FØS8301 Sustainable business development

Contents and structure

The purpose of the course is to enhance knowledge about sustainability, so that one is better prepared to face the risks and seize the opportunities associated with the green transition and sustainable restructuring. The course aims to enable individuals to integrate sustainability into their business in a profitable and efficient way that fosters engagement and action, in a manner that both reduces the company's negative externalities and enhances its positive externalities.

Session 1 - The Big Green Picture

What's happening in the world related to sustainability? And what risks and opportunities does this imply for individual businesses?

We primarily discuss what sustainability is and why businesses should work strategically with it. This includes exploring the planet's carrying capacity, green growth, the Nature Agreement, the Paris Agreement, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, circular economy, the EU's Green Deal, and some national guidelines and goals.

Session 2 - Mapping the Current Situation and Key Priority Areas

Basic introduction to externalities, companies' pros and cons, and the maturity model for sustainability. Review of what stakeholders are and what a double materiality analysis is, and how the latter can be conducted.

Session 3 - The Green Growth Ladder

How to integrate sustainability into the business?

We go through the six steps of the Green Growth Ladder towards sustainability. This leads us among other things to topics such as energy and resource usage, environmental management systems, green procurement, and sustainable business models.

Session 4 - Climate Accounting, Measurement, and Sustainability Reporting

How can we ensure that we are sufficiently contributing to the goals of the Nature Agreement, the Paris Agreement, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals? And how can we ensure that we are making efforts where they make the most difference?

Basic introduction to, among other things, climate accounting, scope, science-based climate and nature goals, and the triple bottom line. This also takes us through the EU's sustainability directive (CSRD) and the EU standards for sustainability reporting (ESRS).

Session 5 - Communication, Nudging, and Green Synergies

How can we communicate about sustainability in a way that creates positive engagement and leads to action? And how can we avoid greenwashing? We take a closer look at what nudging is and how it can be used as an effective communication method.

We also delve more into Sustainable Development Goal 17, Partnership for the Goals, which is crucial for achieving all the other sustainability goals. How can we create larger green and sustainable synergies between actors? We will, among other things, get an insight into what industrial symbiosis is and look at good examples of this.

Learning Outcome

The student gains knowledge of what sustainability is, why it is important to work strategically with it, as well as how to do it.

Skills

The student acquires skills that enable them to integrate sustainability into the business in an effective way that creates engagement and action.

General Competence

The student gains an understanding of sustainability as a potential competitive advantage and acquires knowledge that enables them to work with sustainability in a strategic manner that can enhance competitiveness.

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

A few years of work experience is an advantage.

Teaching methods

The teaching consists of five sessions with a focus on a high degree of interactivity. The teaching comprises a combination of lectures, conversations/discussions, and tasks. Various science-based methods, models, and tools are utilized.

Compulsory learning activities

Attendance is mandatory. To be evaluated in the subject, one must have attended at least 3 sessions.

Assessment

Written individual or group assignment with up to three participants in each group.

Passed/Not passed

Examination support material

All supporting materials allowed.

More about examination support material

Course reductions

• FØS8305 - Berekraft i praksis - Reduction: 2.5 studypoints