Small Business Sustainability Basics
Sustainability steps businesses can take without greenwashing.
Small Business Sustainability Basics is designed to help learners build a clear, practical understanding of the topic—without drowning in jargon. We start by grounding the “why” and the “what”: the key definitions, the mental models you’ll keep using, and the context that makes the rest of climate learning click.
You’ll explore the big ideas that matter most: baseline for small business: energy, travel, procurement, waste, quick wins vs capex, engaging employees and customers. Instead of treating these as abstract concepts, the course connects them to everyday decisions and real-world examples so you can recognize them in news, workplace conversations, and the choices you make at home.
We also go deeper into: reporting and avoiding overclaims. Along the way, you’ll practice translating complexity into simple explanations, so you can communicate confidently and spot common misconceptions before they trip you up.
By the end, you’ll be able to build a baseline sustainability plan for a small business and choose practical first steps with measurable impact, and you’ll have a few concrete next steps to keep momentum going.
Course Lessons
Business Footprint Basics (Without the Headache)
This lesson, “Business Footprint Basics (Without the Headache),” is a focused module within the course “Small Business Sustainability Basics.” You’ll start by grounding the topic with why measurement is useful (cost + risk + credibility) and intro to scope 1/2/3 for small businesses, so the core idea is clear before moving on. Next, the lesson connects the concept to practical context by exploring start with what you can measure now and pick a baseline year and boundaries, using plain-language explanations and a supportive visual. You’ll also work through a real-world example that helps you apply the idea to everyday decisions or common climate conversations. By the end, you should be able to summarize the lesson’s main point in your own words and answer a short quiz that checks true understanding—not memorization.
Quick Wins: Energy and Operations
This lesson, “Quick Wins: Energy and Operations,” is a focused module within the course “Small Business Sustainability Basics.” You’ll start by grounding the topic with lighting, hvac, and equipment efficiency and operational routines that reduce waste, so the core idea is clear before moving on. Next, the lesson connects the concept to practical context by exploring maintenance and monitoring basics and employee engagement for quick wins, using plain-language explanations and a supportive visual. You’ll also work through a real-world example that helps you apply the idea to everyday decisions or common climate conversations. By the end, you should be able to summarize the lesson’s main point in your own words and answer a short quiz that checks true understanding—not memorization.
Procurement and Supply Chain Levers
This lesson, “Procurement and Supply Chain Levers,” is a focused module within the course “Small Business Sustainability Basics.” You’ll start by grounding the topic with high-impact purchasing categories and vendor questions that improve data, so the core idea is clear before moving on. Next, the lesson connects the concept to practical context by exploring packaging and shipping choices and product design/material choices (if applicable), using plain-language explanations and a supportive visual. You’ll also work through a real-world example that helps you apply the idea to everyday decisions or common climate conversations. By the end, you should be able to summarize the lesson’s main point in your own words and answer a short quiz that checks true understanding—not memorization.
Travel, Commuting, and Work Patterns
This lesson, “Travel, Commuting, and Work Patterns,” is a focused module within the course “Small Business Sustainability Basics.” You’ll start by grounding the topic with business travel hotspots and remote/hybrid work implications (neutral), so the core idea is clear before moving on. Next, the lesson connects the concept to practical context by exploring commuter programs and incentives and fleet and logistics improvements (if relevant), using plain-language explanations and a supportive visual. You’ll also work through a real-world example that helps you apply the idea to everyday decisions or common climate conversations. By the end, you should be able to summarize the lesson’s main point in your own words and answer a short quiz that checks true understanding—not memorization.
Reporting and Avoiding Greenwashing
This lesson, “Reporting and Avoiding Greenwashing,” is a focused module within the course “Small Business Sustainability Basics.” You’ll start by grounding the topic with what to disclose (scope, methods, timeframe) and setting targets you can defend, so the core idea is clear before moving on. Next, the lesson connects the concept to practical context by exploring examples of responsible claims and using offsets transparently for residuals, using plain-language explanations and a supportive visual. You’ll also work through a real-world example that helps you apply the idea to everyday decisions or common climate conversations. By the end, you should be able to summarize the lesson’s main point in your own words and answer a short quiz that checks true understanding—not memorization.
Building a Practical 12-Month Plan
This lesson, “Building a Practical 12-Month Plan,” is a focused module within the course “Small Business Sustainability Basics.” You’ll start by grounding the topic with choose 3–5 initiatives with owners and timelines and budgeting and roi thinking, so the core idea is clear before moving on. Next, the lesson connects the concept to practical context by exploring tracking kpis and updating baselines and communicating internally and externally, using plain-language explanations and a supportive visual. You’ll also work through a real-world example that helps you apply the idea to everyday decisions or common climate conversations. By the end, you should be able to summarize the lesson’s main point in your own words and answer a short quiz that checks true understanding—not memorization.