Environmental sustainability has been a goal of the presidency of the Polytechnic of Coimbra, which wants to continue to increase and enhance this area. In this sense, on 27 November 2018, it joined the Sustainable Campus Network, being one of its 28 public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) component institutions in Portugal.
This Network resulted in a Commitment Charter for HEIs regarding the principles and practice of sustainable development in all its aspects – environmental, social and economic – thus contributing to a more environmentally aware school community.
The Polytechnic of Coimbra had already been implementing some sustainable measures – abolition of plastic cups and paper towels on trays, among others -, but with the participation in the Network this work is intensified. Besides changing behaviours, it is also expected to adjust the training offer of the courses to incorporate some environmental efficiency and management contents.