Projects and Initiatives
An overview of our projects and initiatives focusing on environmental aspects and, in particular, efforts to curb climate change
The climate commitment at Bocconi University and the SDA Bocconi School of Management has deep roots, allowing Bocconi to steadily reduce its carbon footprint.
ISO 14001 Certification
During the 2024-2025 academic year, Bocconi University achieved ISO 14001 certification for its Environmental Management System, becoming the first Italian university specializing in the social sciences and among the first in Europe and the world to have achieved this certification.
This achievement represents the culmination of a journey that began in 2023, during which the University consolidated the best practices already in place, strengthened the monitoring of environmental aspects and implemented new tools to ensure compliance with current regulations and continuous improvement of environmental performance.
Green Award 2025
Bocconi was presented with the 2025 Green Award for its smart waste project: The project, launched in 2023, introduced modular, uniform and easily recognizable recycling islands across campus, replacing the previous fragmented system. At the heart of the initiative is technology: smart sensors equipped with cameras monitor in real time the quantity and quality of the collected waste, while tablets installed next to the bins help students and staff dispose waste correctly, offering guidance and feedback.
Bocconi also eliminated individual office wastebins, launched awareness campaigns using gamification tools and collaborated with AMSA on waste composition analyses and logistical consulting.
Promoting a culture of environmental responsibility and managing direct environmental impacts
Planned energy efficiency upgrades continued in 2024. This, together with the awareness and engagement campaigns conducted for the benefit of everyone at the university, has resulted in a further containment of overall energy consumption, which has been reduced by 2.3% since 2023, bringing the total to 94,095GJ. Particularly significant was the reduction in methane gas consumption, which decreased by more than 20% (from 15,696 to 12,487GJ), partly as a result of interventions to replace traditional gas boilers with high-efficiency heat pumps. Over the 2022-2024 three-year period, total energy consumption showed an overall decline of about 9%, highlighting the effectiveness of the energy sustainability policies adopted.
The year 2024 is also the second year of implementation of the University's carbon footprint certification by an independent third party, according to the ISO 14064-1:2018 standard. The emission calculation conducted in 2024 further refined the achievements from the previous year to ensure greater methodological accuracy. Such a systematic approach enables the University to pursue a rigorous decarbonization pathway aimed at achieving carbon neutrality for direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) emissions, in preparation for a subsequent focus on reducing indirect Scope 3 emissions.
Energy Management
Rooftop photovoltaic panel installations at the Gobbi5 and Sarfatti25 buildings were completed in 2024, adding to what had previously been installed. Overall, the Bocconi photovoltaic park amounts to 3,435 photovoltaic panels, representing 1.35MW of installed capacity. The intervention is part of the energy efficiency and savings initiatives undertaken by the University, consistent with the sustainability goals defined in the Strategic Plan 2021-2025.
Work continued at the Röntgen1 building in 2024 to install more energy-efficient LED lighting systems. With this intervention, a total of 5,091 lighting fixtures on campus were replaced, resulting in annual savings of 560,155 kWh.
In 2024, the energy monitoring software upgrade was completed and new advanced sensor technology was implemented to control and account for energy consumption throughout the campus. This integrated system enables the university to obtain accurate, real-time data on building energy flows, identifying areas of inefficiency and optimizing energy management strategies.
As part of efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, gas boilers were replaced with high-efficiency heat pumps at the Sarfatti25 and Gobbi5 buildings in 2024. This intervention is a significant step toward eliminating fossil fuels from the campus, contributing to the reduction of co2 emissions and improving the overall energy efficiency of heating and cooling systems.
Facility Management
In 2024, activities to improve the monitoring of the amount and type of waste produced were further intensified, consolidating cooperation with Milan’s municipal waste collection agency AMSA by entering into a specific agreement for the control and monitoring of separate waste collection on campus.
The year was marked by significant structural and communicative interventions: the final elimination of wastebins from offices, the reorganization of separate waste collection sites with an increase in the number of wastebins, and the extensive use of the NANDO platform. The latter is one of the first artificial intelligence-based applications capable of measuring quantity, type and quality of waste collection. It was developed by the startup ReLearn, one of the participants in the B4i - Bocconi for Innovation acceleration programs. All of these initiatives are also producing positive results in terms of improving the quality of waste collection in campus buildings.
An advanced water consumption monitoring system was adopted in 2024 through the installation of specialized software and dedicated sensors aimed at real-time monitoring of water flows and early detection of water leaks. This technological innovation enables the University to optimize the management of water resources, reducing waste and improving the efficiency of the campus distribution system. The monitoring system is a further step toward more sustainable and responsible management of natural resources, enabling targeted and rapid intervention in case of anomalies in the water network.
Mobility Management
In 2024, the new Home-Work Commute Plan (PSCL 2024) was drafted and handed over to the Municipality of Milan’s Mobility Manager, confirming the University's commitment to sustainable mobility. To further encourage environmentally friendly travel, new locker rooms were inaugurated on 1 October 2024 in the Via Bocconi 12 building, made available to staff and faculty who walk or bike to the campus.
In this area, Bocconi University consolidated its commitment to sustainable mobility in 2024 through further expansion of its dedicated bicycle infrastructure. The number of bicycle stalls managed by the University increased from 487 to 598, registering a growth of more than 22% over the previous year. This increase in the supply of bicycle parking improved the indicator of stall density relative to the university population: in 2024, there were 33.2 stalls per 1,000 users (including students, faculty and staff), up from 28.1 in 2023, an improvement of 18%.
During the year, Bocconi also became a member of Euromobility, the national association of Mobility Managers that promotes sustainable mobility in Italy, strengthening the network of collaborations in the sector. In addition, the Travel Policy was updated with the introduction of the requirement to go by train for travel to Rome, optimizing the University's travel policies in terms of sustainability and efficiency. From the data collected in 2024, more than 87% of university trips within a radius of 800km were made by train.
Photovoltaic Energy Production
1,183+ MWh of clean electricity
During 2024, the Bocconi photovoltaic park produced more than 1,183 MWh of clean electricity, saving nearly 237 tons of CO2.
Energy Consumption
94,095 GJ*
* Starting in 2022, the calculation follows the requirements of ISO 14064-1.
Waste Production
14.3 t Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste
Note: In contrast to previous years, 2023 and 2024 data regard production of non-hazardous waste include decommissioning of unused non-hazardous equipment due to planned modernization work at certain Bocconi sites and the replacement of lighting fixtures (e.g. fluorescent lamps) with LED devices as part of the campus’s ongoing energy efficiency.
Limiting Paper Usage
The reduction in the use of paper is closely linked to the digitization of teaching processes (lessons, exams, graduations) and research over the years.
Overall, the University introduced a series of innovations such as the elimination of printed theses, digital signature of exam reports, digitization of the faculty register, and other improvements that have enabled a steady reduction in printing and consumption of paper and ancillary materials (e.g. toner).
ISO 14001 Certification
Bocconi achieved certification of its Environmental Management System in accordance with the ISO 14001 standard in February 2025.
ISO 14001 Certification demonstrates that the University has adopted and implemented a systematic approach aimed at:
- improving its environmental performance
- preventing or reducing negative impacts on the environment resulting from its activities
- mitigating the potential negative effect that environmental conditions may have on the University.
Biosafety Trust Certification
The Biosafety Trust Certification was renewed in October 2023.
The Biosafety Trust Certification attests to the proper implementation of an infection prevention and control system at all Bocconi University facilities and locations (including the SDA location in Rome).
ISO 50001 Certification
ISO 50001 Certification was renewed in April 2023.
Bocconi's commitment to energy-efficient management of all its facilities and infrastructure is confirmed by ISO 50001 Certification.
In addition to guaranteeing lower energy costs, ISO 50001 Certification has several advantages:
- it is valid support of the organization and optimization of energy consumption
- it identifies best practices in energy management
- it is an instrument for improving energy management to reduce CO2 emissions.
ISO 14064-1 Certification
The ISO 14064-1:2018 certification regarding the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions was achieved in 2023.
Bocconi University's decarbonization pathway plans to achieve carbon neutrality (direct Scope 1 and indirect Scope 2 emissions) by 2025 and then focus on the Net Zero goal, including the main indirect emissions.
LEED Platinum Certification
The Bocconi urban campus area (Via Sarfatti 10 location) achieved LEED Platinum Certification in 2021.
LEED Platinum Certification attests to full compliance with the sustainability criteria defined by the Green Building Council throughout the life cycle of constructed buildings, from design to construction.
Download the Sustainability Report for a compendium of our University's main achievements, initiatives and perspectives in the field of sustainability in its various forms – from environmental to related social, economic and institutional aspects.