Sustainability

Degrowth getting bigger

Pension fund more green thanks to participants

Participants in Pensioenfonds Detailhandel want sustainable investments, even if this yields less investment return. This is evident from research by Maastricht University in 2018, and was confirmed during a second study in 2020.  

VerDus-Synthesis Study: Urban Sustainability Transitions: Energy, Climate, & Circularity

How do we involve citizens in the sustainability transition? When do they start participating? What solutions could reliably count on wide public support and how do we find these? What implications could such an approach have for governmental practices? What barriers do sustainable solutions encounter at the institutional level and how could these be overcome?

By synthesizing the results of twelve different research projects, Joop de Kraker and René Kemp (Maastricht Sustainability Institute) try to provide answers to questions like these.

Looking for the Netherlands' best agrifood-idea

UM asks ABP for more sustainable policy

In a letter to pension fund ABP (which manages the pensions of UM employees) Maastricht University is asking for a planned approach that will allow the fund to cut ties with sectors with a commitment to fossil fuels as soon as possible. "The climate crisis is one of the greatest threats to our global society," writes the Executive Board.

Maastricht University involved in Green Deal proposals to address the climate crisis

Researchers from Maastricht University’s School of Business and Economics (SBE) are involved in eight proposals for the European Commission’s Green Deal call, which was launched last year.

Engineer of the future brings green chemistry a step closer

The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) at Maastricht University (UM) will begin offering a new bachelor's programme in ‘Circular Engineering’ in September 2021. This course will provide in a new kind of engineer, trained not just in one field, but in a wide variety of disciplines.

‘Power to the farmers’

UM students Vincent and Laura Nieboer, inspired by their father, came up with an accessible concept to help farmers worldwide stop the depletion of agricultural land. They recently pitched their idea at the ‘Little big talks’ on the occasion of the celebration of 80 years of materials science and innovation at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen.

Ecosia now default on 800 Student Desktops

From 15 January, the sustainable search engine Ecosia will be set as the default on 800 Student Desktops (SDT) in both library locations and the Randwyck Computer Facilities. It is also available for installation on every other UM work station. Ecosia generates income through their search ads, which they use to plant trees.

MaastrichtMBA among the world’s best sustainable MBAs

UMIO’s MaastrichtMBA programme moves up the grade on sustainable development as it impressively managed to rank 16th globally in the newly published 2020 Better World MBA Ranking organised by Corporate Knights.

UM PhD student solves major waste collection problem in Ghana

Through his research, Kwaku Oduro-Appiah, PhD candidate at Maastricht University, has succeeded in making a spectacular contribution to solving the problems of waste collection and processing in Accra, the capital of Ghana.

BREEAM certificate for Maastricht University

Maastricht University has achieved the highest attainable sustainability qualification with its renovation of the former Tapijn barracks. The building will receive a "BREEAM-NL Excellent" quality mark for this.

Working together to build new circular value chains

Setting up a new value chain from agro to chemistry is a challenge Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen and Brightlands Greenport Campus in Venlo are currently working on together.

UM cooperates in development of sustainable heating network

Science and the oil industry: an intimate relationship

The entanglement between science and the oil industry is also of the pillars of Mody’s research on how to deal with sustainability in times of scarcity, for which he recently received a Vici grant from the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

Sustainability goes beyond “the green stuff”

When it comes to teaching about sustainability, you need an interdisciplinary team of teachers on board. Sustainable UM2030 organised a meeting in which teachers from various faculties presented their ideas for sustainability courses to students.

Teams of students and staff working on sustainability

UM gains insight into what employees and students think is most important when it comes to sustainability and we collect many good ideas that can be implemented.

Sustainability & food week

Last week it was the Dutch National Week Without Meat. Alligned with that Green Office organised events during their Sustainability & Food week.

Urban greenspace as motor for exercising, meeting and relaxing

Last year, the Maastricht Sustainability Institute joined forces with the public health service (GGD) of Zuid Limburg to investigate the influence of 'green in the neighborhood' on the health of residents in Maastricht.

Students run ‘not another supermarket’

In 2018, UM student Liza Diane Gordin and some fellow students received a grant from the University Fund Limburg/SWOL to set up the first student food cooperative of the Benelux. 

What role can academics play in addressing the ongoing crises of global warming and biodiversity loss?

What is the meaning of academia in times of environmental crisis? This question brought us together during a debate initiated and organized by Students for Climate Maastricht, and supported by Sustainable UM2030 and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Maastricht University invests in solar park. "We want to be a sustainable employer".

To accelerate the switch to renewable energy and to reduce CO2 emissions, Maastricht University and Bodemzorg Limburg will make the former Belvedere landfill suitable for installing solar panels.

Don’t throw your plastic waste away!

The students of Precious Plastic Maastricht have big plans for the future, with the ultimate goal of building four recycling machines for plastic waste. “What’s in Maastricht stays in Maastricht – that should become the new norm when it comes to plastic.”

Nominate your colleague(s) for the Sustainability Award 2019

Are you someone who is committed in an extraordinary way or who wants to make UM and its surroundings or society more sustainable? Or do you know someone or a team who has made a special contribution to the sustainability of UM and its surroundings in an administrative, scientific or service related way? Then don't hesitate and compete for the UM Sustainability Award 2019!

Introducing: the new Green Office team

As of October we have a brand new Green Office and they would like to introduce themselves! The Green Office’s aim is to represent the student voice when it comes to sustainability at UM.

(Re)searching sustainability

UM organises a symposium to co-create a strategy on sustainability research and sustainable research. Highlights will include the results of a survey on existing research and a discussion to determine our vision on a Sustainable UM in 2030. 

GREENER: dealing with the plastic soup

Everyone has heard of the "plastic soup" in the oceans, where plastic waste breaks down into small particles that end up in our food chain because plankton and marine animals consume micro plastics. 

Design renovations Tapijn scores excellent sustainability certificate

The design for the renovation of the former Tapijn barracks has been awarded the BREEAM-NL New Construction and Renovation certificate. The certificate has been achieved with a score of no less than 80.14 and is therefore entitled "excellent".

Marching together to save the climate

Global climate change is an issue that Arthur Bribosia (UCM) and Marion Meyers (DKE) feel very strongly about. Strong enough to take action. Last May, they got 3000 people out on the street to join the first climate march in Maastricht. For the next march, scheduled for 20 September, they’re hoping for 5000 participants.

Four sustainable plans for the coming year

The new academic year has started, so it’s time to get to know UM’s resolutions regarding sustainability for the coming year!

Survey BA students: interest in UM-wide minor Sustainable Development

Between April and July 2019, a survey took place investigating whether bachelor students were interested in having a UM-wide Minor on Sustainable Development. The results of the survey were quite positive towards having such a minor. The taskforce Sustainable UM2030 (met link) has presented a project plan as to make such a minor possible as of the academic year 2020-2021.

From waste cooking oil to protective coating

Students of the Biobased Materials master’s programme took third prize in the Biobased Innovation Student Challenge Europe with their idea to convert waste cooking oil into vinyl ester resins.

Maastricht University 6th in SustainaBul ranking

Starting in 2012, the SustainaBul (which is a pun, as a ‘bul’ is the degree you receive when graduating from university) has ranked the sustainability of the Dutch higher education institutions. The ranking is organised every year by Studenten voor Morgen, a Dutch student initiative. Participating institutions have to fill out a questionnaire to assess the sustainability level of their research, education, business management and integral approach. This month the results from the ranking of 2019 were presented.

Students for Climate – building a community

Students marching against climate change? Not really news, is it now? That’s the sort of thing students do anyways. Aware of the stereotype, Students for Climate chose to prick the student bubble for their latest march.

Precious Plastic Maastricht – the potential of waste

Precious Plastic Maastricht is currently setting up a local recycling workspace that turns plastic waste into entirely new goods, such as bins, beams, 3D printer filaments, and much more.

Impact over Image

The finishing line of Green Impact, UM’s sustainability competition, is fast approaching. The Faculty of Science and Engineering’s team is doing very well - even if their numbers-based approach at times fretted against the general focus on awareness over solutions…

Evaluating the Warm Sweater Week 11-15 February 2019

February 15th was the National Warm Sweater Day. All over The Netherlands more than 200.000 people participated by turning down the heat by 1 degree.

At Maastricht University a majority of its buildings participated during the whole week. We want to thank all of you for bearing with us! We got lots of reactions spanning from “Please do this during the whole year” to “I had to wear my coat to work”. Sometimes the working conditions were really unbearable.

Biobased socks from Sustainable Polymer

Aim in their study was to develop biobased compostable socks from Polylactic acid (PLA), acknowledged as sustainable and eco-friendly is a biodegradable and compostable polymer obtained from annually renewable resources.

Warm-Sweater-Week at Maastricht University

After having participated in the national Warm-Sweater-Day for several years, Maastricht University has decided to organise a Warm-Sweater-Week this year, from 11 to 15 February.

Green Impact: driving change one lightbulb at a time

UM’s commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and its aim to be a sustainable university by 2030 is taking shape. Green shoots are visible everywhere - metaphorically that is; winter continues as scheduled…

‘The art of the new life together’

At the place where not so long ago young theatre makers presented their work to the public, fifteen students and ‘differently abled’ people (called the Masters) are now living together.

Sustainability is not a cheesy matter

As part of our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, UM wants to have a zero carbon footprint by 2030. Even an occasional hand in the cookie jar of veganism goes a long way towards that.

Maastricht University signs declaration of intent to set up sustainability center at Chemelot

INKOM most sustainable introduction week in the Netherlands

The introduction week of Maastricht University, INKOM, was this year’s most sustainable Dutch introduction week.

One Young World and Maastricht University: Leadership for a better tomorrow

Maastricht University is proudly announcing an opening for a delegate position for an inspiring young Maastricht University leader for this year’s One Young World Summit (The Hague, 17-20 October 2018)

Library of Things: Out of the attic, into the commonweal

UM students Elisa Etrari, Anna Reyneri and Becca Bowers are running Library of Things. It’s exactly what you think it is: you sign up, choose something from their online catalogue or just browse – then you borrow whatever you need and bring it back once you are done using it.

Urban greenspace as a motor for moving, meeting and relaxing

Under project name: 'Urban greenspace as a motor for moving, meeting and relaxing', ICIS will collaborate with the GGD and use a spatial computer model to assess benefits of greenspace for health in Maastricht.

Opening Academic Year 2018/19: towards a sustainable UM in 2030

On 3 September 2018, UM celebrated the opening of the academic year 2018/19. This was dedicated entirely to  sustainable development. In the recently adopted vision document ‘SUSTAINABLE UM 2030’, UM describes its ambition to be a sustainable university by 2030, with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN as the guiding framework.

Major cities are going greener thanks to sustainability labels

The number of buildings with a sustainability certificate has grown considerably in major cities, according to the annual U.S. Green Building Adoption Index, published by CBRE and Maastricht University.

UM building gives textile waste a second life

The UM administration building will soon be fitted with sound-proofing panels made from recycled textile waste by people with a labour market disability.

Sustainability on economists’ radar

Sustainability has become firmly ensconced in the world of economists. These days, no calculation is made without accounting for environmental effects, corporate responsibility and the long term.

There is such a thing as a free lunch – a sustainable student initiative

Foodsharing Maastricht is a student initiative that collects leftover food from local supermarkets and hotels. The food can then be picked up by any comers in Building X, Tapijnkazerne.

Largest European database of sustainable energy initiatives now online

Last year researchers from ICIS, Maastricht University’s institute for sustainable development, created an inventory of projects seeking to make a sustainable change to people’s energy consumption. Together with 10 research partners in the EU Horizon 2020 project ENERGISE, they gathered information on more than 1,000 projects and initiatives in 30 European countries.

(A last) Hooray for books!

23 April is UN World Book and Copyright Day. While we are going digital, there is still space for print books at UM.

New UM building to serve as living lab for sustainable real estate

UM first university in Europe to register for the WELL Building Standard.

The motives behind sustainable construction

Estate investors financially benefit from sustainable buildings, says associate professor of the Maastricht University School of Business and Economics. His research into the financial effects of sustainable construction is discussed in an article in the Huffington Post.

The Garden of Eden is in Maastricht

The study association of the master's programme in Sustainability, Science and Policy, ASAP, has kept a community garden for about four years in Maastricht on the Mergelweg. Under the inspiring leadership of Colin Laviolette, around eight students maintain the garden. 

‘Sustainabul’ for Maastricht University

On the recent National Day for Sustainability in Higher Education, Maastricht University scored 8th place in the ranking of a total of 20 universities and universities of applied sciences.