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Sustainability in Business: Building a Greener Future

Sustainability in Business: Building a Greener Future

Instructors: Dr Jonathan Muir

Included with

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3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Key sustainability challenges and global business trends
Business strategies for environmental and social impact
The Triple Layer Business Model Canvas and sustainable business models

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

1 assignment

Taught in English

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There are 3 modules in this course

Drive meaningful change by integrating sustainability into business strategy. This course explores how companies can adopt sustainable business models to address global challenges such as climate change, resource management, and corporate social responsibility.

Learn from real-world case studies, including businesses transitioning to renewable energy and implementing the Triple Layer Business Model Canvas. Whether you're new to sustainability or looking to enhance your expertise, this course equips you with practical tools to create long-term value for businesses and society. Join us and take the first step towards a greener, more sustainable business future.

Welcome to the University of Leeds course 'Sustainability in Business: Building a Greener Future'. In this course, you’ll consider some of the biggest sustainability issues and challenges facing the planet and become familiar with different models and frameworks for discussing and understanding sustainability and sustainable development. This week you’ll start by exploring definition of sustainability and some approaches to sustainability as a concept. Let’s get started.

What's included

2 videos8 readings2 discussion prompts

2 videos Total 9 minutes

1.2 Key trends impacting society and the environment 3 minutes
1.6 Big sustainability challenges 6 minutes

8 readings Total 72 minutes

1.1 Welcome to the course 10 minutes
1.3 Defining sustainability 10 minutes
1.4 Models of sustainability 10 minutes
1.5 Big sustainability challenges 10 minutes
1.8 Approaches to sustainability 10 minutes
1.9 The doughnut of social and planetary boundaries 10 minutes
1.10 Can business do business in the doughnut? 10 minutes
1.13 Week 1 summary 2 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 20 minutes

1.7 Sustainability challenges 10 minutes
1.11 Can business do business in the doughnut? What’s your view? 10 minutes

Welcome back to Week 2 of the University of Leeds course 'Sustainability in Business: Building a Greener Future'. This week, you’ll learn about the role of business in society and the factors influencing how a business approaches sustainability strategies. Let’s get started.

What's included

12 readings

12 readings Total 104 minutes

2.1 Introduction to Week 2 2 minutes
2.2 Is sustainability a business issue? 10 minutes
2.3 The relationship between business and sustainability 10 minutes
2.4 Regulations, standards and sustainability 10 minutes
2.5 Scandals and wrongdoing 10 minutes
2.6 The rise in ethical consumption 10 minutes
2.7 Cost savings and opportunities (podcast) 10 minutes
2.8 HR, senior management and sustainability 10 minutes
2.9 From sustainability 1.0 to 3.0 10 minutes
2.10 Assessing Sustainability 3.0 10 minutes
2.11 Assessing Sustainability 3.0 (feedback) 10 minutes
2.12 Week 2 summary 2 minutes

Welcome back to Week 3 of the University of Leeds course 'Sustainability in Business: Building a Greener Future'. This week, you’ll learn about business models which organisations can adopt when developing sustainability approaches. Let’s get started.

What's included

1 video13 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

1 video Total 2 minutes

3.11 Drax Power Station case study: An analysis 2 minutes

13 readings Total 112 minutes

3.1 Introduction to Week 3 5 minutes
3.2 Business models for sustainability 10 minutes
3.3 Business models and sustainability (exercise) 10 minutes
3.4 Implementing a sustainable business model (podcast) 10 minutes
3.6 Sustainable business models in practice: Social enterprises 10 minutes
3.7 Sustainable business models in practice: cooperatives 10 minutes
3.8 Sustainable business models in practice: Certified B Corporations 10 minutes
3.9 Drax Power Station case study: Business model transition 10 minutes
3.10 Drax Power Station case study: An analysis 2 minutes
3.12 Assessing Drax: Reading activity 10 minutes
3.14 Evaluating Drax’s transition to sustainability 10 minutes
3.15 Leading the transition to sustainability 10 minutes
3.17 End-of-course summary 5 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

3.16 Test your understanding 30 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 20 minutes

3.5 Reflecting on implementing a sustainable business model 10 minutes
3.13 Assessing Drax: Reading activity 10 minutes

Instructors

Dr Jonathan Muir

University of Leeds

1 Course 272 learners

Offered by

University of Leeds

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Frequently asked questions

This course offers a valuable introduction to sustainability in business and serves as a great taster for the University of Leeds' Online MSc in Sustainable Business Leadership. Completion of this course will not provide credit towards the programme, but it is open to anyone interested in learning about sustainable business strategies.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.