Marketing sits at the heart of the socio-economic system as a driver of economic outcomes and influencer of sustainability narrative.

This presents huge opportunity to reimagine the marketing function and industry in service of sustainable change.

This course will introduce marketers to the information they’ll need to navigate the sustainability transformation and play a critical role
in rewiring the economy and rewriting the stories held by it.

Who the course is for?

The knowledge and skills this course develop will benefit marketers, creatives and communications teams who wish to be at the forefront of marketing’s sustainability transformation. It is ideal for: 

• All marketing sector professionals (at all levels, whether they be working in brand, client, advertising, agency, publisher, or technology sides of the marketing sector ecosystem)
• Business leaders and business owners
• Small and large organisations across all industries and geographies

Course Format: 100% online, self-paced

Access: Flexible, 12-month licence, so you can re-visit the learning whenever you need it.

Price: £139 + VAT if applicable (discounts available for bulk purchases)

Learning time: 6-8 hours, start and progress at your convenience within 12-month period.

Assessment: In-learning quizzes, activities and submission of final assignment.

Award: Digital badge from University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

Course content

This course supports professional and personal development equipping you with introductory understanding of the foundations of sustainable marketing. With this knowledge, you can transform the narrative unleash sustainable practices to innovate, collaborate and lead for the future to positively influence consumer behaviours.

Module 1: Production, consumption and marketing
Module 2: The ambition of sustainable marketing
Module 3: Analyse marketing footprint, brainprint and greenwashing
Module 4: Change your influence for good
Module 5: Build strategies & communications
Module 6: Plan for action

Meet your subject matter expert

"We’re living in a unique moment in human history, in a crisis of disharmony and disconnect that we call unsustainability. To rewire the economy, and rewrite the stories held by it, we need to rethink the marketing that’s underpinning it and consider how it could be a critical agent of change.

My work is focused on the impact to be had at the intersection of business and society where marketing, brand and creative work influence our social norms, beliefs and behaviours, and the narratives that shape our systems and realities.

My background is in digital and sustainability strategy, education, marketing and transformation which has seen me work in agency, corporate, academia, and consultancy positions, and co-found a sustainability start-up that assessed marketing and labelling claims, aggregated sustainable products, and published content on lifestyles, behaviour change, and our connection with the world."

What will I learn from the course?

• Understand the sustainability crisis, the role of the economy, sustainable production, consumption and behaviours, and systems thinking.
• Explore marketing’s history, ecosystem and role in sustainability before unpacking the ambition of sustainable and purpose-driven marketing and how new systems emerge.
• Explore key sustainable marketing concepts such as marketing’s footprint, AI marketing and the challenge of greenwashing.
• Explore marketing’s leadership role as a meaning maker in society and better understand the depth of its influence in driving social change.
• Gain a practical understanding of how purpose, scientific evidence, levers of change and measurements can be used to build new marketing strategy, and how greenwashing regulation should be understood and actively used in your day-to-day work.
• Create a personal action plan to drive sustainability change.

Learning experience

You can complete the 6-8 hours of learning that make up the course in your own time, progressing through modules which contain videos, case studies, notes, exercises, quizzes and self-assessments. Benefits of the self-paced online course include:  

1. Access to course content for the full 12-months, allowing you to revisit the learning even once your course is complete – whenever you need it. 
2. Flexible learning throughout the year, with recommended reading and optional content available to supplement your learning.  
3. Development of a Foundational Action Plan to determine the steps needed to contribute to change in your role and organisation. 
4. Award of a digital badge from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, upon successful completion of the course.

CPD certified

Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon you. CISL and University of Cambridge Online accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.