For IED, environmental stewardship is a vital dimension of design culture. Design serves as a fundamental tool for imagining a future in balance with the ecosystem, through solutions that combine creativity with responsibility.
The Institute’s commitment develops along two complementary pathways: on the one hand, operational management focused on reducing its environmental impact through energy efficiency and the circular management of resources.
On the other, and even more profoundly, the integration of sustainability into teaching and learning, with the aim of educating a generation of designers capable of placing care for the planet at the centre of their work.
Monitoring and reducing environmental impact
SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production - SDG 13 climate action
Awareness and measurement are the first steps towards change. For this reason, IED regularly monitors the consumption and environmental performance of its campuses, gathering data that supports concrete actions aimed at reducing environmental impact.
In 2026, IED also carried out its first Carbon Footprint assessment, initiating a structured process for measuring emissions and defining improvement targets. Supporting this journey, the certified ISO 14001 Environmental Management System ensures an integrated approach focused on continuous improvement.
100% green energy, certified with guarantees of origin
SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy – SDG 13 climate action
For several years, all gas and electricity supplies have been sourced exclusively from renewable energy sources. In addition, through its energy supply contracts, IED supports ecological and environmental enhancement projects, including the restoration of mountain trails, innovative forest management initiatives, and the planting of native tree species, thereby contributing in a tangible way to environmental sustainability.
Awareness-airsingiInitiatives for reducing electricity and gas consumption
SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy - SDG 12 responsible consumption and production
IED actively engages its community in discussions on environmental sustainability and the responsible use of resources through conferences and workshops for students and teaching staff. The Institute recognises that many small everyday actions can collectively make a significant contribution to energy conservation, while also supporting individual wellbeing and the health of the planet as a whole.
The Aria Campus Project
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Aria is the winning project of the Reinventing Cities competition promoted by the Municipality of Milan, submitted by lead partner Redo Sgr in collaboration with IED and other partners. The new international campus of the Istituto Europeo di Design will be developed within the former Ex Macello area, contributing to the regeneration of a significant urban site and the creation of a sustainable and innovative educational environment.
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