Sustainable Business Practice: ESG, Strategy & Circular Economy Training

In an era of heightened corporate accountability, mastering sustainable business strategy is no longer optional. This short course provides a roadmap for professionals looking to navigate the complexities of modern environmental and social governance.

Fundamentals of ESG and Sustainability Theory

We begin by clarifying the terminology that defines the modern landscape. You will explore the crucial distinctions between ESG vs philanthropy, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and ethical investment.

By tracing the history of sustainability practice and core theoretical developments, you will gain a robust academic foundation. These concepts are brought to life through CSR case studies, illustrating how global leaders transition from traditional models to purpose-driven operations.

Circular Economy and Resource Management

Moving beyond basic recycling, we delve into the circular economy principles essential for waste reduction and resource efficiency. You will learn how to design systems that keep materials in use, decouple growth from resource consumption, and enhance supply chain resilience.

This course bridges the gap between environmental theory and practical application, showing how circularity drives long-term profitability and sustainable development.

Navigating Business Trade-offs and ESG Integration

The transition to corporate sustainability involves complex strategic decisions. We will examine the business sustainability trade-offs encountered when balancing short-term financial performance with long-term ESG goals, ensuring you can confidently implement sustainable business practices within your organisation to meet the increasing demands of stakeholders, regulators, and the global market.

Syllabus

Week 1
Introduction to Sustainable Business Practice
- Course aims and introduction
  This activity covers sustainability basics, its meaning, why organisations adopt it, and the key motivations behind sustainable practices in business and organisations.
- History and development of sustainability
  In this activity we are going to trace and summarise the development of CSR and sustainability. Some of the key academic developments and models are also highlighted.
Week 2
Welcome to Week 2
- The circular economy
  Circular economy, key to TBL “P” & ESG “E”, keeps materials in use longer and decouples growth from resource use, replacing the linear model.
- End of course summary quiz
  In this final activity, we will attempt to synthesise the main concepts covered in the course and explore the sustainability-business trade-offs, challenges and dilemmas. We conclude with a short end of course quiz.

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...

Describe the key terminology associated with sustainability, including the specific distinctions between ESG, CSR, and corporate philanthropy.
Explore the historical developments and primary theories that have shaped modern sustainable business practices.
Identify the core principles of the circular economy and their practical relationship to industrial recycling and resource management.
Describe the common sustainability themes and global frameworks currently encountered in the international business landscape.
Identify the critical trade-offs and potential conflicts that arise when integrating ESG goals into traditional financial business models.
Summarise the relationship between theoretical sustainability concepts and real-world application through the analysis of provided case studies.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for business leaders, ESG consultants, and management professionals seeking to master sustainable business strategy. It is ideal for anyone looking to balance profitability with circular economy principles.

Who developed the course?

FutureLearn

FutureLearn is a leading social learning platform and has been providing high quality online courses for learners around the world over the last ten years.

What's included?

FutureLearn 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:

Unlimited access to this course

Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes

A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible

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