The Transition to a Circular Economy

About

In this course you will learn how to interpret the new EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Governmental agencies have a social responsibility to reduce environmental impact to a minimum. In order to reach the European goal of 57% reduction in CO2- equivalents in 2030 and move towards a more circular economy, the European Union is implementing new laws and regulations to hold large organizations accountable for their emissions and broader impact.

Business models that rely on mass consumption and end with mass disposal (waste) will come to an end. Organizations will need to produce less, while providing more people with their products due to the rise of world population. Organizations will need to keep control of their products, so valuable materials will return when products are at an end of life phase, and organizations will need to make well-built, maintenance-low, easy-to-repair products. This all whilst operating within the social foundation and ecological ceiling of society, so organizations create a safe and just space for humanity. In order to fully understand the impact of an organization, organizations need to include impact through the whole value chain. From mining raw materials through end-of-life phase, everything has ESG aspects for which an organization must be in control.

As a consequence, new laws and regulations are developed and implemented that will shape the economy for the time to come. The EU are demanding complete transparency on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects of business for different type of organizations, small and large. The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive related reports demand assurance from an auditor and include more than just reports on impact on the direct environment of the organization. These new laws and regulations do not only impact the finance professionals within an organization, as current business models are not suitable for a sustainable and circular economy. In order to get positive results in our reports, we need to change the way we do business to create a positive societal impact.

The course is provided to you by the Process Innovation & Information Systems research group of the HU University of Applied Sciences, the Centre Multiple Value Creation of HAN University of Applied Sciences, and the Green Economics & Process Optimization research group of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences.

Sign up now to get a glimpse of the way business is likely to be conducted in the future!

Course leader

Pascal Ravesteijn

Fee info