MIT

Driving the circular economy on a university campus through purchasing

If US higher education expenditure was a country, it would be the 21st largest economy in the world.

There is no doubt that higher education plays a vital role in the global transition to a circular economy. From teaching and learning, through research and into student action, across the globe there is growing momentum from the sector to move into the circular economy space. But, it isn’t only in the classroom or laboratory where real change is possible - how higher education institutions choose to use their immense purchasing power can have significant effects on making campus activities and supply chains more circular. More circular procurement decisions can significantly help to shift the economy and support universities in their net zero carbon ambitions.

In this 8 minute video, Brian Goldberg, an Assistant Director at the MIT Office of Sustainability, describes the approach to ensure MIT’s new waste contract supports a circular economy on campus.