Module 1

Risks and opportunities from environmental sustainability

1.1 Define environmental sustainability
1.2 Identify the causes of key environmental issues
1.3 Identify how organisations impact the environment
1.4 Identify how the environment impacts organisations
1.5 Identify the benefits of good environmental performance

Module 2

Laws and other compliance obligations

2.1 identify environmental regulators
2.2 Define enforcement methods
2.3 Identify key statutory compliance requirements
2.4 Identify the key elements of international environmental agreements

Module 3

Key environmental sustainability issues

3.1 Define pollution
3.2 Identify key terms used in relation to pollution
3.3 Describe ways to prevent pollution in organisations
3.4 Describe potential consequences if organisations cause pollution of the environment
3.5 State the purpose of environmental legislation
3.6 Identify the core principles and benefits of environmental management systems

Module 4

Improving environmental sustainability performance

4.1 Identify the practical actions employees can undertake to support environmental sustainability
4.2 Describe the environmental management structure within organisations

Module 5

Drivers for change and barriers

5.1 Time and cost constraints
5.2 Commitment (at different levels in an organisation)
5.3 Supply-chain pressures (upstream) and customer pressures (downstream)
5.4 Stakeholder pressures (interested parties)
5.5 Change-management principles

Module 6

Using data for performance improvement

6.1 Choosing the correct indicators including why/ when to use absolute and normalised KPIs
6.2 Quantifiable/qualitative information
6.3 How data can be used to drive performance improvement

Module 7

Environmental sustainability across the value chain

7.1 Life-cycle thinking and the link to value chains
7.2 How value-chain thinking supports sustainability
7.3 Typical roles supporting sustainability within and outside organisations
7.4 Life-cycle assessments and their application

Module 8

Improving resource efficiency

8.1 Understanding resource flows in the delegate organisation
8.2 Waste hierarchy (and practical applications)
8.3 Water management
8.4 Energy management
8.5 Circular economy principals

Module 9

Employees and Sustainability Performance

9.1 Engagement strategies – how to involve staff in driving environmental improvements
9.2 Communication – including successful messaging
9.3 How an EMS (e.g. ISO14001:2015) can be used to drive change in an organisation, e.g. through leadership engagement