Business Sustainability in the Circular Economy (Coursera)

In the course you will not only learn about the role of business in sustainability, but also your own personal contribution.

In addition to environmental issues we will also reflect on how employees are pressuring firms to see themselves as a positive part of the wider society. The specific topics we will cover include: Paris Climate Accord, Carbon Footprint, the circular economy, reverse logistics, recycling strategies, right to repair, Corporate Social Responsibility, Bottom of the Pyramid and developing economies, and fair trade business models. By the end of the course, your understanding of sustainability and business's relationship with society will have increased considerably. You will develop new skills in research and analysis and will have lots of new ideas to take away with you and apply in your own organisation and your own working life.

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Sustainability and the circular economy

This week includes: outlining the structure of the course, exploring the nature of sustainability, assessing your own green credentials, discussing the future of business in a circular economy.

WEEK 2

Recycling and reverse logistics

This week includes: discussing the circular economy, explaining reverse logistics, defining recycling, introducing Green Legislation.

WEEK 3

Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

This week includes: developing an understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR), measuring CSR, introducing the concept of the bottom of the pyramid, discussing Fairtrade.