Leading the Circular and Sustainable Business from Coursera

Leading the Circular and Sustainable Business is the third and final course in the specialization, Applied Sustainability for Technical Managers.

This course focuses on the business case for sustainability. It begins by defining a sustainable business, one that is inclusive of all stakeholders and how new organizational structures support the sustainable enterprise, enabling the business to go beyond corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The course highlights sustainable operations and supply chains, recognizing sustainable products need to be manufactured using environmentally and socially responsible practices. Companies are increasingly marketing products as "green", and the course discusses truthful advertising, greenwashing, and the value of 3rd-party certifications. Sustainable finance is introduced through the lens of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), using the Environmental P&L to illustrate a company’s environmental costs.

ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) is increasingly important today, and companies are communicating their progress through Sustainability reports. The course explores how to read a sustainability report, as well as methodologies to generate them, including GRI and CSRD.

The course closes with a discussion of Sustainability Leadership, from starting your own business to effectively communicating with upper management. This course is about empowerment, providing you with the knowledge and tools to be more sustainable in your daily life, in the community where you live, and in the company where you work.

This course was developed in collaboration with Siemens Digital Industries Software and is part of the "Design for the Circular Economy" collection. Learners who complete and pass the course can receive an industry-recognized digital badge.

The “Design for the Circular Economy” microcredential and graduate certificate are developed around the educational goals of providing technical, business, and leadership knowledge and skills that inspire the transformation towards a more circular economy. This includes gaining technical knowledge to apply circular economy principles in product design, minimizing waste and maximizing impact; developing business acumen to implement innovative circular economic models that prioritize sustainability and resilience; and acquiring leadership strategies to communicate effectively and inspire change within an organization.

This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

What's inside

Syllabus

Defining the Sustainable Business

Welcome to Leading the Circular and Sustainable Business! This first module introduces the concepts behind managing and leading a sustainable enterprise, whether it is a for-profit or non-profit entity. It begins with the transition taking place among forward-looking companies, from a traditional shareholder perspective to one that is more inclusive of all stakeholders. There is mounting evidence that sustainability makes good business sense, and while it takes time, companies can shift towards becoming more sustainable. There are new legal organizational structures that support the more sustainable enterprise, enabling the business to go far beyond corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

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what should give you pause

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Developed in collaboration with Siemens Digital Industries Software, which lends credibility and industry relevance to the course content

Explores ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles, which are increasingly important for companies and their stakeholders

Discusses sustainability reporting methodologies like GRI and CSRD, which are essential for communicating a company's sustainability progress

Examines the role of Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), which is a relatively new C-suite position in organizations

Requires prior courses in the specialization, which may limit accessibility for learners new to the subject

Examines financial measures to mitigate carbon emissions, including carbon markets, carbon taxes, and cap-and-trade mechanisms

Reviews summary

Foundations for sustainable business leadership

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in understanding how to lead a sustainable and circular business. Many found the content excellent, well-structured, and highly relevant, appreciating the overview of topics like ESG, TBL, sustainable finance, and reporting frameworks (GRI, CSRD). The case studies and examples were frequently highlighted as particularly helpful and made it easier to assimilate concepts. Some learners found the course practical and offering actionable insights. However, a few reviewers felt the course lacked sufficient depth, particularly in financial aspects or the 'how' of implementation, sometimes finding it too theoretical or basic if they had prior sustainability background. Despite this, the overall sentiment leans strongly positive, with recent reviews especially praising its value.

Well-organized topics with relevant examples.

"Excellent course, very well structured, with relevant content and case studies that make it easier to assimilate the contents."

"Excellent content, engaging lectures, and practical assignments. Highly recommend this course for anyone interested in leading sustainable change."

"Excelente curso con muy buen contenido y estructura."

"The course is excellent, well-structured, and provides valuable insights into sustainable business practices."

Provides a strong base for understanding key concepts.

"This is an excellent course which provides a solid foundation in understanding how to run a sustainable business."

"This course provides a solid foundation for understanding sustainable business practices."

"The course is excellent, well-structured, and provides valuable insights into sustainable business practices."

"The concepts are presented clearly, and I appreciate the focus on practical application."

Pace uneven; basic if you have prior knowledge.

"The course has some good points, but the pace is uneven. Some parts are too basic, others move too fast."

"Okay course. Content is decent, but nothing particularly new if you already have some background in sustainability."

"A good overview of the topic. Covered various aspects, but some areas felt a bit rushed."

Some desired more detail and practical application.

"Disappointing. The content felt superficial and didn't go deep enough into the 'how'."

"I expected more practical tools and frameworks. It felt a bit too theoretical at times."

"Not what I expected. Focused too much on high-level concepts rather than actionable steps for leading change."

"Good course, informative content. Perhaps could be slightly more in-depth on certain financial aspects."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Leading the Circular and Sustainable Business with these activities:

Review 'The Circular Economy Handbook'

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Gain a deeper understanding of circular economy principles and business models.

View Waste to Wealth: The Circular Economy Advantage on Amazon

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Read the introduction and first three chapters.
Summarize key concepts and business models.
Identify examples relevant to your industry.

Review ESG principles

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Solidify your understanding of ESG principles before delving into sustainability reporting.

Browse courses on ESG

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Review online resources on ESG investing.
Identify the key components of ESG.
Summarize the benefits of ESG integration.

Create a presentation on sustainable supply chains

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Reinforce your understanding of sustainable supply chains by creating a presentation.

Browse courses on Sustainable Supply Chains

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Research sustainable supply chain practices.
Develop a presentation outline.
Create visually appealing slides.
Practice your presentation delivery.

Four other activities

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Analyze a company's sustainability report

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Apply your knowledge of sustainability reporting by analyzing a real-world example.

Browse courses on ESG Reporting

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Select a company with a sustainability report.
Review the report using GRI or CSRD frameworks.
Identify strengths and weaknesses.
Write a summary of your findings.

Review 'Flourishing Enterprise'

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Expand your understanding of sustainable business leadership and the mindset required for flourishing enterprises.

View Flourishing Enterprise: The New Spirit of... on Amazon

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Read the chapters on creating a flourishing vision.
Identify the key principles of a flourishing enterprise.
Reflect on how these principles apply to your work.

Develop an Environmental P&L for a hypothetical company

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Apply your understanding of triple bottom line accounting by creating an Environmental P&L.

Browse courses on Triple Bottom Line

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Define the scope of your hypothetical company.
Identify environmental costs and benefits.
Quantify the environmental impact.
Create the Environmental P&L statement.

Attend a sustainability conference or webinar

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Connect with other professionals and learn about the latest trends in sustainability.

Browse courses on Sustainability

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Search for upcoming sustainability events.
Register for an event that interests you.
Attend the event and take notes.
Network with other attendees.

Career center

Learners who complete Leading the Circular and Sustainable Business will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sustainability Manager

A Sustainability Manager leads a company's efforts to minimize its environmental impact and improve its social responsibility. This course directly addresses the core competencies of this role, such as understanding sustainable business practices and how to implement them in an organization. It also explores sustainable operations and supply chains, a major part of this management role, and delves into marketing products responsibly and avoiding greenwashing. This course also covers triple bottom line accounting and sustainability reporting, which is crucial for any Sustainability Manager who needs to assess and communicate a business's progress on sustainability.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Chief Sustainability Officer

The Chief Sustainability Officer is a leadership position focused on integrating sustainability into all parts of a company’s operations and strategy. The course explores the role of a Chief Sustainability Officer, discussing what this C-suite position entails. The course explains how to communicate sustainability initiatives effectively to upper management, which is a key skill for a Chief Sustainability Officer. The course also explores how to develop a sustainable business that includes all stakeholders and looks into how new organizational structures support the sustainable enterprise.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Sustainability Officer

Environmental Analyst

An Environmental Analyst assesses a company's environmental impact and helps it develop strategies to improve its sustainability. This course will greatly benefit any Environmental Analyst through its coverage of sustainable operations and supply chains, which are essential components of a company’s environmental footprint. The course also examines the principles of triple bottom line accounting, which is a method that seeks to align an organization's financial goals with its social and environmental goals. The course also explores concepts like natural capital and the financial risks associated with environmental impacts, which is critical knowledge for an Environmental Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Analyst

Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist

A Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist develops and implements programs that promote a company's ethical and social responsibility practices. This role directly aligns with the course's material, which emphasizes how to go beyond basic Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to create truly sustainable businesses. The course also explores the value of 3rd-party certifications in assessing sustainability practices, an important tool for any Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist. It also explains how to read a sustainability report and how to generate them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist

Sustainability Consultant

A Sustainability Consultant advises businesses on how to improve their environmental and social performance. This course provides a strong framework for a Sustainability Consultant by introducing the concept of a sustainable business and how new organizational structures support these kind of businesses. It also includes discussion of sustainable finance and accounting practices, including the Triple Bottom Line, Environmental Profit and Loss statements, and methodologies proposed by the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board. The course also offers insight into sustainability reporting and ESG, all areas that a Sustainability Consultant needs to be familiar with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Consultant

Supply Chain Analyst

A Supply Chain Analyst is responsible for optimizing a company's supply chain to ensure it is efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable. This course explores sustainable operations and supply chains, particularly how to manufacture products using environmentally and socially responsible practices. Any Supply Chain Analyst will also find the course's discussion on how to market products as 'green' and avoid greenwashing highly relevant to their position. This course can help Supply Chain Analysts understand how to incorporate sustainability into their supply chain strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Supply Chain Analyst

Operations Manager

An Operations Manager oversees the daily operations of a business, focusing on efficiency and productivity. This course explores sustainable operations and how to incorporate environmentally and socially responsible practices in manufacturing. Any Operations Manager will find it valuable to learn about sustainable supply chains and how to assess and mitigate environmental costs by utilizing the Environmental Profit and Loss statement and the concept of triple bottom line accounting. This course may assist an Operations Manager in incorporating sustainability into their decision making.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Product Manager

A Product Manager oversees the development, launch, and lifecycle of a product. This course may be useful to a Product Manager by helping them understand how to create sustainable products, particularly how to manufacture products using environmentally and socially responsible practices. It also examines how companies market products as 'green' and how to avoid greenwashing. A Product Manager will find this course helpful in understanding how to integrate sustainability into their product development process.

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Business Development Manager

A Business Development Manager is responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities. This course may be useful to a Business Development Manager, as it addresses how to develop a sustainable business, including one that is inclusive of all stakeholders. It also introduces sustainable finance from the lens of the Triple Bottom Line, explaining how to assess environmental costs. This understanding can help a Business Development Manager create business strategies oriented towards sustainability, and identify areas of growth in the sustainable business sector.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Marketing Specialist

A Marketing Specialist is responsible for promoting a company's products and services to a target audience and developing strategies to build brand awareness. This course may be useful to a Marketing Specialist, since it explores how companies market their products as 'green,' and what constitutes honest marketing versus 'greenwashing'. The skills acquired in this course could be used to create product marketing strategies that emphasize sustainability and transparency. This course also explores the value of 3rd party certifications, which may be useful for a Marketing Specialist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Specialist

Social Entrepreneur

A Social Entrepreneur starts a business with the primary purpose of solving a social or environmental problem. This course explores social entrepreneurship as a means to become a sustainability leader, and features examples of companies that were founded with sustainability as a key value. It also explores the role of a Chief Sustainability Officer and discusses how to communicate sustainability initiatives effectively to upper management, which is crucial for any Social Entrepreneur. An aspiring Social Entrepreneur would find this course helpful in understanding sustainable business practices.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager plans, organizes, and executes projects to achieve specific goals. This course may be useful to a Project Manager who needs to lead sustainability-focused projects. The course explores how to implement sustainable practices throughout the supply chain and how to incorporate sustainability into everyday life, which could be useful for a project manager in a project with sustainability elements. The course also discusses sustainability reporting, which is helpful to track a project's progress on sustainability related goals.

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Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst provides financial advice and analysis to support business decision making. This course may be useful for a Financial Analyst, as it introduces sustainable finance and accounting, including the concept of the Triple Bottom Line. The course explores the role of environmental services and the financial risks associated with negative externalities, showing how environmental costs can be calculated via Puma's Environmental Profit and Loss. The course also examines measures to mitigate carbon emissions, which is a growing area in finance.

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Public Relations Specialist

A Public Relations Specialist manages a company's public image and communications. This course may be useful for a Public Relations Specialist who needs to communicate a company's sustainability initiatives. By exploring sustainability reporting, this course can help a Public Relations Specialist understand how to communicate a company's progress in this area. The course also discusses greenwashing and the value of third-party certifications, knowledge that is important for honest communication with the public about a company's sustainability practices.

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Research Analyst

A Research Analyst conducts research and analysis to provide insights that support business decisions. This course may be useful for those who wish to specialize in sustainability matters, where the course provides an introduction to the core concepts and business case for sustainability, and explores sustainable finance and accounting, including the triple bottom line and environmental profit and loss statements. By learning how to interpret sustainability reports and understand the methodologies behind them, a Research Analyst can build expertise in this area. This course can help a Research Analyst to understand crucial concepts for performing market research on sustainable business practice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Analyst

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Leading the Circular and Sustainable Business.

Waste to Wealth

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the circular economy, covering its principles, business models, and implementation strategies. It's a valuable resource for understanding the practical aspects of transitioning to a circular business model. The book offers real-world examples and case studies, making it highly relevant to the course's focus on leading circular and sustainable businesses. It serves as excellent additional reading to deepen understanding of circular economy concepts.

Waste to Wealth: The Circular Economy Advantage

Hardcover

Flourishing Enterprise

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Explores how businesses can move beyond sustainability to create truly flourishing enterprises. It delves into the mindset and practices required to integrate environmental and social considerations into the core of business strategy. While not strictly focused on the circular economy, it provides a broader context for understanding the role of business in creating a sustainable future. This book is valuable as additional reading to expand your perspective on sustainable business leadership.

Flourishing Enterprise: The New Spirit of Business

Kindle Edition

Leading the Circular and Sustainable Business

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Foundations for sustainable business leadership

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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