Making a Start with Business Sustainability

The last decade has seen the hottest temperatures on record, with climate change posing a critical threat to global systems. However, transformative action across the business sector can reverse environmental damage while delivering significant economic benefits. Making a Start with Business Sustainability is a practical, accessible course designed to help small and medium-sized organizations implement sustainable practices immediately. Led by tutor Ross Maynard, this course moves beyond theory to focus on low-cost, actionable steps that you can take now to make your organization more resilient, responsible, and profitable.

This course demonstrates that business sustainability is not merely a marketing exercise or charity; it is a financially viable model that balances profitability with environmental stewardship. You will explore the urgent context of climate change and discover the strong commercial case for sustainability, including risk reduction, cost savings, and increased revenue. By viewing operations through the lens of the three pillars—Environmental, Social, and Economic—you will learn how to build a strategy that attracts customers, retains talent, and satisfies investors.

Throughout the lessons, you will be guided through the technical and practical aspects of measuring and improving your environmental impact. The course breaks down complex frameworks like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and provides tools for auditing your current position. You will learn how to identify sources of emissions, gather data, and calculate your organization's carbon footprint using standard conversion factors. Furthermore, the curriculum covers essential resource management, offering strategies to monitor and conserve water, as well as methods to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste within a circular economy mindset.

This course will help you achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Understand the critical impact of climate change and the business case for immediate action.
• Conduct a comprehensive sustainability audit to identify strengths, weaknesses, and priorities using the Green, Amber, Red scoring system.
• Master the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to measure and calculate Scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions.
• Implement practical strategies to monitor and reduce water consumption and waste production.
• Apply ISO 20400 principles to create a sustainable supply chain and assess suppliers using heat maps.
• Develop a six-month Quick Start Guide and action plan to drive continuous improvement in governance and operations.

Whether you are a business owner, a manager, or an employee championing change, this course provides the knowledge and tools to move from intention to action. By the end of this journey, you will have a clear inventory of your environmental impact and a robust plan to improve your governance, supply chain, and operational efficiency. Start where you are, use what you have, and build a future-proof business today.