Alba Bala

Position

Academic Director of the Master’s Degree in Sustainability Management ESCI-UPF

Qualifications

PhD in Environmental Sciences (UAB)

Biography

Alba Bala Gala is currently the Academic Director of the Master’s Degree in Sustainability Management between ESCI-UPF and BSM-UPF.  She is a lecturer at ESCI-UPF and a Senior Researcher responsible for the packaging, waste, and circular economy research lines at the UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change. She was a lecturer in Ecodesign and Environmental Analysis of products at the School of Industrial Design (ESDI, Ramón Llull University) and Elisava Design School. She was a researcher at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (UAB). She has developed over 30 national and international projects on LCA, green procurement and eco-design. She is a member of the Spanish LCA Network.

Finalist of the Europe Innova Award, 2008 edition, awarded by the European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry.  Winner of the Design for Recycling Award in the category of projects given by the Catalan Government in 2000. 

Subjects they teach

Subject
Programme
Typology

Environmental Impacts

Master of Science in Sustainability Management

Required

Programme:
Master of Science in Sustainability Management

Description

Any human activity has an impact on the environment. Knowing these impacts, and how ecosystems and the natural environment work, is essential to be able to anticipate or mitigate them. The course helps the student to place environmental phenomena in the context of ecosystems and in the natural environment. It provides the basic concepts to understand these phenomena (environment, ecosystem...) and to contextualize environmental impacts (by nature, extent, intensity ...). Likewise, the course will provide information on the physical mechanisms by which different environmental impacts are generated and sufficient information for the student to identify the environmental impacts associated with different types of activities and industrial sectors.

Créditos:
3 ECTS

Language:
English

Type of subject: Required

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Product and Environment

Master of Science in Sustainability Management

Required

Programme:
Master of Science in Sustainability Management

Description

The development of cleaner products and services is becoming more and more a need and a catalyst for companies. In this course the necessary tools will be provided to determine the environmental impact associated with them, as well as ecodesign strategies to improve them. The course provides the necessary information to the student to know and be able to apply different tools for environmental evaluation of products (checklists, MET matrix, MIPS, LCA, etc.). It shows the student the applications of these types of tools, including the ecodesign of products and services. The course provides basic notions about the main ecodesign strategies and how to apply them to the design of new products and services. It provides the student with a critical spirit for the analysis of the products and services available in the market, as well as in the use of one of the LCA software tools more used in the World.
 

Créditos:
3 ECTS

Language:
English

Type of subject: Required

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Sustainability Management

Bachelor’s Degree in International Business and Marketing

Elective

Programme:
Bachelor’s Degree in International Business and Marketing

Description

The new paradigm of the Circular Economy. Introduction to the lifecycle perspective as a mechanism for assessing the environmental impact of production systems. Ecodesign and green marketing. Integrated waste management. Analysis of integrated social value.

Learning Outcomes

Ability to distinguish, select and apply the main methodologies for assessing and improving the nature and the environmental communication of goods and services. Judging and assessing the internalisation of sustainability in the business world.

Code:
40311

Créditos:
4 ECTS

Language:
English

Type of subject: Elective

Sustainability Management

Bachelor’s Degree in International Business and Marketing

Required

Programme:
Bachelor’s Degree in International Business and Marketing

Description

The new paradigm of the circular economy. Introduction to the lifecycle perspective as a mechanism for assessing the environmental impact of production systems. Ecodesign and green marketing. Integrated waste management. Analysis of integrated social value

Learning Outcomes

Learn how to distinguish, select and apply the main methodologies for assessing and improving the nature and the environmental communication of goods and services. Judge and assess internalisation of sustainability in the business world

Code:
44205

Créditos:
4 ECTS

Language:
English

Type of subject: Required

Sustainability Management

GNMI - International Business Program

Elective

Programme:
GNMI - International Business Program

Description

The new paradigm of the Circular Economy. Introduction to the lifecycle perspective as a mechanism for assessing the environmental impact of production systems. Ecodesign and green marketing. Integrated waste management. Analysis of integrated social value.

Learning Outcomes

Ability to distinguish, select and apply the main methodologies for assessing and improving the nature and the environmental communication of goods and services. Judging and assessing the internalisation of sustainability in the business world.

Code:
80238

Créditos:
4 ECTS

Language:
English

Type of subject: Elective