Bridging the gap between theories and real-world practices, and with a strong focus on UN Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12) - Responsible Consumption and Production - the “Sustainable Development for Engineers (SUST229)” course has empowered future engineers to explore practical solutions for responsible consumption and production through an eye-opening and dynamic field visit to two leading environmental institutions in Lebanon. The main aim was to show engineering students the real world challenges in order to ignite true responsibility in them to complement their classroom knowledge.

On March 25, 2025, a group of 31 engineering students from various disciplines from SUST229 course embarked on an educational field trip with their instructor Mrs. Mantoura Nakad to both Cedar Environmental LLC in Abou Mîzâne and Lebanon Waste Management (LWM) in Baouchriyeh. This immersive visit was designed to provide students with firsthand exposure to innovative waste management solutions, and recycling technologies that align with SDG 12.

The first stop was Cedar Environmental LLC, a pioneering waste management company led by Engineer Ziad Abi Chaker. Students witnessed how plastic is creatively and sustainably transformed into practical, durable products such as tables, benches, rubbish bins, shelves, and more.

The second stop was at Lebanon Waste Management (LWM), a company specialized in waste distribution and management. The visit provided students with a comprehensive overview of the company's operations, which include the sorting of seven different types of plastic followed by compression and processing for recycling.

As a direct outcome of this visit, a new sustainability-driven community initiative was launched by the engineering students. This initiative led to the creation of a dedicated account at Lebanon Waste Management (LWM), called “UOB SUST229”, which is aimed at directing proceeds from recyclable materials toward financial aid for engineering students within the Faculty of Engineering.

The field visit sparked curiosity, inspired responsibility, and encouraged students to reflect on how engineering and sustainability go hand in hand. By witnessing successful environmental initiatives in action, students gained a deeper understanding of how their future roles as engineers can influence sustainable policies and practices across communities and how to easily overcome real-world challenges.











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