Vesela Veleva
Phone: 617.287.6293
Biography
Vesela Veleva’s research focuses on the drivers and process for integrating sustainability into an organization’s strategy and management, evaluating and benchmarking sustainability practices, and developing the business case for greater environmental and social responsibility. Her work has been published in peer reviewed journals such as the Journal of Cleaner Production, Sustainability, Highlights of Sustainability, and ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, among others.
Area of Expertise
Pollution prevention, circular economy, green chemistry, sustainability indicators, corporate social responsibility, environmental and occupational health, eco-industrial parks, sustainable production and consumption
Degrees
ScD, Cleaner Production and Pollution Prevention, University of Massachusetts Lowell
MSc, Pollution and Environmental Control, University of Manchester, UK
BS, Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Varna, Bulgaria
Professional Publications & Contributions
Veleva, V. and S. Amsel (2026) “Uvida - Boston’s First Zero Waste, Plastic-Free Store”, SAGE Business Cases Sustainability Series (forthcoming)
Veleva, V. (2025), “Circular economy”, Business Foundations, SAGE,
- Veleva, V., & Amsel, S. (2025). The Role of Technical Assistance and Recognition in Promoting Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Among Craft Breweries: Lessons from Massachusetts. Sustainability, 17(12), 5579.
- Veleva, V., Todorova, S., Bleau, K., Mohr, J., Vandenabeele, R. (2024). Sustainability priorities, drivers and barriers in the craft beer sector: Insights from Massachusetts breweries. Highlights of Sustainability, 3(3), 275–293.
- Veleva, V., Horsley, C. and G. Chatrath, "Reducing A Beer’s Carbon Footprint: The Case of Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers," SAGE Business Cases Sustainability Series, Jan. 2024
- Veleva, V., “Seeding Labs: Entrepreneurial Innovation to Advance UN Sustainable Development Goals”, SAGE Business Cases Sustainability Series, Jan. 2023
- Veleva, V. "Zero Waste—Myth or Reality? Overview of the Concept, Its Current Application, Limitations, and Future Opportunities," EBSCO, November 2022.
- Veleva, V. and Cue Jr.,B. "Addressing the Antibiotic Resistance Crisis: Velcuva Pharmaceuticals’ Challenges and Future Opportunities", Sage Publishing,2021.
- Veleva, V., "The role of entrepreneurs in advancing sustainable lifestyles: Challenges, Impacts and Future Opportunities", Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020.
- Veleva, V. and Smith, L., "Food for Free: From Food Waste to Healthy Meals," SAGE Publishing, 2020.
- Veleva, V. and Cue Jr., B. "The Role of Drivers, Barriers and Opportunities of Green Chemistry Adoption in the Major World Markets." Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 2019.
- Veleva, V. and Bodkin, G. "Entrepreneurs in Sustainable Consumption: The Furniture Trust Case." Chapter 9: "Sustainable Consumption, Promise or Myth? Case Studies from the Field." Cambridge Scholars Publishing, edited by Jean Léon Boucher, Jukka Heinonen, 2019.
- Veleva, V. and Weber, N. "AEC Computer: Adopting Circular Business Model for Used Electronics." SAGE Publishing, 2019.
- Veleva, V. Cue Jr., B. Todorova, H. Mehta, N. and Padia, K. "Benchmarking Green Chemistry Adoption by the Indian Pharmaceutical Supply Chain." Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 439-456, 2018.
- Veleva, V. and Foley, S. “RISE Products: Transforming Organic Waste into Healthy Product.” SAGE Publishing, 2018.
- Veleva, V. and Bodkin,G. "Corporate-entrepreneur Collaborations to Advance a Circular Economy." Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 188, pp. 20-37, 2018.
- Veleva, V. Cue, Jr., B. and Todorova, S. "Benchmarking Green Chemistry Adoption by the Global Pharmaceutical Supply Chain", ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.7b0227, 2017.
- Veleva, V. Bodkin. G, and Todorova, S. “The Need for Better Measurement and Employee Engagement to Advance a Circular Economy: Lessons from Biogen Zero Waste Journey.” Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 154, pp. 517-529, 2017.
- Veleva, V. and Bodkin, G. "Emerging Drivers and Business Models for Equipment Reuse and Remanufacturing in the US: Lessons from the Biotech Industry." Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 2017.
- Veleva, V. and Cue Jr., B. "Benchmarking Green Chemistry Adoption by 'Big Pharma' and Generics Manufacturers." Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 24 Issue: 5, pp.1414-1436, 2017.
- Veleva, V. and Cue Jr., B. Chapter 22: "Benchmarking Green Chemistry Adoption by 'Big Pharma' and Generics Manufacturers.” In: Green Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry, Edited by W. Zhang and B. Cue Jr., 2nd Edition, Wiley, 2018.
- Veleva, V. Lowitt, P. Angus, N. and Neely, D. “Benchmarking Eco-Industrial Park Development: The Case of Devens." Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 23, Issue 5.
- Veleva, V. and Sarkar, M. “Pfizer: Environmental and Business Benefits of Green Chemistry.” Case # 9B15M043, Ivey Publishing, 2015.
- Veleva, V. Todorova, S. Lowitt, P. Angus, N. Neely, D. "Understanding and Addressing Business Needs and Sustainability Challenges: Lessons from Devens Eco-Industrial Park." Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 87, pp. 375-384, 2015.
- Veleva, V. "Business, Environment and Society: Themes and Cases." Baywood Publishing Co. 2014.
- Veleva, V. Montanari, A. Clabby, P. and Lese, J. “PerkinElmer: Old Instrument Reuse and Recycling.” Richard Ivey School of Business, Univ. of Western Ontario, Canada, Case#9 B12M115w, 2013.
- Veleva, V. Parker, S. Lee, A. and Pinney, C. “Measuring the Business Impact of Community Involvement: The Case of Volunteering at UL.” Business & Society Review, Vol. 117, Issue 1, pp. 123-142, 2012
Additional Information
Additional websites
Profile on ResearchGate
Profile on Academia.edu
Background
Vesela Veleva’s research focuses on the drivers and process for integrating sustainability into an organization’s strategy and management, evaluating and benchmarking sustainability practices, and developing the business case for greater environmental and social responsibility. Her current research focuses on pollution prevention practices in the craft beverage industry. Previously she has focused on emerging business models and drivers for advancing product reuse and remanufacturing; drivers and barriers to greater adoption of green chemistry by the pharmaceutical industry. Her work has been published in peer reviewed journals such as the Journal of Cleaner Production, Sustainability, Highlights of Sustainability, Benchmarking: An International Journal, Greener Management International, Corporate Environmental Strategy, and ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, among others. She has published numerous teaching cases and a book “Business, Environment and Society: Themes and Cases” (2014). She has a doctorate in cleaner production and pollution prevention from the Department of Work Environment, UMass Lowell, and previously has worked as research manager at the Center for Corporate Citizenship, Boston College, Social Research Analyst for Citizens Socially Responsible Mutual Funds, and a sustainability consultant for Pure Strategies Inc. and Sustainable Measures, Inc.
COURSES TAUGHT
- Introduction to Environmental Management (MBAMGT 671L)
- Introduction to Environmental Management and Clean Energy (MGT481)
- Business Environments and Public Policy (MGT330)
- Business and Its Environment (MBAMGT 660)
- Green Innovation and Eco-efficiency Strategies for Business
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Managing in a Diverse and Changing World
- International Environmental Science and Policy
- Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health,