International Sustainability Week 2026 is behind us

From May 11 to 15, 2026, the International Sustainability Week 2026 took place at Vistula University. It was a week dedicated to sustainable development, social responsibility, environmental protection and practical actions for a more conscious future.

This year’s edition combined expert lectures, panel discussions, educational activities, student initiatives and outdoor events. Throughout the week, the Vistula community took part in meetings and activities showing that sustainability is not only an idea, but also a concrete way of thinking about education, business, the environment and everyday choices.

The first day of International Sustainability Week opened with the panel “Designing a Sustainable Future: A Climate Champions Perspective”, featuring Dr Peshang Hama Karim, Events Manager at the Climate Champions Team and PhD in Environmental Sciences. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the design of a more sustainable future and the role of climate leaders in building social awareness.

On the second day, the Interdisciplinary Forum for Academic Researchers on Sustainability took place. The event brought together representatives of international universities, including Babes-Bolyai University, University of Patras, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Polytechnic Institute of Porto. The panel highlighted the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of experience in sustainability research.

Wednesday focused on activities aimed at raising environmental awareness. The campus hosted, among others, the Sustainable Robotics Lab, Recycle Your Reads: The Book Swap, Re-Fashion Lab, Sustainable Table Tennis Tournament and a symbolic action involving a polar bear costume. It was a day of practical activities, creativity and student engagement in topics related to responsible consumption, recycling and the environment.

Thursday was devoted, among other topics, to preventing food waste. During the panel “Managing food waste in hotels: modern strategies for waste prevention in buffet systems?”, experts from the hotel and gastronomy industries discussed modern methods of reducing waste in buffet systems. The programme also included a Zero Waste workshop led by Kuba Korczak, followed by the Culinary Festival: Zero Waste Edition and the Student Talent Show, which combined education, culture and student energy.

On the final day, International Sustainability Week moved beyond the campus. Participants could join outdoor activities such as Ride for Nature on the Ursynów–Kabaty Forest route, a picnic, a photo walk and a forest cleanup. It was a practical finale to the week, showing that care for the environment begins with concrete actions here and now.

International Sustainability Week 2026 showed that the Vistula community can combine academic knowledge, international cooperation, student engagement and real action for the planet. We would like to thank all participants, speakers, students, lecturers and organisers for their active involvement and for building awareness around sustainable development together.

Act today, sustain tomorrow!

See photos from the event