#sustainable MCI
As an educational and research institution, MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® has a great responsibility with regard to sustainable development, climate change and our environment. We are committed to shaping a socially just and ecologically and economically sustainable future at various levels: in teaching, research, on campus and in our community.
#Sustainable MCI Students
Together with you as a student, we want to be part of a sustainable future. As part of the largest stakeholder group in our community, you can make a meaningful contribution to a sustainable environment, both in your everyday life and with your commitment and support for our university’s efforts in this area.
This page offers a variety of tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint and on how to increase your carbon handprint, your positive contribution.
Whether small or large, we want to hear your ideas. Please send us your experiences, suggestions and feedback on the topic of sustainability at MCI and in your everyday life.
NEWS AT A GLANCE
Podcast Series on Sustainable Development Goals
As part of the “Politics & Communication” course in the second semester of the bachelors’ program Social, Health, & Public Management, students produced four podcast episodes on the SDGs during a media workshop. Interviews were conducted with Prof. Dr. Kerschbaumer, the Head of the program, students from the fourth project semester, and Regina Obexer, Head of the Center for Responsible Management & Social Impact at MCI.
In Episode 1, Dr. Kerschbaumer provides insights into how the SDGs are integrated into the bachelors’ program. He also explains the program’s motto, “Managing the Public Interest” and discusses which of the 17 SDGs have already been successfully implemented.
Episode 2 focuses on SDG 13: Climate Action. To make the topic more tangible, the students interview a fellow student who offers valuable insights into the fourth project semester. The discussion covers the implementation of climate action measures in Tyrol, climate justice, and the work of “Klimabündnis Österreich”.
In Episode 3, the focus is on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being. The episode highlights the collaboration between fourth-semester students and the Tyrolean Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (BSVT). During their project semester, the students were tasked with identifying barriers for visually impaired individuals in the Tyrolean region of Außerfern. They worked on a practical issue and gathered significant data for the BSVT.
Episode 4 provides intriguing insights from Regina Obexer, who explains the purpose of the Principles for Responsible Management (PRME) Center at MCI and how sustainability is integrated into the university. As the head of all sustainability and ethics initiatives at MCI, she supports the systematic incorporation of these topics into the academic programs and leads the PRME Task Force.
MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® uses planeed to motivate and promote sustainable actions throughout the MCI community. Therefore, MCI has developed various Action Points and related initiatives, which you can find in various places on campus, focused on transport & mobility, food & nutrition, energy & resource management, studying at MCI, and leisure activities. You can engage with the Action Points in several ways: by liking, rating it (to contribute to the impact score), adopting it (to incorporate the action into your daily life), or leaving a comment. Maybe your small Action inspires others to act towards our common global goal.
You will find further digital sustainability tips on this page that you can also interact with - take a look around and get inspired!
The 2nd MCI Sustainability Week 2024 took place in the week of June third. Workshops, excursions or evening activities such as a pub quiz or a movie night were part of the program. We wanted to examine, develop and discuss a wide range of sustainability topics together. You can find more details here.
Next MCI Sustainability Week: May 19-23, 2025
CO2 FOOTPRINT
Do you actually know what your personal resource consumption looks like and how much CO2 emissions are caused by your everyday behavior in terms of living, eating, mobility and consumption? Here you can calculate your CO2 footprint:
Here you will find a new book recommendation from our SDG-PRME Ambassadors every month:
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Description: Co-Editors Regina Obexer, Desiree Wieser and Anita Zehrer are excited to announce the publication of the book “Innovation in Responsible Management Education” with Emerald Publishing ! The book advocates for a paradigm shift in education, emphasizing the need for higher education institutions to embrace sustainable development principles. Featuring contribution from around the world, insights are provided into higher education policy directives, curriculum design, teaching methods, and business practices. The book provides inspiration for educators and practitioners to incorporate responsible management education into various contexts, aiming to drive positive societal change and shape future leaders with a social impact.
TRANSPORT & MOBILITY
The mobility of students and lecturers at MCI is one of the biggest sources of CO2 emissions. But especially in this area, the personal CO2 footprint can be reduced with a little planning and flexibility. Here are some ideas on how you can make your trips - whether short or long - greener:
In most cases, the bicycle – apart from your legs – is the fastest and easiest means of transportation in Innsbruck. If you are new to Innsbruck, there are also plenty of opportunities to buy used bikes. Willhaben is widely used for this: www.willhaben.at (available in German only) And if something doesn't work, there are also plenty of options for repairing your bike.
- bikerei.org (available in German only)
- www.wams.at/radwerkstatt (available in German only)
- www.radundtat.at (available in German only)
As an MCI student, you can create a free account with “Stadtrad Innsbruck”. This allows you to borrow one of 340 bicycles at more than 40 locations. With the free rate, you can ride several times a day for 30 minutes free of charge. Registration is very simple: stadtrad.ivb.at/en
Of course you can also use your bike in your free time. Here you can find a map with all the official cycle paths in Tirol: radrouting.tirol/index_en.html
And if you get tired or the hill is too steep, you can use a bus or train to transport yourself and your bike.
Innsbruck and the entire region have a very good public transportation network. As a student, you can benefit from reduced semester or annual tickets. Find the right ticket for you:
- ivb.at/en/passenger/tickets/overview-of-tickets
- www.vvt.at/page.cfm?vpath=tickets/mein-ticket/studentinnen (available in German only)
The bus stops near the MCI are:
- Polizeidirektion
- Congress/Hofburg
- Haus der Begegnung
Route planner apps:
- The VVT SmartRide app - for Innsbruck and the surrounding area:
www.tyrol.com/good-to-know/mobile-apps/vvt-smartride-app - Der ÖBB Scotty Routenplaner App – für den öffentlichen Verkehr in Österreich:
www.oebb.at/en/fahrplan/fahrplanauskunft/scottymobil
Carpooling is another way to reduce CO2. Do you live in the same city as a fellow student and have to go to MCI? Then why not coordinate and drive to MCI together? Or use one of the apps to search for a carpooling friend.
- Hey-Way: hey-way.com (available in German only)
- TukTuk: mitfahren.gea.at (available in German only)
- BlaBlaCar: www.blablacar.co.uk
Are you coming to Innsbruck to study for an entire degree or a semester abroad? Or are you leaving the MCI to start your semester abroad? Do you have to attend a conference, a workshop or a lecture or do you fancy a weekend city trip?
With the right tips, you can find ways to reduce your CO2 footprint and still get to your destination quickly. Due to its central location, there are very good connections from Innsbruck to Germany, Eastern Europe, Italy and Switzerland.
Train: With the ÖBB Vorteilscard you get a 50% discount on the regular price and a 15% discount on international routes. Did you also know that “Sparschiene” tickets are also available? The earlier you book a train, the cheaper the ticket.
ÖBB also offers a wide range of Nightjets. Some of these depart from Innsbruck or Rosenheim. This means you can travel to and from Innsbruck overnight. Night jets to Amsterdam or Hamburg are available almost every day. You can find more information here: www.nightjet.com/en/#/home
Interrail: Combine your trip to Innsbruck with other destinations along the way and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Europe, e.g:
Here you will find further helpful websites for your train journey:
- railon.eu (available in German only)
- www.thetrainline.com/information/cheap-train-tickets
- rail.cc
- www.seat61.com
- www.chronotrains.com/de (available in German only)
- HappyRail
Bus: If you can't find any train connections, perhaps you'll have better luck with the bus?
Bike: Or how about traveling abroad by bike? Two MCI students show you how it can be done:
If there is no other option but to fly:
For some destinations flying is the only alternative. To reduce your impact, there are a few things you should bear in mind:
- Prefer direct flights to multiple stop-overs.
- The latest findings also show that night flights have a higher environmental impact than flights that take place during the day.
- Reduce luggage to the bare essentials.
- Compensate for the CO2 generated by the flight, e.g. with: www.atmosfair.de/en
But don't forget: It is always better to avoid the generation of greenhouse gases in the first place than to compensate for them.
- ÖBB: www.oebb.at/de/reiseplanung-services/im-zug/unsere-zuege
Decision guide for flying- CO2 calculator for different means of transportation: uba.co2-rechner.de/en_GB
Cycle through Innsbruck!
FOOD & NUTRITION
The production of animal products has a very large CO2 footprint, as a lot of resources are used to produce these foods. Almost 1/3 of the global agricultural output is used for the production of meat and other animal products. Therefore, even small changes can make an important contribution here, such as reducing meat consumption to once or twice a week. But it's not just about what you eat, but also where it comes from.
There are several canteen locations in Innsbruck. At all locations, attention is paid to the regionality of animal products. Organic meat products are often offered. In the snack area, only recyclable packaging is used and there is a deposit system for reusable packaging for larger meals. Check here which menus are available:
The closer a product is produced, the smaller its footprint. Therefore, it is up to you to buy regional food in the supermarket. In order to know which foods can be grown at the respective time of year, it can be useful to hang a seasonal calendar on your fridge.
Did you also know that there are regional farmers' markets in Innsbruck and other cities? There you can buy food directly from the producers. This eliminates long transportation routes. You can find a list of the respective markets here: innsbruck.info/en/see-and-experience/shopping/shop-search/detail/infrastruktur/farmers-markets-innsbruck.html
In addition to farmers' markets, there are also numerous farm stores in Innsbruck: tirol/komm-her-bauernmarkt (available in German only)
There is also the option of having the vegetables brought directly to your home by the farmers. Often used in Innsbruck are:
- „die Bauernkiste“: bauernkiste.at (available in German only)
- „Lumpis Biokiste“: www.lumpererhof.at (available in German only)
Packaging has a key role in the purchase and consumption of food. To reduce packaging waste, it is advisable to use reusable packages for food and drinks. There is even a packaging-free store in Innsbruck. Green Roots: www.greenroot.bio (available in German only)
We have the great advantage that we can drink the water in Tyrol and it is available almost everywhere, including at our university. It is therefore advisable to always have a reusable bottle with you. If you like to drink coffee, a reusable coffee to go cup is a good idea, you can even get discounts in the canteen (one location is directly opposite MCI I) with your own cup. When it comes to coffee, the general rule is: “Don't use coffee machines with capsules – use a classic espresso machine instead (and fair trade coffee)”.
Not only packaging is important, but also try to avoid food waste. Plan your shopping and meals in advance so that you use up ingredients that you still have at home. You can also save food from the garbage and save money at the same time. The ToGoodToGo app is actively used in Innsbruck. next.toogoodtogo.com/de-at
“Less meat is often more.” Almost all restaurants and snack bars now offer meat-free alternatives. Why not try something new!
In this blog you will find popular restaurants: justinpluslauren.com/vegan-innsbruck
© CISaustralia Green Book
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© CISaustralia Green Book
DEALING WITH ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Each and every one of us can live more sustainably by taking simple steps. Separate your waste, save energy, reduce plastic and rethink your consumption behavior. With small changes to your everyday habits (and a little know-how), you can make a big difference for our planet.
There are also many ways to reduce your carbon footprint and save money at home. Here are a few tips:
- Take a shower rather than a bath.
- Wash particularly soiled laundry for longer rather than hotter; 30°C is sufficient for most wash cycles.
- Cook with a lid.
- Switch off electronic devices that you are not actively using (this also applies to multiple plugs).
- Do not forget to discharge electronic devices when they are no longer in use.
- Switch off the heating if you are leaving your home for a longer period of time.
- There should be no large furniture in front of the heater (it is most effective when there is nothing in front of it).
- Adjust the room temperature in your home to the time of year.
- It is better to air the room in bursts than to constantly tilt the window (especially important in winter).
You can find more tips in this brochure: www.doppelplus.tirol/en/downloads
Recycling means giving waste a second chance. Even waste materials can still be valuable. Reusing them conserves resources and saves money. Familiarize yourself with the recycling rules in your city. The IKB is responsible for Innsbruck. Here is an overview:
IKB waste seperation | 
Disposal facilities
How much we consume also affects our environment. To conserve our resources and also save CO2 emissions during transportation and production, try to repair broken items. In Austria there is a subsidy for the repair of electronic devices, the repair bonus. Find out more here: www.reparaturbonus.at (available in German only)
The Repair Café, an initiative of the “Tiroler Bildungsforum”, helps to give objects a longer life. Volunteer experts help to repair broken appliances such as defective toasters or even torn items of clothing at events held throughout Tyrol. You can find out when the next Repair Café in your area is taking place here: repaircafe-tirol.at/?id=2 (available in German only)
If repairs are unfortunately no longer possible, prefer local stores and avoid traditional online shopping (e.g. Amazon). It is better to buy used items than new ones. There are various online platforms for this in Austria, e.g. www.willhaben.at (available in German only) or www.refurbed.at (available in German only) for electronic devices.
Borrowing is also a great way to save money and do something good for the environment. This is particularly ideal for items that are not needed often or for exchange students.
- leihladen.wordpress.com (available in German only)
- transition-tirol.inter.at/gruppen-initiativen/leihladen-innsbruck (available in German only)
If your stay in Innsbruck is over and you have items that you don't want to take with you, there are online communities such as “Innsbruck verschenkt” or local charity organizations. The Re-USE Network Tyrol “noamal” supports waste avoidance. This online platform makes it possible to search and find various re-use events, such as swapping, donating, lending or upcycling events. Find a suitable event for you here: www.noamol.at (available in German only)
The collection points of the Wams association are also located throughout Tyrol. All kinds of items such as tableware, small items of furniture, clothing or decorative items can be handed in there. www.wams.at/sammelstellen (available in German only)
The charitable organisation Ho&Ruck is also a grateful recipient of used furniture. horuck.at (available in German only)
If you would like to take part in Tyrolean winter sports, there is an annual ski bazaar in the Olympiaworld Innsbruck, where you will find a large selection of 2nd-hand winter sports products, among other things. www.skiboerse.info/en
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AT THE MCI – STUDYING
You can also actively contribute to environmental protection in your everyday student life.
First and foremost, try to use as little paper as possible and recycle it (i.e. reuse paper that has only been written on a little). Not everything needs to be printed out, and a big chaotic pile of notes is not conducive to your organization. If you do need to print something, use a double-sided and black and white print setting. Another rule is “sharing is caring”. Swap learning materials and books with your fellow students. Otherwise, many books are also available second-hand or in the university library. Here is the Link to the online resources of the MCI: www.mci4me.at/en/services/library/data-bases
A laptop is undoubtedly an important tool for studying. However, we should not forget that electronic devices always have an environmental impact. A longer lifespan is therefore better for the environment. Used and refurbished goods are preferable when buying. Additionally, the environmental impact can also be reduced during use. Many laptops have a power-saving function and the brightness of the screen can also be adjusted. When charging your device, it is important that its battery is not overcharged. Disconnect your laptop from the power supply when you no longer need it. It is best to charge your laptop only when you notice that its battery is almost empty and without interruption.
A laptop is more energy-efficient than a PC, but tablets and e-book readers consume even less power. So, if your studies require frequent and prolonged reading of books, an e-book reader makes more ecological sense than using a laptop.
How you use the digital world is another important point in climate protection. Avoid digital waste. Emails are stored on servers. Cooling such data centers consumes electricity. It therefore makes sense to delete emails that you no longer need. Unsubscribe from newsletters that you do not read. The use of AI such as ChatGPT also consumes a lot of electricity and sometimes more than a conventional online search query. There are green alternatives to search engines. The search engine Ecosia promises to plant a tree with every search. www.ecosia.org/?c=de
There are also a few things to consider when you physically visit the university. Don't forget to separate your waste and turn off the lights and PC when you leave seminar rooms. It is also advisable to avoid snack vending machines. And studying in the university library can not only be motivating, but also reduce electricity consumption at home.
Study sustainably at the MCI.
LEISURE - ENJOY GREEN TYROL
Tyrol is a true nature paradise and outdoor activities are part of the Tyrolean culture. Activities in nature can not only be inexpensive, but also climate-neutral. Your own behavior is crucial. Travel to starting points by public transport and leave nature as you found it. This means: don't take any plants with you, but do take your garbage with you.
Activities such as hiking or mountain biking are available in the summer months. Many routes can be reached directly from Innsbruck via the “Hungerburg”. Use of the “Hungerburgbahn” tram, which starts at the Congress, is also included in the Climate Ticket for public transport. If you like climbing, there are numerous climbing areas that can be reached by public transport from Innsbruck: lenamueller.com/sustainable-climbing-guide
The winter months are very popular in Tyrol. Unfortunately, these months also show particularly clearly why climate protection is so important. Ski tourism causes a high level of environmental impact in Tyrol. Greener alternatives are snowshoeing, sledging and ski tours. However, you should always check the avalanche risk in the area in question: avalanche.report/bulletin/latest
The “die Bäckerei” provides cultural entertainment in Innsbruck. There you can support local artists and exchange ideas with like-minded people without being forced to consume. diebaeckerei.at (available in German only)
Events such as “Tirol Radelt” and “Happy Nightskate” are great opportunities to get to know new people and at the same time experience environmentally conscious outdoor exercise.
- tirol.radelt.at/mitmachen (available in German only)
- www.tyrol.com/things-to-do/events/all-events/e-happy-night-skate
Innsbruck in Summer
BE PART OF A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
In addition to your personal behaviour, you can also get involved in sustainable development in various ways at the MCI:
- Take part in career seminars on the subject of Sustainable Development and Responsible Management:
www.mci4me.at/career-calendar or even better: complete the Badge: Sustainable Development and/or the Badge: Responsible Management www.mci4me.at/badges - For projects during your studies, choose a topic that contributes to sustainable development. You can find examples here: www.mci4me.at/en/my-study-program/study/mci-community-service
- Research a topic related to sustainable development and the SDGs as part of your project, Bachelor's or Master's thesis.
- Get involved as a student representative and contribute ideas and activities on the topic of sustainable development.
- Work with student initiatives and/or associations www.mci4me.at/en/my-study-program/study
- Do volunteer work and receive the Badge: MCI Volunteer
- Take part in MCI competitions and PRME initiatives (and introduce the topic of sustainability there: MCIdea4students | MCI creativity-award
- Ask questions and actively introduce the topic of sustainable development at courses, lectures and other opportunities.
Studying abroad is undoubtedly a great way to gain new experiences, but don't forget the impact your behaviour has on the environment. To minimize your carbon footprint during your semester abroad, follow our tips and inform yourself about local options. Green Erasmus+ helps you to make your semester abroad “greener”:
In general, you can follow the 7Rs in everyday life:
- Replace: Do not use disposable products, replace them with reusable products, e.g.: shopping bags, water bottles, ...
- Reduce: Rethink your consumption decisions – do you really need this product?
- Reuse: Use products as often as possible. There are two great second-hand shops in Innsbruck: Wams and Ho&Ruck.
- Rethink: How can you meet your needs more sustainably? Less meat is more and keyword: public transport.
- Refuse: Become part of green initiatives.
- Recycle: Find out how to separate your waste properly.
- Repair: Try to repair broken items before you buy something new.
If you are planning to open a bank account in a new location, try to choose a bank that does not invest in fossil fuels. Here you can check how sustainable your bank is: bank.green
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