Online Essential

Sustainability Basics

What you need to know now to get started in sustainability at the company

This Online Essential is held in German.
In this practice-oriented and compact online training course, you will learn the basics of sustainability. You will find out how it is dealt with in a corporate context. You will understand why sustainable action is currently so relevant and be shown solutions to make our future more sustainable. You will also develop a mindset to act sustainably in the long term and stay motivated. Thanks to a mix of online seminars and interactive self-study phases, you will enjoy a high degree of flexibility and benefit from the exchange and knowledge of our experts.

Did you know?

This course is part of the Master Class "Sustainability Manager:in". If you book the entire Master Class, you save 30 percent compared to booking the individual modules.

Module 1: Webinar
3 hours
Introduction to sustainability
Introduction to sustainability

Current relevance of sustainability

  • Climate change and species extinction.
  • Can it go on like this? Dealing with the resources of our planet.
  • 3 narratives about our future that influence our actions today.

Solutions & principles for sustainability

  • Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Principle of connectedness.
  • Principle of cooperation.
Module 2: Self-study phase
8.5 hours
Fundamentals of sustainability
Fundamentals of sustainability

What is sustainability?

  • History of sustainability.
  • Legal framework and funding opportunities.

Operationalization of sustainability

  • Brundtland Commission and Agenda 21.
  • Models, targets and indicators.
  • Tools for measuring sustainability.
  • EU taxonomy, planetary boundaries, reporting standards, ESG.

Current relevance of sustainability

  • Climate change and biodiversity loss.
  • Anthropocene.
  • Global crises.
  • Growth paradigm vs. finiteness.
  • Ecosystems, social systems, economic systems.

Dealing with sustainability in the corporate context

  • Legal framework.
  • Best Practice.
  • Greenwashing.
  • Summary, solutions and outlook.
Module 3: Webinar
3 hours
Sustainability in organizations
Sustainability in organizations
  • From "business as usual" to regenerative management.
  • Impact & visibility as parameters for corporate engagement.
  • Principle of circularity.
  • Regenerative business mapping.
  • Best practices for regenerative business.
Module 4: Self-study phase
5.5 hours
New business models and future business skills
New business models and future business skills

Preparation

  • Developing and managing sustainable business models.

Sustainable business models

  • Fundamentals of sustainable business models.
  • Combining sustainability and profitability conceptually.
  • Impact orientation as the core of sustainable business models.

Designing sustainable business models

  • Characteristics of sustainable business models.
  • Design options.

Instruments and future fit skills

  • Introduction to key instruments for designing sustainable business models.
  • Future Fit Skills.
Module 5: Webinar
3 hours
Act sustainably
Act sustainably

Your own role in sustainability

  • The Knowing Doing Gap.
  • The "inner dimension" of sustainability: IDGs and how they strengthen our actions.
  • Recognize your personal sphere of influence - and act effectively.
  • Stakeholder and network mapping.
  • Empathy as the key to successful stakeholder dialog.

Contents

1. introduction to sustainability

  • Current relevance of sustainability.
  • Operationalization of sustainability.
  • Dealing with sustainability in the corporate context.
  • Solutions and principles for sustainability.

2. sustainability in organizations

  • Fundamentals of sustainable business models.
  • Designing sustainable business models.
  • Best Practices.
  • Impact & visibility as parameters for corporate engagement.
  • Principle of circularity.
  • Regenerative business mapping.

3. act sustainably

  • The Knowing-Doing Gap.
  • The "inner dimension" of sustainability: IDGs and how they strengthen our actions.
  • Recognize your personal sphere of influence - and act effectively.
  • Stakeholder and network mapping.

How do you learn in this training course?

This course offers you a digital blended concept that has been developed for part-time learning. Thanks to a flexible mix of online seminars and self-study phases, you are sure to reach your goal. This is how you learn in this course:

Self-study phases: Learn independently, at your own pace and whenever you want. Our courses offer you didactically high-quality learning material. 

Live webinars: In regular online seminars, you meet your trainer in person. You will receive answers to your questions, specific assistance and instructions on how to deepen your knowledge and apply the skills you have acquired in practical exercises.

Learning community: A digital learning community is available to you throughout the course. Exchange ideas with other participants and the trainer and ask questions.

Learning environment: In your online learning environment, you will find useful information, downloads and extra services for this training course once you have registered.

Future Jobs Club: Get exclusive access to a business network, micro-learningssparks), news and future work hacks.

Certificate of attendance and Open Badge: As a graduate of the course, you will receive a certificate of attendance and an Open Badge, which you can easily share in professional networks (e.g. LinkedIn).

Your benefit

  • You will be given a basic introduction to the topic of sustainability.
  • You will learn about sustainability models, laws and standards.
  • You will learn about the importance of sustainability in the corporate context.
  • You understand the current relevance of sustainability.
  • You will be shown possible solutions.
  • You develop a mindset to act sustainably in the long term.

 

Methods

A well-thought-out mix of content, methods and support is essential for successful learning, especially when learning online. Our course concept is precisely tailored to this self-learning situation. Well-founded trainer, best practice examples, practical exercises, discussion and exchange of experience in the learning community.

 

The following third-party tool can be used in the event:

Recommended for

This training course is aimed at anyone who comes into direct or indirect contact with the topic of sustainability in the course of their work and wants to initiate or contribute to change:

  • Specialists and managers
  • Sustainability Manager
  • Participants in the sustainability transformation
  • Lateral and new entrants

Open Badges - Show what you can do digitally too.

Open Badges are recognized, digital certificates of participation. These verifiable credentials are the current standard for integration in career networks such as LinkedIn.

With them, you digitally demonstrate the competences you possess. After successful completion, you will receive an Open Badge from us.

Read more

Attendees comments

"The trainer was really great - empathetic, inspiring, knowledgeable. The topicality of the material in the presentation and self-study phase is also very positive. The group work worked really well, generally no technical problems! I felt well looked after from start to finish. The self-study environment is great. I particularly appreciate the high quality of the lecturers, learning material and visualization."

Christina Gunkel
Günther Spelsberg GmbH & Co. KG

"I particularly liked the breakout sessions, great moderation, practical examples, useful links and the good script."

Sven Thode
Commerzbank AG Branch, Luxembourg

"The content was very well prepared, including the self-study content."

Frank Hofmann
Physics Instruments (PI)
"Super documents, great lecturers and good content round off the training. The all-round package is just right! The learning environment is great!"
Alexander Schade
msg group

"I can recommend the training due to the very structured learning materials, which make the whole subject entertaining. The theory was directly illustrated using practical examples."

Alexander Hippe
LIGNOTREND Produktions GmbH

Seminar evaluation for "Sustainability Basics"

4.7 from 5
with 14 ratings
training content:
4.7
Content comprehensibility:
5
Practical relevance:
4.3
Trainer expertise:
5
Participant orientation:
4.8
Method variety:
4.8

 

IDGs and SDGs

 

Learning and shaping a sustainable future

The "inner dimension" of sustainability, the necessary mindset for sustainable action and the role of the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) are part of the topics in this course. You will learn future skills that, according to our partner, the IDG initiative, effectively contribute to a sustainable future. The IDGs have scientifically and globally identified the future skills needed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). What exactly does that mean? Find out more.

Joint online training
Booking number
34365
€ 1.240,- plus VAT
4 weeks
Online
4 Events
German
Events
Train several employees internally
Pricing upon request
  • Customized training courses according to your needs
  • Directly at your premises or online
  • Cost advantage from 5 participants
  • We contact you within 24 hours (Mon-Fri)
4 weeks
In-person or Online

Future Jobs Classes

Get ready for your job of the future and become a Sustainability Manager.

Start dates and details

  Select time period
0 events
04.07.2025
Live online
Booking number: 34365
€ 1.240,- plus VAT.
€ 1,475.60 incl. VAT.
Course
zoom
zoom
Technical notes
We use various software to conduct our online events.
Modules
4 weeks
Limited number of participants
Webinar
Introduction to sustainability
Date
04.07.2025
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
Webinar
Sustainability in organizations
Date
18.07.2025
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
Webinar
Act sustainably
Date
31.07.2025
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
19.09.2025
Live online
Booking number: 34365
€ 1.240,- plus VAT.
€ 1,475.60 incl. VAT.
Course
zoom
zoom
Technical notes
We use various software to conduct our online events.
Modules
4 weeks
Limited number of participants
Webinar
Introduction to sustainability
Date
19.09.2025
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
Webinar
Sustainability in organizations
Date
06.10.2025
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
Webinar
Act sustainably
Date
20.10.2025
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
10.11.2025
Live online
Booking number: 34365
€ 1.240,- plus VAT.
€ 1,475.60 incl. VAT.
Course
zoom
zoom
Technical notes
We use various software to conduct our online events.
Modules
4 weeks
Limited number of participants
Webinar
Introduction to sustainability
Date
10.11.2025
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
Webinar
Sustainability in organizations
Date
24.11.2025
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
Webinar
Act sustainably
Date
08.12.2025
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
16.01.2026
Live online
Booking number: 34365
€ 1.240,- plus VAT.
€ 1,475.60 incl. VAT.
Course
zoom
zoom
Technical notes
We use various software to conduct our online events.
Modules
4 weeks
Limited number of participants
Webinar
Introduction to sustainability
Date
16.01.2026
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
Webinar
Sustainability in organizations
Date
30.01.2026
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
Webinar
Act sustainably
Date
13.02.2026
Course
zoom
Schedule
Start 09:00 am, end approx. 12:30 pm
Sufficient places are still free.
Don't wait too long to book.
Fully booked.
Booking number: 34365
€ 1.240,- plus VAT.
€ 1,475.60 incl. VAT.
Details
4 weeks
Limited number of participants
Booking number: 34365
€ 1.240,- plus VAT.
€ 1,475.60 incl. VAT.
Details
4 weeks
Limited number of participants
Book later
You are welcome to make a non-binding advance reservation.
No suitable date?
You are welcome to be notified by e-mail as soon as new dates are released.
Also bookable as in-house training
demand-oriented adaptations possible
on-site or live online for multiple employees
save time and traveling expenses
Please note: We use third-party tools for selected events. Personal data of the participant will be passed on to them for the implementation of the training offer. You can find more information in our privacy policy.

About us – The Haufe Akademie

Your optimizer, innovator and companion since 1978 -
Your professional partner for professional development and seminars, training courses and topical conferences.

Whether on site, live online or in-house - our customised solutions, our claim to the highest level of consulting expertise and training tailored to your needs simplify the acquisition of skills for the working world of the future and sustainably facilitate professional development.

A wide range of seminars, individual coaching and our flexible formats support HR managers and decision-makers in shaping the future and developing employees, in-house teams and companies.

Experience the benefits of online training from the comfort of your own home. Our online formats meet the highest quality standards and are in no way inferior to face-to-face events in terms of practical relevance. Learn together live online in interactive groups or digitally at a time of your choice.

2,500+ further training
600,000+ apprentices per year
Over 95% positive reviews
2,500 trainers and coaches
17,500+ training courses held per year
Call us or send an email

Do you have any questions?

We are there for you Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Stephanie Göpfert

Head of Customer Service

*Mandatory fields
FAQs

Questions & Answers

In our Questions & Answers (FAQ) section, you will find all the answers and the most frequently asked questions about your selected topic.