Innovation for sustainability
Innovating new sustainable products, services, business models and forms of consumption can help tackle global challenges.
Sustainability in Business (SUB)
Our mission is to provide knowledge about innovative business models and transition paths that enhance sustainable development. As complex sustainability challenges call for multi-disciplinary knowledge and societally impactful research, we co-create solution proposals together with partners from different sectors of society.
Research areas
Sustainability transitions
Our research looks at several dimensions of the transition toward sustainability societies.
Circular economy
Circular economy keeps materials in use longer using strategies like reuse, remanufacture, recycling, and replacing ownership with rentals.
Corporate responsibility
Cross-national governance of businesses make ethical issues urgent.
SUB Publications
The latest publications from SUB researchers
Sustainability teaching
Sustainability course offerings in the School of Business
SUB seminar series
The SUB lunchtime seminar series provides a monthly forum for all interested to discuss topical research in social and environmental issues in management.
Seminar Schedule
Spring 2026
Wednesday 13.5., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, 1004 Kyösti Järvinen
Olli Tiikkainen, Aalto University School of Business
Financial sustainability governance: An inquiry into the politics of Finnish impact finance
Wednesday 15.4., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, U113 Otto Stenroth
Samuli Patala, Aalto University School of Business
Paavo Ritala, LUT Business School
Moral legitimacy struggles in purpose-driven ecosystems: Interplay of collective narratives and meta-organizational architectures
Autumn 2025
Tuesday 9.12., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, U213
Kirsi Salonen, LUT University
Transitions to regenerative strategies
Thursday 13.11., 11:00-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, T003
Tomas Roslin, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Satu Teerikangas, University of Turku
Johanna Vähätalo, Ramboll
Biodiversity and business: What does biodiversity mean, and why is it important? How does it relate to business and organizing?
Thursday 30.10., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, X108 Alexander Sergejeff
Patrick Shulist, Aalto University School of Business
Positioning sustainability-oriented research in for management and sustainability-focused journals
Thursday 25.9., 11:30-12:30
Ekonominaukio 1, U213
Justine Loizeau, Aalto University School of Business
Jean-Philippe Decka, École Polytechnique
Clarifying business design with sufficiency: A systematic literature review
Awards and highlights
Leena Lankoski
Educational developer of the year 2023 award from the HSE Support Foundation. Read the announcement here.
Patrick Shulist
Teacher of the year 2023 award from the HSE Support Foundation. Read the announcement here.
Samuli Patala and Minna Halme
“Responsible Research in Management” Distinguished Winner for article: “Polycentric governance of privately owned resources in circular economy systems.” Journal of Management Studies, 59(6), 1563-1596. With Laura Albareda. 2023. Sponsored by the Academy of Management Fellows & Responsible Research in Business and Management. Read the announcement .
Minna Halme
Academy of Management, Social Issues in Management Division Best Paper Award of 2023. With Jennifer Goodman and Jouni Juntunen.
Minna Halme
Alfred Kordelin Prize for key future actors who have created the conditions for a stronger, diverse, and sustainable society as well as a better future, 2022
Minna Halme, Leena Lankoski and Mika Kuisma
Article "When Is There a Sustainability Case for CSR? Pathways to Environmental and Social Performance Improvements" (co-authored with Jukka Rintamäki and Jette Steen Knudsen) received Business & Society’s 2020 Best Paper Award
Inês Peixoto
Finalist for the EGOS Best Student Paper Award with the paper “Risk organization and moral multiplexity in the EU biofuels market” (presented at EGOS Edinburgh 2019)
Minna Halme
HSE Support Foundation Societal Impact Award, 2019
Elizabeth Miller
Thesis "Trash to Treasure: A Multiple Case Study of Finnish Companies That Create Economic Value from Waste Materials" received award for top university master's thesis, Association for Environmental Management (Ymparistöjohtamisen yhdistys ry), 2018
Samuli Patala and Minna Halme
Article "Polycentric Governance of Privately Owned Resources in Circular Economy Systems" received Carolyn Dexter Award for international papers, Academy of Management 2018
Jouni Juntunen, Minna Halme, Angelina Korsunova and Risto Rajala
Article "Powering sustainable innovations: Strategies for collaborating with deviant partners" won Best Academic Paper at R&D Management Conference 2016, University of Cambridge
Minna Halme, Sara Lindeman and Paula Linna
Article "Innovation for Inclusive Business: Intrapreneurial Bricolage in Multinational Corporations", Journal of Management Studies, 2012 received the Emerald Citations of Excellence for 2015
The latest from SUB
Dive deeper into SUB's work through our blog posts and news articles.
Aalto sustainability news
Antti Ahlava talking on Relationships in Design Principles & Practices conference (Rome, Italy)
Antti Ahlava presented “Relationship-based Architectural Design” at the Design Principles & Practices conference in Rome, discussing new methodological approaches in architecture.
VTT, Aalto University and GTK: How to ensure Finland captures the multi‑billion growth potential of mineral economy
Finland is rising to the forefront of the mineral economy through new research initiatives and closer collaboration
‘My entire career as a marine biologist and sustainability scientist has been extremely interesting’
Professor of Practice Eeva Furman has spent most of her career conducting interdisciplinary research in sustainability sciences
The modernization of fluorescent tubes into LED has begun
The lighting change project has started.Events
Who we are
Member of the Sustainability Centres Community
SUB is a member of the (SCC), hosted by the (NBS).
Get in touch
Address
Väre, Otaniementie 14
02150 Espoo
Contact
Karelia Dagnaud
karelia.dagnaud@aalto.fi