Student Sustainability Associates

The Harvard Business School (HBS) Student Sustainability Associate Program, founded in 2006, is the school’s peer-to-peer education program that promotes sustainable behavior on and off campus. An SSA is hired from each RC section to connect with their classmates on how key sustainability topics impact business. These topics have included climate change, social equity, environmental justice, transportation, energy, food, and water. 

In addition to these campaigns, SSAs work in pairs or small groups to put together a proposal for sustainability infrastructure and policy improvements within HBS. Throughout the year, they will meet with stakeholders to build out their work, and they will present both their draft and their final project to School and University staff and faculty. 

Incoming first-year HBS students can apply to be a Student Sustainability Associate. Applications received by midnight on September 4, 2024 will be given priority. Email sustainability@hbs.edu with any questions, and read blogs by former SSAs about their experiences Creating Meaningful Impact Right Here on Campus and Empowering Students, Enriching Communities.

Explore Past SSA Projects:

Increasing Plant-Based and Local Foods:

• Encouraging Plant-Based Dining at HBS
• Increasing Access to Local Produce
• Increasing Sustainable, Vegetarian Food on the HBS Campus
• What’s Growing on Your Roof

Operational Recommendations:

• Automating and Improving HBS’ Energy Use Reporting
• Net-Zero Buildings at HBS – Embodied Carbon
• Pursuing the Efficient Use of Resources at Harvard Business School
• Social Equity & Environmental Justice in University Operations
• Tackling Water Use on the Harvard Business School Campus
• Tracking Greenhouse Gas Emissions – A Move Towards Real-Time Emissions Data
• Water Reduction Recommendations for Harvard Business School

Reducing Waste:

• Continued Work Reducing Single-Use Waste in HBS
• Improving Accuracy of Waste Sorting Through Behavioral Nudges
• The ‘Just Enough’ Project
• Reducing Food Waste at Harvard Business School
• Reducing Move-Out Waste Through Sustainable Supplies Project
• Reducing Single-Use Waste in the Dining Halls at HBS
• Reusable To-Go Ware Options for HBS
• Solving the Plastic Problem, One Cup and Bottle at a Time

Sharing Information:

• Building Flexible Sustainability Dashboards
• Collating Climate/Sustainability Resources Across Harvard
• Emissions Profile of HBS Students
• Inspiring Impact through Decarbonized Products
• Improving Sustainability and Reducing Carbon Emissions in Student Events at HBS
• The Human Element of Sustainability
• New Student Onboarding
• Revitalizing Harvard Climate Week
• Social Equity & Environmental Justice at HBS: Understanding Opportunities for Student Community Engagement

Student Transportation:

• Green on the Go – Sustainable Transportation at HBS
• Ground Transit – Discounted Free MBTA Passes
• Quantifying and Mitigating Carbon Impact of Student Air Travel

Sustainability in the Curriculum:

• Bringing Sustainability into the HBS Required Curriculum
• Integrating Sustainability in the Harvard Business School Curriculum
• Strengthening Sustainability Content in the Elective Curriculum