People
Improving the lives of people today & tomorrow.
Planet
Protecting our communities & environment.
Purpose
Thinking beyond profit to serve a greater good.
People
Improving the lives of people today & tomorrow.
Planet
Protecting our communities & environment.
Purpose
Thinking beyond profit to serve a greater good.
What does sustainability mean for IESE? Sustainability for IESE involves the full arc of business activity, from how companies treat the world around them, to how they treat each employee. It implies a commitment to respecting the environment and contributing to the communities where companies operate. It means creating purpose-driven businesses that generate value shared by all stakeholders. And it revolves around the fundamental importance of people: that companies must improve the lives of the people within their reach.
Ideas for a world to change
The world needs new ideas: novel approaches to how we do business, and leaders who know how to make change happen. IESE is generating new ideas on a broad range of fronts:
·Research. More than a dozen research centers, chairs and initiatives in areas including business in society, corporate governance, work and family, and women in leadership, along with a newly created Sustainable Leadership Initiative.
·Teaching. An array of courses in sustainability, entrepreneurship, impact investing, ESG and the circular economy, as well as an MBA concentration in Sustainability and Responsible Business and short focused programs such as our Sustainability & ESG Program.
·Spreading the word. Events, conferences and meetings dedicated to sustainability-related issues for business leaders and others, such as our Global Alumni Reunion.
IESE is also a member of the United Nations Global Compact and a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).
Research
Resources, tools and research for executives
Programs
All IESE’s programs are built on a general management perspective and a commitment to ethical leadership.
Change begins at home
We know that change begins at home. That’s why at IESE over the last decade we’ve implemented a battery of measures to increase on-campus energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption; to shift to green energy sources; to cut the use of paper, packaging and oils; and to encourage green mobility by installing charging stations for electric vehicles and expanding parking areas for bikes and electric scooters; among other measures. Our on-campus actions are focused in the following areas:
Our campuses, certified by the MITECO
The Spanish Office for Climate Change, part of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), has awarded IESE’s four campuses the “Calculo” seal for the academic years 2018–19, 2019–20, and 2020–21, and the “Calculo + Reduzco” seal for 2021–22. These voluntary seals reflect the level of commitment to the fight against climate change, recognizing organizations that calculate, reduce, and/or offset their carbon footprint.
In addition, MITECO has officially registered IESE’s 2023 carbon footprint, certifying a 31% reduction in emissions per square meter over the 2021–2023 period compared to the previous 2020–2022 period, in Scopes 1 and 2.
We are Gold in Sustainability
IESE has been awarded the international “STARS Gold” rating by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), in recognition of its comprehensive commitment to sustainability—from academic programs to campus operations.
STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) evaluates the performance of higher education institutions across five key areas: academics, operations, planning & administration, leadership & innovation, and engagement.
With this achievement, IESE becomes the first institution in Spain and one of the top three in Europe to reach the Gold level.
Carbon emissions audit
IESE Business School has been measuring its carbon footprint for several years. The first external emissions audit was conducted for the 2018–19 academic year, and since then we have achieved an 82% reduction in CO₂ emissions per square meter by the 2022–23 academic year. Our goal is to continue progressing along this path of reduction until we reach climate neutrality.
This audit includes the verification of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions in accordance with the UNE-EN ISO 14064-3:2019 standard and complies with GHG Protocol criteria.
It conforms with the internationally recognized standards of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard from the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Going forward: Goals for 2025
We are doubling down on our efforts to be as sustainable as possible. With this goal in mind, we have developed an Environmental Sustainability Plan covering the period 2021–2035.
Since 2020, we have also been calculating our indirect emissions (Scope 3), which allows us to chart a roadmap toward our goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
This plan, using 2010 as the baseline year, sets out five key targets for 2025, along with additional goals to be achieved by 2035:
Zero emissions (Scope 1 and 2)
30% improvement in energy efficiency
80% renewable energy
10% reduction in water consumption
Zero waste
Our Madrid campus
Our campus in Madrid is a model of sustainability, and has obtained LEED Gold certification, which recognizes its high environmental standards. The campus uses 100% renewable energy, has intelligent control of the facilities and air conditioning, and consumes 40% less water than a conventional building.
Students & alumni
Since 1958, IESE’s mission has been to develop leaders who strive to have a deep, positive and lasting impact on people, companies and society through professional excellence, integrity and spirit of service. With this in mind, business ethics, including sustainability, are a core value for the institution and all programs and activities align with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Our participants are taught ethical practices as a central focus at IESE, reflecting a human-centered approach to business. Ethical practices consider decisions and actions that impact the environment, society and the economy, meaning in sustainability. At IESE, we expect our students to be able to define sustainability and identify major sustainability challenges and to reflect on the impact that their business decisions have on sustainability on a personal and professional level. These decisions affect many aspects of sustainability: the environment, the economy and society including peers, employees, suppliers, clients and other stakeholders.
By taking the mandatory course Business Ethics, all students in our degree programs achieve the following IESE institutional learning outcomes:
- Understanding the mutual relationship between business and ethics in managerial decision-making
- Mastering the tools and procedures to prevent, identify and resolve corporate crises with a holistic stakeholder approach
- Analyzing the impact that organizational policies have on the behaviors of individuals and corporate culture
- Comprehending the relationship between businesses and their stakeholders to establish lasting and constructive dialogues
- Identifying the opportunities associated with responsible management and integrating them into organizational and strategic planning
- Understanding the ethical and social challenges of technological disruption and the related opportunities for innovation in business
We measure the success of our sustainability commitment not only by what we do as an institution, but also by what our students and participants do as individuals. The clubs they create while at IESE. The activities they participate in. And, ultimately, the work they do once they leave IESE and begin making their mark.
People
Sustainability at IESE is also closely linked to our employees, their health and safety, their wellbeing at work, and their opportunities to grow personally and professionally. We strive to create a workplace that is:
·Inclusive. Through policies related to workplace equality and to teleworking, and official certification as a family-friendly company.
·Healthy. Through multiple health and safety measures, including a campus doctor and annual wellness check-ups for employees.
·Safe. Through exhaustive COVID-19 protocols and regular testing.
·Fulfilling. Through professional development plans for both academic and non-academic staff.
Governance
Governance impacts the long-term strategy of IESE, and is a part of how we ensure that IESE is managed in a way that is mindful of all its stakeholders.
-
Transparency. Open communication with all stakeholders, through regular all-employee meetings, smaller-scale talks, and posting of relevant information on website and employee intranet.
Transparency. Open communication with all stakeholders, through regular all-employee meetings, smaller-scale talks, and posting of relevant information on website and employee intranet. -
Oversight. Committees to ensure a safe and diverse workplace, including compensation, operations, and health and safety.
-
Reporting. In addition to our Annual Report, compiled a Social Impact Report detailing CSR areas.
The institutional responsibilities for sustainability at IESE are entrusted to the Sustainability Committee. The Committee is composed of four people: Jaume Armengou (secretary general) and Jaume Vidal (finance and administration director) of the Executive Committee, Mercè Jorba and Caroline Tomás.