Resources

Politecnico di Torino is committed to promoting the responsible management of resources by promoting the reduction of consumption, discouraging waste, and favoring recycling and reuse policies with a view to a circular economy.

The actions implemented by the University in the area of Resources concern:

  • The management of waste disposal, which translates into reducing and rationalizing waste and thus decreasing its environmental impact, following the “reuse-recycle-reduce” approach to complete closure of the product life cycle sustainably;
  • The management of water resources by monitoring consumption and promoting strategies to reduce the waste of water;
  • The enhancement of the sustainability of the agri-food supply chains. The university canteens and other food services rely on local and organic providers or purchase sustainable and certified food products (DOP, DOCG Fairtrade certification) for the preparation of sustainable and healthy meals. 
  • The responsible management of the procurement. Materials and consumables purchased by the University follow the guidelines of Green Public Procurement in a way that respects the environment without forgetting the affordability of procurement. Sustainability policies in this regard cover all purchases, including those of consumables, electronic equipment and beverages, cleaning products, furniture, and more. Purchases thus respond to the guidelines of the CAM (criteri ambientali minimi) and the APE network promoted by Arpa Piemonte and the Metropolitan City of Turin.

 

Azioni in corso

Circular economy

Pursuing Politecnico campuses sustainability in terms of "Circular Economy" means reducing the production of waste, thus decreasing its environmental impact, following the "reduce-reuse-recycle" approach. 

Limiting the production of waste, encouraging the reconditioning and reuse of goods, and managing the proper disposal of waste within the University through specific projects are all initiatives that characterise the activities of this sector.

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The myPoliTo Re-bag cases are a project for reusing exhibition materials used at Politecnico in a circular economy perspective. The project is coordinated by the Green Team and the Communication, Culture, and Libraries directorate (CCBI), and with the collaboration of various departments and directions of the University, aspects of graphic and product design, material recovery and selection, and sustainability management have been addressed.

The recovered material is that which is prepared for institutional exhibitions, primarily within the scope of the Biennale Tecnologia (link) (starting from the first edition in 2019 as the Technology Festival), a comprehensive review that offers the community a detailed, inclusive, and accessible reflection on the increasingly important theme of the relationship between technology and society, with a program characterized by a strongly interdisciplinary approach.

Through the use of PVC panels affixed in the 2 main corridors of the Politecnico di Torino, paths were created that, with the use of evocative images and slogans, delved into the topics covered in each year of the Biennale Tecnologia, related to both polytechnic culture and current issues.

The product concept was created by students of the degree course in Design and Communication of the Politecnico di Torino, as part of the project "Un sacco di sport" (link) coordinated by Prof. Cristian Campagnaro, Sara Ceraolo and Riccardo Vicentini, in collaboration with the Costruire Bellezza project (link).

For the realization of the myPoliTo Re-bag cases, more than 250 m2 of PVC banners were recovered, then packaged by the Cingomma workshop, which promotes responsible consumption, offering handcrafted products consistent with the challenges of time and extending the life of materials.

Thanks to the recovery of the display material for making the myPoliTo Re-bags, a saving of 379 kg of CO2 eq. was calculated.

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Since 2018, new students enrolled at the Politecnico have been given a metal water bottle to reduce the purchase of disposable bottles. 

Water Dispensers

In order to limit the use of single-use plastic, water dispensers were installed (both indoors and outdoors) since 2018. In 2023 the fountains dispensed more than 600 000 litres of water, corrisponding to saving around 700 000 single-use plastic bottles.

Find here the location of water dispensers (soon online)

raccolta differenziata

Separate waste disposal islands (plastic packaging, glass and metal, paper, organic waste and undifferentiated waste) are available in the University's common areas. Thanks to the collaboration with the student team EcòPoli, users of the ecological islands are supported by an illustrative panel that provides information on how to dispose of waste correctly.

In addition to the traditional collections, containers can be found for the collection of batteries and plastic caps. For the collection of special waste such as WEEE, in addition to institutional disposal, themed days are periodically organised during which temporary collection points are set up for the disposal of personal materials by members of the polytechnic community.

For all other special waste, special warehouses are set up in accordance with the requirements of the sector regulations.

Find here the location of collection points (soon online)

Water

Water is a precious resource, and its availability and management problems affect many areas.

The Politecnico has always paid particular attention to the responsible use of water. In its building projects, it pays attention to sustainable resource management, encouraging the experimental use of non-drinking water (rainwater or purified water) for uses that do not require drinking water, and monitoring drinking water consumption.

In all this, it is also necessary for students and staff of the University to participate in water sustainability policies, contributing to the actions with intelligent management of the resources even on a personal level while on campus.

Rainwater harvesting

In the recently constructed campus buildings (Energy Centre and Residenza Mollino), systems have been set up to collect and store rainwater for later use for irrigation or toilet flushing.

Reducing water consumption

Various strategies have been adopted to limit the water consumption of activities in the University, such as the installation of flow reducers in toilets and aerators for washbasins, and the monitoring of consumption in real time

Green Management

In the Athenaeum's green areas, the plants and shrubs planted are native with a low demand for irrigation throughout the year.

Negli edifici dei Campus di recente costruzione (Energy Center e Residenza Mollino) sono stati realizzati impianti per la raccolta e lo stoccaggio delle acque piovane per un successivo utilizzo a fini irrigui o per lo scarico dei WC.

Per limitare i consumi idrici delle attività nell'Ateneo sono state adottate diverse strategie, come l'installazione di riduttori di portata nei servizi igienici e di aeratori per i lavabo e il monitoraggio dei consumi in tempo reale.

Nelle aree verdi dell'Ateneo le piante e gli arbusti messi a dimora sono di tipo autoctono con una bassa richiesta di irrigazione durante l'anno.

Sustainable Food

Sustainable food represents one of the most urgent and crucial challenges for the future of our planet.
From agricultural production to industrial processing, from distribution to consumption, every stage of the food supply chain has a significant impact on the environment, the economy, and society. Promoting sustainable food systems means reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving biodiversity, protecting water and soil resources, and ensuring fair working conditions and access to healthy food for all.

With the PolEATo project, the question was addressed: How can we shop in a healthy and sustainable way?
Members of the Politecnico community, together with Federico Ferrero — medical doctor, nutritionist, and food journalist — discovered local ingredients, their properties, and new ways to cook them.

Discover the themed episodes recorded at the Porta Palazzo market.