Campusleben, Studierende am Mensawiese, Studierende

Sustainability at Mannheim Business School

Shaping a sustainable economy and society is one of the central challenges of our time. Climate change, social inequality, and increasing resource scarcity are among the most pressing issues.

For Mannheim Business School, sustainability means actively addressing these challenges and developing concrete solutions. We integrate ethics, responsibility, and sustainability into our research, teaching, and engagement with society. In this way, we educate responsible leaders and contribute to the sustainable development of business and society.



Integration of Sustainability in an International Context

International frameworks provide guidance for our approach to sustainability. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations offer direction in addressing global economic, social, and environmental challenges. At the same time, the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) strengthen our commitment to embedding sustainability, responsibility, and ethics in our research and teaching.

We regularly document our progress and initiatives in our PRME reports.

To the PRME reports


Our Carbon Footprint

Society faces significant environmental and social challenges. A key task is to limit anthropogenic climate change and reduce its impacts, which requires consistent and collective action.

Mannheim Business School takes an active role in addressing these challenges. In collaboration with Fokus Zukunft, we measured our carbon footprint for the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 fiscal years in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The early results were promising: in 2020/2021, we reduced our emissions by 18.2%. Like the University of Mannheim, Mannheim Business School aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.

The full carbon footprint reports can be downloaded here (in German):

Report 2019/2020   Report 2020/2021

Drei Studierende radeln auf dem Radweg bei der Mensawiese, mit dem Schloss im Hintergrund.
Operational Sustainability at the University of Mannheim

Mannheim Business School aligns its activities with the sustainability strategy of the University of Mannheim. Following the principle of “practice what you preach”, sustainability is integrated into our processes, guided by current research and scientific expertise. More information on the University’s operational sustainability measures is available here.


Research Insights on Sustainability

Luftaufnahme eines Flächenbrandes mit dichter Rauchentwicklung in einer trockenen Landschaft.
Why Extreme Weather Costs More Than We Realize
Europe is once again experiencing a summer of extreme weather. Heatwaves have swept across large parts of the continent, while wildfires, droughts, and exceptionally low water levels on major rivers such as the Rhine and Danube have placed increasing pressure on communities, ecosystems, and economic ...
Zwei Studierende an einem Tisch im Gruppenarbeitsbereich.
New Transparency Rules, Existing Challenges: How German Companies View the EU Pay Transparency Directive
Greater transparency in pay structures is intended to help reduce gender-based pay differences. With the EU Pay Transparency Directive, companies in Germany will face new requirements aimed at making compensation structures more visible. But how well prepared are companies for these changes? And do ...
Zwei leere Einkaufskörbe liegen auf einer grünen Moosfläche und symbolisieren nachhaltigen Konsum.
Sustainability Comes at a Price
Our economy is caught between cost pressures on the one hand and ambitious climate goals on the other. For B2B buyers, pricing has become a delicate balancing act: sustainability is now part of the agenda, but price sensitivity is significantly heightened by unpredictable fluctuations in the broader ...
Mehrere Elektroautos stehen aufgereiht auf einem Parkplatz vor einem Hangar.
The Hidden Economics of EV Battery Circularity
Every year, around 20 to 22 million new electric vehicles hit the roads worldwide, creating a rapidly growing market for used EV batteries. But once these batteries reach the end of their life in a vehicle, what makes the most economic sense: giving them a second life or recycling their valuable ...

Sustainability-Oriented Programs

Drei lächelnde Personen im Gespräch in einem Hörsaal
Mannheim Female Leadership Academy

The Mannheim Female Leadership Academy (MFLA) supports talented female students on their path to leadership and top management positions. Through practice-oriented training, exchange with role models, and access to exclusive networks, the program strengthens key competencies and supports the development of sustainable careers.

Die Arme von fünf Studierenden. In ihren Händen halten sie einen kleinen Globus.
Global Sustainability Management Program

The two-semester GSM program is offered to MMM students in collaboration with the partner universities of ENGAGE.EU. It combines current sustainability research with international practical experience. Students work on projects, participate in workshops, and build an international network.


Sustainability As a Common Goal

Logo von U7+ Alliance
U7+ Alliance

The University of Mannheim is part of the U7+ Alliance, an international network of universities. Together, they develop practical strategies to address global challenges within the framework of the G7.

Logo von ENGAGE.EU
ENGAGE.EU

As part of ENGAGE.EU, the University of Mannheim collaborates with leading European universities in economics and social sciences to address societal challenges together.


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