Sustainable Development for Business

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15

Lessons
17

Exams &
Assignments
45

Students
have taken this course
6

Hours
average time
0.6

CEUs

Course Description

Change and adaptation are requirements of survival in the business world that many companies fail to meet. It is not because they do not want to change or that they necessarily fail to act in time-although that is a possibility that all businesses should keep in mind. A business might be able to successfully keep up with the demands of their customer base, and yet still find themselves struggling to consistently make ends meet. Is it just a matter of poor decision making? Marketing issues? Or is due to their practices and actions as an entity as a whole?

What the business world is starting to learn is that many of the old methods of adaptation that have worked for years are no longer enough. There is more to their survival than just maintaining their bottom line and the quality of their product-they need to pay attention to what their impact on the world is on a much larger scale. Namely, their physical impact on the world and the potential effects it can have for future generations.

This course looks at sustainable development as it applies to business, and how it can be integrated into existing business practices. In this first lesson, you will be introduced to the concept of sustainability and what it actually involves in business and in general. The purpose that it can serve, its key areas of focus, and the basics of sustainability will also be explored.

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Self-Paced
6 Months to Complete
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Accredited CEUs

Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:

"Extraordinarily Helpful"

(51 votes)

Lesson 1: An Introduction to Sustainable Development Within Business

Change and adaptation are requirements of survival in the business world that many companies fail to meet. It is not because they do not want to change or that they necessarily fail to act in time-although that is a possibility that all businesses should keep in mind 11 Total Points

Review 7 Articles: Sustainable Development; What Is Sustainable Development And Why Does It Matter?; The Definition of Sustainable Business Practices; The Three Pillars Of Sustainability; The 3 Pillars of Corporate Sustainability; The Politics of Sustainability; The Inevitability of Sustainability Politics, Technology and Management
Take Survey: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: My Interest in Sustainable Business Development...
Complete: Lesson 1 Exam

Lesson 2: Terminology of Sustainable Development

As sustainability can be a rather complex concept that encompasses a variety of areas, it is not uncommon for someone to struggle to understand what is all involved with it. The application of sustainable development into different areas of society often shifts the focus and factors involved. 10 Total Points

Review 9 Articles: Greenwashing; Sustainable Land Management; What Does Organic Mean?; Organic 101: What The USDA Organic Label Means; Preventing Overshoot and Collapse: Managing The Earth?s Resources; Biodiversity and Human Well-being; What Is A Carbon Footprint?; What Is Climate Change?; What Are Climate and Climate Change?
Complete: Lesson 2 Exam

Lesson 3: History of Sustainable Development

Developing an understanding of something often requires looking at how it came to be and how it has evolved over time. History is often one of the best ways to learn about something, and it can help put it into perspective. 10 Total Points

Review 18 Articles: The First American Settlers Cut Down Millions Of Trees To Deliberately Engi; Industrial Revolution; The 200-Year History Of American Employee Rights; The Story of Silent Spring; How A Burning River Helped Create The Clean Water Act; The Limits to Growth; The Gruesome Amoco Cadis Oil Spill Incident; Backgrounder on the Three Mile Island Accident; World of Change: Antarctic Ozone Hole; The World Meteorological Organization in a Changing World; What is the WTO?; Understanding the Controversy and Science of GMOs; KP Introduction; First Direct Proof of Ozone Hole Recovery Due to Chemical Ban; An Oral History of An Inconvenient Truth; Arab Spring; Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of 2010; Global Warming Controversy
Complete: Lesson 3 Exam

Lesson 4: Misconceptions About Sustainable Development

Regardless of how much information there is about a particular topic, it is not uncommon for misinformation and misconceptions to still be paraded as fact. Often, this can negatively impact how the public views that topic and their support of it. 10 Total Points

Review 7 Articles: The Seven Myths Of Sustainability; Three Misconceptions About Environmental Sustainability In Higher Ed; Let?s Be Honest: Real Sustainability May Not Make Business Sense; Myths About Sustainability; What Are The Most Common Misconceptions About Sustainability?; Common Myths About ?Sustainability?; Capitalism v Environment: Can Greed Ever Be Green?
Complete: Lesson 4 Exam

Lesson 5: Benefits and Advantages to Business

Knowing about something and what it can entail is not always enough for a person to form an opinion about it. There is often more that they would like to know into order to make a formal decision on whether or not it is something that they should direct their attention to. 10 Total Points

Review 9 Articles: What Are The Benefits Of Going Green For A Business?; Benefits of Becoming a Sustainable Business; Environmental Law Violations; Five Benefits of Embracing Sustainability and Green Manufacturing; Energy.gov Tax Credits, Rebates and Savings; Effects of Sustainability on Stakeholders; Business Benefits of Sustainability; The Business Benefits of Sustainability Partnerships; More Reasons Companies Should Care About Sustainability
Complete: Lesson 5 Exam

Lesson 6: Obstacles and Disadvantages to Business

Nothing is really perfect, even the things that seem like there's nothing that can ever go wrong with them. There can still be problems that arise no matter how great or beneficial something is. 10 Total Points

Review 8 Articles: Why You Shouldn?t Have A Sustainability Strategy; The Disadvantages of Going Green For A Corporation; Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporations Going Green; Sustainability Challenges In Business; Ten Reasons Why Businesses Aren?t More Sustainable; How Can Consumers Find Out If A Corporation Is ?Greenwashing? Environmental; The Troubling Evolution of Corporate Greenwashing; Business Risks of Sustainability Marketing
Complete: Lesson 6 Exam

Lesson 7: The Potential Risks for Businesses That Forgo Sustainable Development

As popular as sustainability and sustainable development have become, there are still those in the business world who have not gotten involved. It's possible that they did consider it at one point, but ultimately decided to pass. 10 Total Points

Review 7 Articles: Renewable Resource; Sustainability ? The Resilient Business Risk; Major Criminal Cases; Clean Energy Is Building A New American Workforce; Environmental Issues That Affect Business; Black Lung: Why Respirators Are Not A Solution; The Drastic Consequences of Unsustainable Development
Complete: Lesson 7 Exam

Lesson 8: The UN-Sustainable Development Goals

International focus on sustainable development has been around since the United Nation's initial report on the subject. Since then, the UN has included sustainability in their global efforts in some way. 10 Total Points

Review 9 Articles: UN ? Gender Equality; UN ? Clean Water and Sanitation; UN ? Affordable and Clean Energy; UN ? Decent Work and Economic Growth; UN ? Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; UN ? Reduced Inequalities; UN ? Sustainable Cities And Communities; UN ? Responsible Consumption And Production; Paris Agreement Signing Ceremony
Complete: Lesson 8 Exam

Lesson 9: Environmental Sustainability

Lesson 9 Addressing sustainable development within business sometimes require taking an in depth look at certain areas. The three key concepts--environmental, societal, and economic sustainability-can all impact a business in their own unique way. 9 Total Points

Review 12 Articles: Introduction to the Importance of Environmental Sustainability; The Business Case For Environmental Sustainability; Becoming A Role Model For Sustainability; Sustainability Role Models: Why Do We Need Them?; Pollution; Shocking Facts About Air Pollution; Interesting Facts About Water Pollution; Interesting Facts About Water Pollution That You Should Know; Deforestation: Facts, Causes and Effects; Breathtaking Facts About Deforestation; Desertification; Climate Change: Signs of the Planet?s Deterioration
Complete: Lesson 9 Exam

Lesson 10: Economic Sustainability

Unlike with environmental sustainability, there are some aspects that people do not associate with sustainable development. Aside from a market built upon sustainable products and services, most people to not think sustainability and the economy have anything in common. 10 Total Points

Review 8 Articles: Growing A Sustainable Economy; Economic Bottom Line; Sustainability Makes Business Sense; Key Steps To A More Sustainable Economy; Poverty; Facts About Global Poverty; Nonrenewable Resource; Non-renewable Energy
Complete: Lesson 10 Exam

Lesson 11: Social Sustainability

The social elements of sustainable development are some of the most crucial, both in and out of the business world. Social sustainability presents its own set of rules and issues that need to be taken into consideration when it comes to sustainable development within business. 10 Total Points

Review 10 Articles: What Is Social Sustainability? A Clarification of Concepts; The Triple Bottom Line; Sustainability in the Workplace; Leading Companies Demonstrate Social Sustainability Inside And Out; Immigration, Poverty, and Socioeconomic Inequality; Violence ? UNICEF Data; Sexual Exploitation Law and Legal Definition; What Is the Difference Between A Human Right and a Civil Right?; Human Rights and Sustainability; Education and Sustainable Development
Complete: Lesson 11 Exam

Lesson 12: Implications of Sustainable Development

Due to its history and the sheer amount of attention that it has received over the years, there are some conclusions that the business world has naturally reached on the subject of sustainable development. 10 Total Points

Review Article: Stakeholder Relationships: Key To A Sustainable Enterprise
Complete: Lesson 12 Exam

Lesson 13: Sustainable Development Practices and Strategies

When introducing something new, there are often a particular set of rules in which changes can be made. This provides consistency and helps in avoiding mistakes. However, some concepts are designed to have flexibility in the manner in which they can be implemented and used. 10 Total Points

Review 11 Articles: Key Considerations For A Sustainable Business Strategy; What Is Renewable Energy?; What Makes a Product ENERGY STAR?; Best Practices In Sustainability: Ford, Starbucks and More; Starting At The Source: Sustainability In Supply Chains; Sustainable Business Practices; Sustainable Business Practices Examples ? Are You Doing Your Part?; Examples of Business Sustainability; Engaging Employees To Create A Sustainable Business; How To Start An Office Recycling Program; Recycling At Work
Complete: Lesson 13 Exam

Lesson 14: Integrating Sustainable Development Into Your Business

Implementing sustainable development into your business involves more than you realize. You cannot simply decide that you or your business is going to be more eco-friendly and just have it magically happen without doing anything to make sure that it will work. 10 Total Points

Review 6 Articles: Simple Ways Companies Can Integrate Sustainable Development Goals; Five Ways For Businesses to Integrate Sustainable Practice Into Their Opera; How To Implement and Manage Successful Change Programs; Steps To Implementing Change In The Workplace; Steps to Implementing Successful Organizational Change; The Seven Steps To Implementing Change in Business
Complete: Lesson 14 Exam

Lesson 15: Marketing with Sustainable Development

There are parts of the business that you might not take into consideration when implementing sustainable development practices. If implementation and integration were done successfully, then there should be noticeable changes made to how the business operates. 99 Total Points

Review 8 Articles: Why Transparency In Marketing Is Key For The Customer Experience; Short Guide: What Is Greenwashing And How To Avoid It; Tips To Avoid Greenwashing; What Is Sustainable Marketing?; The Evolving Relationship Between Sustainability and Marketing; Types Of Sustainability Marketing Tactics Corporate Execs Need To Understan; Organic Labeling; Organic Labeling Standards
Take Poll: End of Course Poll
Take Survey: Course Comments
Take Survey: Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course)
Complete: Lesson 15 Exam
Complete: The Final Exam

239

Total Course Points

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

Determine what sustainable development within business means.
Describe the terminology of sustainable development.
Summarize history of sustainable development.
Identify misconceptions about sustainable development.
Identify benefits and advantages to business.
Describe obstacles and disadvantages to business.
Describe the potential risks for businesses that forgo sustainable development.
Describe the un-sustainable development goals.
Describe environmental sustainability.
Describe economic sustainability.
Describe social sustainability.
Describe implications of sustainable development.
Describe methods for integrating sustainable development into your business, and
Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.

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