ Food Systems" project launched by the Municipality of Milan and SU-EATABLE LIFE.
The Bocconi Food Policy, undersigned by the restaurateurs and caterers who work in the buildings of the University, has three goals:
- Promote a healthy lifestyle, ensuring compliance with nutritional guidelines (use of organic foods and adoption of reference intake levels of nutrients), as well as supporting targeted communication activities to raise awareness among the whole academic community about the importance of making informed food choices.
- Encourage University users to consume sustainable, low-impact food products by promoting local supply chains and provisioning.
- Promote diversity and inclusion within the university community also through food, thanks to the addition of vegetarian, vegan, Halal and Kosher options, as well as menus that combine local and traditional dishes with international favorites.
Events and Opportunities
Earth Day (22 April 2026)
On Earth Day 2026, Bocconi organized an afternoon dedicated to raising awareness about reusing, recycling and the proper disposal of waste, actively involving the University community.
The event took place from 3pm to 7pm on 22 April 2026, and revolved around a Clothing Swap, an initiative done in collaboration with the Green Light for Business student association. During the event, participants brought items of clothing and fashion accessories they no longer used to exchange them with those brought by others, with the aim of encouraging responsible consumption and reducing waste.
Over 50 people, mostly students, brought their garments to be exchanged (up to a pre-established maximum of five items per person), and at the end of the event, the items remaining (approximately 20kg of clothes and shoes) were collected by AMSA (the City of Milan waste company, partner of the event) for their disposal or donation to charities.
Several entities and companies that collaborate with Bocconi on sustainability and the circular economy were present with their information stands next to the second-hand exchange, including AMSA, Re-Cig, Plastic Free, NANDO and Unicorn Mobility.
Clean Up Day with “Plastic Free” (18 April 2026)
As part of a collaboration agreement signed by Bocconi University with the association “Plastic Free” in October 2025, a Clean Up event was organized in the Ravizza Park near the campus on Sunday 18 April 2026. The partnership intends to combat environmental pollution through the active involvement of the academic community in local volunteering initiatives.
The event was attended by 37 Bocconi volunteers who, in the space of one hour, managed to collect 68kg of waste, including glass, plastics, generic waste and other garbage left in the park. The resulting load was collected by AMSA, which took charge of its disposal.
Infrastructure
New Urban Campus
The area between Via Sarfatti, Via Castelbarco and Viale Toscana.
The Bocconi Urban Campus, which now includes the new SDA Bocconi School of Management, the Castiglioni Student Residence and the Bocconi Sport Center, the latter open to the general public, has been designed to ensure optimal working and study conditions for students, researchers, staff and faculty, in accordance with the standards common to major international universities.
New Buildings
The construction of the new buildings, designed by Japanese architectural firm SANAA and inaugurated in late 2019, is the result of comprehensive urban redevelopment in an area that was previously home to the City of Milan’s Milk Plant. The project focused on landscaping aspects (particularly the balance between built space and green space) and ecological sustainability.
To this end, various innovative solutions have been adopted to minimize energy waste and CO2 emissions. Specifically:
- all buildings are covered with high-efficiency photovoltaic panels and equipped with heat pumps, rainwater recycling systems and refrigeration units to balance heating needs;
- aluminum screening around the buildings helps maintain cool indoor temperatures even during the summer;
- an automated system regulates lighting levels in every space.
As a result of these and other sustainability measures, the new campus area has obtained the LEED Platinum environmental certification (the highest level attainable).
