The strategy implementation programme for sustainability (SUP-NH) is intended to highlight progress, clarify responsibilities and embed sustainability more firmly within the university’s governance and management processes. Francesco Bortoluzzi, Head of Sustainability Programmes, explains what this means in practice.
What is the SUP-NH?
The programme translates our strategic commitment to sustainability into concrete action. It encompasses four key areas, namely reducing the environmental impact of university operations, using living labs as a method for practice-oriented transformation, fostering a university-wide culture of sustainability, and promoting communication and cooperation. For each area, verifiable measures and performance indicators have been defined for 2026 and 2027, constituting the programme’s first strategic cycle.
How was the programme developed?
The process was overseen and led by ZHAW sustainable. A key role was played by the Sustainable Development Committee (SDC), which brings together representatives from all eight Schools, the President's Office, Finance and Services, and the student body. This broad participation was essential, as measures should not simply be imposed from the top down. Instead, they must be developed through collaborative dialogue with all those involved.
Francesco Bortoluzzi
Head of Sustainability Programmes, ZHAW sustainable, President's Office
“The SUP-NH is not a promise for the future, but rather a working framework for the present. What sets us apart from previous commitments is not goodwill; that has always existed. What makes the difference are the milestones, the data and the people in every School who are committed to advancing this journey together.”
How does the ZHAW ensure that commitments lead to action?
Every measure in the SUP-NH is linked to clearly defined interim targets for 2026 and 2027. The programme is also integrated into the university-wide strategic process and is reviewed and updated annually. A key instrument is the sustainability cockpit, which is currently under development. This tool is intended to make key figures on emissions, resource consumption and institutional processes transparent and publicly available.
Why doesn’t the programme place greater emphasis on control?
The SUP-NH deliberately does not include sanction measures for non-compliance. Instead, it places an emphasis on cooperation rather than control. This reflects the conviction that meaningful and lasting transformation can only succeed if it is supported by the Schools and organisational units. Sustainability cannot simply be mandated. It must be embedded within the university’s structures, disciplinary cultures and everyday practices.
