On September 25, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP) will mark Sustainability Day, reinforcing its strategic commitment to environmental preservation and ecological responsibility.

Through practical application of engineering solutions, the institution plays an active role in decarbonization and campus efficiency, directly impacting integrated laboratory waste management, energy self-sufficiency, and scientific research focused on the circular economy.

TRELAB — Laboratory for Lab-Generated Waste Treatment

TRELAB ensures the integrated management of waste generated in ISEP’s laboratories and across its campus. Created in 1999 and reorganized as a Service Provision Centre in 2024, the laboratory follows the waste hierarchy. Of the more than two tonnes of chemical waste collected each year, around 70% is treated in-house, which reduces external collections to twice a year, a pioneering result in Portuguese higher education.

Photovoltaic Panels

With the installation of a 500 kWp Production Unit for Self-Consumption (UPAC), ISEP is accelerating its energy transition. The photovoltaic plant has an estimated capacity of 660 MWh per year, avoiding the emission of approximately 138 tonnes of CO2 annually. This environmental impact is equivalent to planting more than 6,300 trees or taking 63 cars off the road every year, demonstrating the institution’s commitment to leading by example.

M4S — Materials for Sustainability

The M4S Research Centre develops sustainable solutions for engineering materials and processes. Focused on the circular economy, the group incorporates recycled materials into the production of high-performance composites. One practical example is the use of discarded PET bottles in the manufacture of profiles and laminates reinforced with glass and carbon fibres, an interesting approach that responds to requests from industrial partners.