Online Class: Sustainable Development for Business

This course looks at sustainable development as it applies to business, and how it can be integrated into existing business practices.

$50.00
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$75.00
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$75.00 (with CEU Certificate)

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15

Lessons
17

Exams &
Assignments
50

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.

Completely Online
Self-Paced
6 Months to Complete
24/7 Availability
Start Anytime
PC & Mac Compatible
Android & iOS Friendly
Accredited CEUs

Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:

"Extraordinarily Helpful"

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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 Additional lesson topics: The Three Pillars Of Sustainability; What Is Sustainable Development and Why Does It Matter?; The Several Pillars of Corporate Sustainability; The Politics of Sustainability; The Definition of Sustainable Business Practices; The Inevitability of Sustainability Politics, Technology and Management; Sustainable Development 11 Total Points

Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: My Interest in Sustainable Business Development...
Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: Preventing Overshoot and Collapse: Managing The Earth’s Resources; Sustainable Land Management; Biodiversity and Human Well-being; What Are Carbon Emissions And Why Do They Matter? ; What Are Climate and Climate Change?; Organic 101: What The USDA Organic Label Means; What Is A Carbon Footprint?; What Does Organic Mean?; What Is Climate Change?; Greenwashing 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: The Gruesome Amoco Cadis Oil Spill Incident; The 200-Year History Of American Employee Rights; The First American Settlers Cut Down Millions Of Trees to Deliberately Engi; The World Meteorological Organization in a Changing World; An Oral History of An Inconvenient Truth; Global Warming Controversy; The Limits to Growth; How A Burning River Helped Create The Clean Water Act; The Story of Silent Spring; First Direct Proof of Ozone Hole Recovery Due to Chemical Ban; Industrial Revolution; Backgrounder on the Three Mile Island Accident; Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of ; Sustainability and the EPA, Chapter 2: History of Sustainability; KP Introduction; World of Change: Antarctic Ozone Hole; SD Timeline PDF ; Arab Spring; What is the WTO?; Environmental Defense Fund EDF ; Understanding the Controversy and Science of GMOs 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: Capitalism v Environment: Can Greed Ever Be Green?; The Seven Myths Of Sustainability; Common Myths About ‘Sustainability’; Myths About Sustainability; What Are The Most Common Misconceptions About Sustainability?; Three Misconceptions About Environmental Sustainability In Higher Ed; Let’s Be Honest: Real Sustainability May Not Make Business Sense 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: The Business Benefits of Sustainability; What Are The Benefits Of Going Green For A Business?; The Business Benefits of Sustainability Partnerships; Five Benefits of Embracing Sustainability and Green Manufacturing; Energy.gov Tax Credits, Rebates and Savings; Environmental Law Violations; Business Benefits of Sustainability; Effects of Sustainability on Stakeholders; Benefits of Becoming a Sustainable Business; More Reasons Companies Should Care About Sustainability 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: Business Risks of Sustainability Marketing; The Troubling Evolution of Corporate Greenwashing; How Can Consumers Find Out If A Corporation Is “Greenwashing” Environmental; Sustainability Challenges In Business; Ten Reasons Why Businesses Aren’t More Sustainable; The Disadvantages of Going Green For A Corporation; Why You Shouldn’t Have A Sustainability Strategy; Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporations Going Green 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: When It Comes to Sustainable Development, The U.S. Is Failing By A Lot ; The Drastic Consequences of Unsustainable Development; Black Lung: Why Respirators Are Not A Solution; Major Criminal Cases; Clean Energy Is Building A New American Workforce; Can You Afford Not Being Sustainable? Part III ; Sustainability – The Resilient Business Risk; Environmental Issues That Affect Business; Renewable Resource 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: Paris Agreement Signing Ceremony; UN – Responsible Consumption and Production; UN – Sustainable Cities and Communities; UN – Decent Work and Economic Growth; UN – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; UN – Clean Water and Sanitation; UN – Affordable and Clean Energy; UN – Reduced Inequalities; UN – Gender Equality 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: Desertification; Deforestation: Facts, Causes and Effects; Climate Change: Signs of the Planet’s Deterioration; Pollution; Interesting Facts About Water Pollution That You Should Know; Interesting Facts About Water Pollution; Shocking Facts About Air Pollution; Introduction to the Importance of Environmental Sustainability; The Business Case For Environmental Sustainability; Breathtaking Facts About Deforestation; Sustainability Role Models: Why Do We Need Them?; Becoming A Role Model For Sustainability; Air Pollution 9 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: Non-renewable Energy; Nonrenewable Resource; Facts About Global Poverty; Key Steps to A More Sustainable Economy; Poverty; Economic Bottom Line; Growing A Sustainable Economy; Sustainability Makes Business Sense 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: Human Rights and Sustainability; What Is Social Sustainability? A Clarification of Concepts; Sexual Exploitation Law and Legal Definition; Sustainability in the Workplace; Leading Companies Demonstrate Social Sustainability Inside and Out; The Triple Bottom Line; Violence – UNICEF Data; Immigration, Poverty, and Socioeconomic Inequality; Education and Sustainable Development; Social Sustainability; What Is the Difference Between A Human Right and a Civil Right? 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: Stakeholder Relationships: Key to A Sustainable Enterprise; Business Strategies For Sustainable Development PDF 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: How to Start An Office Recycling Program; Key Considerations For A Sustainable Business Strategy; Examples of Business Sustainability; Best Practices In Sustainability: Ford, Starbucks and More; Starting At The Source: Sustainability In Supply Chains; What Makes a Product ENERGY STAR?; Sustainable Business Practices Examples – Are You Doing Your Part?; Sustainable Business Practices; Recycling At Work; What Is Renewable Energy?; Engaging Employees to Create A Sustainable Business 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: The Seven Steps to Implementing Change in Business; Simple Ways Companies Can Integrate Sustainable Development Goals; Steps to Implementing Successful Organizational Change; Steps to Implementing Change In The Workplace; How to Implement and Manage Successful Change Programs; Five Ways For Businesses to Integrate Sustainable Practice Into Their Opera 10 Total Points

Assessment: 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. Additional lesson topics: Organic Labeling Standards; Organic Labeling; Types Of Sustainability Marketing Tactics Corporate Execs Need to Understan; What Is Sustainable Marketing?; The Evolving Relationship Between Sustainability and Marketing; Short Guide: What Is Greenwashing and How to Avoid It; Why Transparency In Marketing Is Key For The Customer Experience; Tips to Avoid Greenwashing 99 Total Points

Lesson discussions: End of Course Poll; Course Comments; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course)
Assessment: Lesson 15 Exam
Assessment: 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.
Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.

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