GreenComp for Enterprises Online Course

Introduction to sustainable development

For a long time, sustainable development has been commonly defined by using the Brundtland Report of 1987, which stated that sustainable development is “the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

Since its appearance, the definition has been constantly improved, by changing approaches, shifting coordinates, and adding new theories. Nevertheless, a clear and immutable interpretation of the topic is yet to be found. It is, therefore, evident that the topic is extremely complex and requires an understanding of the intricate interplay of environmental, social, and economic aspects at many different levels.

The ultimate goal of sustainable development is to reach a beneficial interaction between the environment, the humans living in it, and their economic systems. From climate crisis to pollution, from deforestation and biodiversity loss to plastic pollution and food waste, today this interaction is at risk. Our lifetime burning issues have become emergencies that need concrete answers, and, consequently, the idea of sustainable development has become an imperative.

Sustainable development and entrepreneurship

When it comes to the environmental threats and social dynamics of our time, enterprises play a significant role, since they are responsible for many negative impacts on the entire world – for example, enterprises produce over 2/3 of the pollution that contributes to climate change (Heede, 2014) and many are the well-known situations when businesses have negatively impacted social groups in terms of inequality, labor rights, and human health (Sutherland et al., 2016).

On the other side, however, due to the strong link they have with society and the environment, enterprises are also seen as key players in sustainable development, and entrepreneurs have long been recognized as a means for societal transformation. For a development in a more sustainable direction, enterprises are therefore required to take responsibility for their actions and act accordingly, reconciling the economic profitability with the sustainability aspects and mobilizing towards new approaches and mindsets while embracing innovative economic production models.

The Business Sustainability Handbook

The European Union’s co-founded GreenComp Enterprises Project, through the creation of this Handbook, seeks to contribute to sustainable development starting exactly from the enterprises and boosting the competencies of entrepreneurs and startuppers. The methodology of designing the Handbook is based on the “GreenComp” framework, which was developed by the European Commission in 2022 as a reference framework on sustainability competences at the EU level.

The Handbook has been realized by a Consortium of seven partners from different European countries, which ventured together in several activities to collect information, know-how, and experiences and, ultimately, create the Handbook. Firstly, the partners organized a digital focus group in each country(Denmark, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Sweden, and Cyprus) to identify the missing skills of startuppers and entrepreneurs, in relation to sustainable entrepreneurship. Consequently, they co-designed the structure of the Handbook and each one wrote one module using their expertise and conducting thorough research. To assess the quality of the modules, the Consortium organized a Transnational training of entrepreneurs based on the Handbook itself. They invited 14 individuals to the training who, with their work or academic background, gave fundamental feedback concerning the content of the Handbook. The result was the finalization of this Handbook, that now is possible to be freely consulted in all the partner languages.

The Handbook aims to develop the skills and knowledge of entrepreneurs and to-be-entrepreneurs in thefield of sustainable entrepreneurship, in order to foster the creation of innovative, green, and ethical enterprises across Europe. It is dedicated to entrepreneurs, who want to upgrade their existing enterprise, adopting environmental and ethical aspects in their operations; startuppers, who have an eco-innovative idea and want to learn more about creating a sustainable enterprise; but also to trainers, mentors, consultants, and, more in general, to everyone interested in learning more about sustainable entrepreneurship.

As it has been written above, the subject in the spotlight is extremely complex and needs to be analyzed from different angles. This is the reason why the Handbook is divided into seven modules, each of which digs into one specific aspect of sustainable entrepreneurship. Module after module, the extensive puzzle that is the sustainable entrepreneurship topic will become more and more clear, and all the pieces, in the end, will wedge into each other and will offer a holistic overview of all the useful aspects to take into consideration when starting a new sustainable business or upgrading an already existing one.

Firstly, the Handbook presents the subject from the macro level, the one where transnational institutions around the world have tried to propose suggestions and design plans for a sustainable transition of society. The first module, indeed, explores the possibility of aligning businesses with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a comprehensive framework for addressing pressing global challenges.

The following modules enter a meso level, examining the topic of sustainable entrepreneurship from within the business. Therefore, the second module considers the basic components of sustainable performance, which are the environmental, social, and governance strategies (ESG). The third module investigates sustainable business models, which are paramount for a business, to drive economic growth, reduce environmental impact, and promote social well-being. Financial literacy is module number four, which explains how to adjust the financial aspects of a business with sustainable principles.

Afterward, the Handbook offers another shift of perspective, looking at the sustainable entrepreneurship subject from a micro level, with a bottom-up approach, the one of the entrepreneurs themselves. Consequently, module five probes the competencies that entrepreneurs need to cultivate if they aim to lead a sustainable enterprise. The following module researches all the strategies and techniques that entrepreneurs can adopt to minimize their environmental and social impacts.

Finally, the last module embraces a more philosophical attitude, moving from how to be sustainable to why, and suggesting the importance of holding sustainability at the heart of the business.

To facilitate the comprehension and the assimilation of the subjects touched on in the Handbook, the seven modules contain real-life case studies, illustrative images, speeches told by prestigious speakers, and self-assessment exercises.

Enjoy your journey into sustainable entrepreneurship!