Earth Day: Zhejiang University in action

As the world marks Earth Day, Zhejiang University reaffirms its longstanding commitment to sustainable development, embracing innovation, tradition, and responsibility to shape a greener future. Across its campuses, from classroom discussions to real-world action, the University is integrating environmental stewardship into education, research, and daily life.

Green Research at ZJU: Transforming Bamboo into Building Solutions

Inside Professor XIAO Yan's laboratory, bamboo undergoes a stunning metamorphosis. Leading a team at the ZJU-UIUC Institute, Professor Xiao has reimagined this traditional material for the modern age. By decoding bamboo's rapid-growth properties, his team developed green construction materials with a lower environmental footprint than steel—breakthroughs now taking root not just in Ninghai but across global architecture. The jointly established R&D center with Ninghai County acts as a vital conduit, channeling lab innovations into real-world applications.  

Zhejiang University (Ninghai) Joint Research Center for Biomass Materials and Carbon Neutral Construction

Teaching Transformation: ZJU's Green Business Education Model

At Zhejiang University International Business School(ZIBS)classrooms, Professor Jia Jia Lim guides students through the profound dimensions of corporate social responsibility. Gone are dry theoretical lectures; in their place are incisive analyses of global sustainability reports and tailored carbon-neutral strategies for Zhejiang's businesses. Malaysian student Fang Phei Wern reflects, We're learning more than business principles—we're discovering how enterprises can thrive in harmony with our planet.

Team Project at Corporate Social Responsibility Course

Project by: Dastin Wu & Figo Giowillim

Breathing Sustainability: Daily Green Practices at ZJU Campus

ZJU's International Campus pulses with sustainable energy. This Platinum Eco-Campus certified grounds function as a vast ecological lab: solar panels and geothermal systems work in concert, reducing annual CO₂ emissions equivalent to planting 30,000 trees; its sponge campus design harnesses every raindrop, saving enough yearly water to fill 60 Olympic pools; while pedestrian-friendly pathways and smart bike-sharing stations have rendered car engines obsolete here.

Meanwhile, student-led initiatives like the Eco Club and Green Pioneer Club have taken root on campus, transforming sustainability from concept to daily practice. These vibrant organizations don't just talk about change - they live it. Members roll up their sleeves for everything from campus clean-ups to innovative recycling programs, while also contributing valuable field data to university research projects. More than just activity groups, they've cultivated tight-knit communities where environmentally conscious students exchange ideas and inspire action, creating ripples of awareness that extend far beyond campus borders.

From the artistry of intangible cultural heritage workshops to bold zero-carbon architecture, from classroom debates to hands-on fieldwork, ZJU is crafting a multidimensional sustainability ecosystem. Here, digital preservation of traditional crafts coexists with future-facing tech innovation; globally minded environmental leaders are nurtured alongside cross-border research collaborations. As spring heralds renewed ecological consciousness, the ZJU community proves through action that protecting our planet isn't a multiple-choice question—it's an enduring imperative requiring intergenerational creativity and commitment.

Adapted and translated from the article written by ZHANG Sijie, HOU Yubin, LI Yinan, LI Songjiao, CHEN Kang
Translator: GE Muchen ('28, Law)
Photo: ZHANG Sijie, HOU Yubin, LI Yinan, LI Songjiao, CHEN Kang
Editor: HE Jiawen