Sumários
Classes 19–20 – Applied Sustainability: Group Presentations and Integrative Discussion
11 Março 2026, 08:00 • Isabel Cristina de Seixas Patrício Duarte de Almeida
These classes marked the culmination of the course, with student group presentations of case studies addressing real-world sustainability challenges across different sectors. The presentations mobilised key concepts explored throughout the unit, including ESG principles, circular economy strategies, waste management, and sustainability assessment frameworks.
Beyond presentation, the sessions fostered critical discussion on the complexity of implementing sustainability in practice, highlighting tensions between performance, measurement, and impact. Particular attention was given to the alignment (or misalignment) between sustainability reporting and actual organisational practices.
These final sessions reinforced the transition from conceptual understanding to applied analysis, consolidating students’ ability to critically assess sustainability strategies and to reflect on their role as future decision-makers in a context of systemic transformation.
Classes 17–18 – Sustainability Measurement, Assessment Frameworks and Strategic Implications
10 Março 2026, 08:00 • Isabel Cristina de Seixas Patrício Duarte de Almeida
This class addresses a central managerial question: how organisations measure sustainability in practice . It introduces sustainability assessment systems as essential tools for evaluating environmental, social, and economic impacts, supporting decision-making, and enhancing transparency and accountability. The session explores a range of approaches, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Social Impact Assessment (SIA), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), as well as ESG frameworks, reporting standards, and data platforms, highlighting that sustainability measurement operates within a complex and evolving ecosystem of tools.
The class also critically examines the limitations and challenges associated with sustainability measurement. It introduces the concept of the “sustainability measurement paradox”, emphasising that while measurement enables transparency, benchmarking, and strategic alignment, it cannot fully capture the complexity of environmental and social systems. Through case-based discussion, key issues such as greenwashing, data limitations, and the reliability of ESG ratings are analysed.
The session concludes by linking sustainability measurement to strategic management, outlining the transition from sustainability vision to measurable impact. It reinforces that reporting is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve meaningful environmental and societal outcomes, highlighting the importance of aligning measurement systems with long-term sustainability goals.
Class 16 – Smart Waste Management and the European Green Deal
4 Março 2026, 09:30 • Isabel Cristina de Seixas Patrício Duarte de Almeida
This class analyses the role of innovation, policy, and technology in advancing sustainable waste management within the context of the European Green Deal . It explores the emergence of smart waste management systems, including the use of IoT and data-driven solutions to optimise waste collection and improve efficiency. The session also examines the broader policy framework of the EU, including the Circular Economy Action Plan and sustainability-driven regulatory initiatives. The class highlights how waste management is not only a technical and operational issue, but also a strategic pillar of sustainable growth, urban transformation, and climate policy.
Class 15 – Circular Economy and Waste Prevention Strategies
4 Março 2026, 08:00 • Isabel Cristina de Seixas Patrício Duarte de Almeida
This class explores strategies for reducing waste generation and promoting resource efficiency within the framework of the circular economy . It examines key principles such as waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and energy recovery, emphasising the transition from linear to circular production and consumption models. The session discusses European Union waste policies, including short- and long-term objectives aimed at reducing environmental impacts and transforming waste into a resource. Concepts such as remanufacturing are introduced as practical approaches to extending product lifecycles, creating economic value, and reducing dependence on virgin materials.
Class 14 – Waste Generation, Management and Systemic Sustainability Challenges
3 Março 2026, 09:30 • Isabel Cristina de Seixas Patrício Duarte de Almeida
This class focuses on waste as a critical sustainability issue, examining its definition, sources, classification, and environmental impacts . It introduces waste management systems as complex, interdisciplinary processes involving collection, treatment, and disposal, with implications for public health, the environment, and economic systems. Particular attention is given to global inequalities in waste management practices and the growing challenge of electronic waste (e-waste). The session frames waste not merely as a technical issue, but as a systemic challenge shaped by technological, economic, regulatory, and behavioural factors, highlighting the need for integrated and sustainable management approaches.