Course overview
Audience
Small business owners, founders, MSMEs, and startup teams.
Level
Beginner to intermediate
Duration
3-4 hours self-paced
Learning track
Sustainable Business for SMEs
A starter path for small businesses building simple sustainability systems.
What you will learn
- Identify why sustainability matters for small business resilience and trust.
- Set up simple energy, waste, supplier, material, and carbon data routines.
- Ask better supplier questions before buying or publishing claims.
- Use monthly review to turn sustainability into a repeatable business habit.
Course modules
- 1.Why sustainability matters for SMEs
- 2.Energy and waste basics
- 3.Supplier questions
- 4.Packaging and material choices
- 5.Carbon data collection basics
- 6.Claims and proof discipline
- 7.Monthly sustainability routine
Practical activity
Use the SME Sustainability Readiness Score and complete the SME Sustainability Starter Kit.
Suggested self-study flow
- 1.Read the course overview and open the related Knowledge Hub pages.
- 2.Work through the modules in order and write short notes in your own words.
- 3.Use the related tool or template to turn learning into a practical action.
- 4.Review your result, note missing evidence, and choose one next step for the coming week.
Who should take this course
- Small business owners beginning sustainability work.
- Founders who need a practical first system.
- MSME teams organizing supplier and customer claim evidence.
- Startup teams building responsible operating habits early.