Practical Approaches to Sustainability in Global Business
Master global sustainability strategy with frameworks and tools to create impact in business and society.
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
3 hoursLanguages
English, Italiano, Español, Français, PortuguêsEnglish, Italiano, Español100% online
How it worksDigital upgrade
Free
Practical Approaches to Sustainability in Global Business
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Build strategic sustainability skills for global business leadership
In a world that’s becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, it’s important to integrate sustainability strategically within your global businesses.
On this three-week course from Salford Business School, you’ll explore the way you can integrate sustainability into strategy and innovation.
You’ll gain real-world expertise through a practice-led curriculum delivered fully online.
Learn foundational aspects of responsible and sustainable business
You’ll start this course by exploring the strategic, ethical, and operational fundamentals that underpin sustainability as a crucial pillar of modern business success.
You’ll gain fresh insights into how pioneering companies integrate sustainability into core business functions.
Case studies from global brands IKEA, Patagonia, and Unilever will support your learning and help illustrate how sustainability is embedded into everyday business operations.
Explore sector and context-based sustainability challenges
You’ll then delve into the varied sustainability challenges faced by different industries and regions, from resource scarcity to environmental regulation, social inequalities, and geopolitical dynamics.
You’ll develop the ability to tailor sustainability strategies to sector-specific imperatives, recognising that one-size-does-not-fit-all in global sustainability leadership.
Delve further into strategy, innovation, and measuring impact
Finally, you’ll learn how to develop actionable sustainability roadmaps that align business objectives with global priorities.
You’ll walk away with the skills to innovate solutions and lead sustainability strategies that deliver lasting value.
Syllabus
Week 1
Foundations of Responsible and Sustainable Business
Learning Overview
This self-paced course enables learners to evaluate sustainability as a strategic function, assess ESG priorities and apply global frameworks to support informed decision-making and responsible leadership.
Foundations of Responsible and Sustainable Business
Explore the core principles, frameworks and ethical drivers that underpin responsible and sustainable business in a global context.
Learning Check Case Study
Read the case study before completing the quiz.
Learning Check One
Complete this multiple choice quiz based on this week's learning - Foundations of Responsible and Sustainable Business
Wider Reading
To deepen your understanding of sustainable responsibilities in business, the following comprehensive reports offer valuable insights.
Week 2
Sector and Context-Based Sustainability Challenges
Sector and Context-Based Sustainability
During this week, you will learn and evaluate the unique sustainability issues facing specific industries, the role of transparency and reporting frameworks, and the pressures businesses face from global and local stakeholders.
Learning Check Two Case Study
This case study incorporates learning from this week. This will help you to prepare for the quiz.
Learning Check Two
Complete this week's quiz based on the Unilever case study.
Wider Reading
To enhance your knowledge and practice, read these articles.
Week 3
Strategy, Innovation and Measuring Impact
Strategy, Innovation and Measuring Impact
You will examine how businesses integrate sustainability into core strategy, foster innovation and measure the real-world impact of their actions.
Learning Check Three - Case Study
Patagonia designs sustainability into its business model through product innovation, circular economy practices, and impact measurement. It aligns strategy with environmental and social values to drive long-term change.
Learning Check Three - Quiz
This quiz is based on Patagonia - Strategic Innovation for Planet and People case study. Ensure you have read the case study before proceeding.
Wider Reading
Building on your knowledge, we have provided you with additional reading.
Next steps in your professional development journey
Now you have completed the short course materials, you can sign up for our Global MBA with Salford Business School.
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Assess the strategic, ethical, and operational drivers of sustainability in global business environments.
- Apply frameworks such as ESG, CSR, stakeholder theory, and the UN SDGs to real-world organisational contexts.
- Evaluate sector-specific challenges and innovations in delivering responsible business practices across different global markets.
- Design practical recommendations for businesses seeking to improve sustainability performance and stakeholder impact.
Who is the course for?
This course is ideal for junior, mid, and senior managers, and individuals with an undergraduate degree who aim to develop foundational sustainability strategy and innovation skills applicable in diverse global business contexts.
Who will you learn with?
I am experienced higher education curriculum developer, leader, researcher, learning and teaching specialist, and project lead for Carbon Literacy in Salford Business School. I teach on the GMBA
Who developed the course?
Salford Business School
Salford Business School offers practical knowledge, forward-looking skills and expert insights to nurture our learners and prepare them for a successful career.
What's included?
Salford Business School are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
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