In Brief:

• The Business future is green.

• Yet many decision-makers are still hesitating, thus blocking valuable opportunities.

• The latest and most thought-provoking papers on e-learning and sustainability reveal a clear trend that everyone should be aware of.

If there was any doubt that sustainability is an enduring part of the business agenda, now we should put this to rest. Business future is green and sustainability is THE supply system of a successful corporate structure and culture.

To train employees sustainably on sustainability, more HR developers are turning to e-learning and training platforms, such as Empacto. But what synergies can be created through e-learning in terms of sustainability? To find out, it’s worth taking a step back and examining the most insightful reports in the fields of “sustainability” and “e-learning.” By integrating these key learnings and trend analyses, executives and HR professionals can gain valuable and inspiring insights to champion the cause of sustainability through e-learning in their organizations. Here are the most thought-provoking papers I’ve come across recently. You’ll undoubtedly find them as challenging and inspiring as I have:

The Must-Read Sustainability Reports 2022/2023:

1. The EY Sustainable Value Study

This report addresses the fundamental question: Why should companies consider investing in sustainability through employee contributions? One thing is certain: It leads to increased financial value. But when companies seek to embed sustainability across all functions, they need education, capacity building, and knowledge sharing, along with a tailored strategy to develop the skills they need. To understand precisely how all of this works, reading the report is essential.

My favorite insights:

• 93% of companies surveyed have made a public climate change commitment but only 42% plan to reduce emissions 45% or more by 2030.

• Companies leading on action take a broader approach.

• They are 2.4x more likely to report significantly higher financial value than expected.

2. BCG WEF-Projekt: CEO Climate Leaders

This report is pure gold for those seeking an inspirational CEO guide to bring more sustainability to businesses. It highlights why early movers have a significant advantage and addresses common misconceptions about the immediacy, pace, and extent of change. It also emphasizes that the cost disadvantage is not set in stone and explores strategies for commercializing sustainability.

My favorite insight:

• While less than 10% of consumers purchase on sustainability just to “save the planet,” the number of consumers in any given category who would opt to make sustainable choices increases roughly twofold to fourfold (to 20% to 43% of consumers) when sustainability is linked to other benefits such as health, safety, and quality.

3. Deloitte 2023 CxO Sustainability Report

Despite many pressing issues, almost every organization has felt the impacts of climate change over the past year, and CxOs have been personally affected. The Deloitte Sustainability report reveals that climate change remains a top priority. This gives reason to hope that sustainability issues are no longer dismissed by senior management with excuses like “No time, No priority, No money.”

My favorite insights:

• 61% CxOs said climate change will have a high/very high impact on their organization’s strategy and operations over the next three years.

• Almost all respondents indicated their companies were negatively impacted by climate change in some way over the last year, and 82% of CxOs have been personally impacted.

• 78% feel somewhat or extremely optimistic that the world will take sufficient steps to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The Must-Read E-Learning Reports:

1. Lessons in Corporate Learning for Education Technology Companies

This report presents a staggering prognosis: Over the next ten years, over a billion jobs will be redesigned, and the half-life of job skills is less than five years. This underscores the importance of creating robust learning communities within an organization, particularly given the increasing prevalence of remote workforces and digital projects. The report explores strategies for strengthening learning communities and fostering collaboration between organizations and EdTech companies.

My favorite insights:

• World’s biggest companies claimed, about 95% of participants indicated in a survey that corporate learning is crucial to their future and should be a high priority.

• E-learning is accounting for 40% of the $50 billion corporate L&D market in North America.

• BCG and TIP estimate that the average “half-life” of job skills is less than five years and that 60 % of all talent will need to be upskilled in the next five years as new digital skills.

2. How To Measure Training ROI: A Practical Guide

Are e-learning programs really a sensible business investment? Or are they ultimately nothing more than occupational therapy for employees? This exciting paper takes a closer look at the questions surrounding ROI. Because only those who can measure ROI can also ensure that investments in training and continuing education are really effective and really offer added value for the company.

My favorite insights:

• In 2022, corporate training expenditure in the United States exceeded $100 billion.

• This delivers a strong message: Training’s worth investing in.

• With the right tools and systems, it’s relatively easy to report on the ‘measurable’ elements.

3. The Future of Work Learning

I particularly like this report from the Corporate Learning Network, because it addresses exactly the gap that Empacto fills. Sure, the future of e-learning in the workplace is hard to predict, despite all the positive trends. But that’s not necessarily because the future always carries an uncertain component. It’s much more due to the fact that e-learning must also be geared to the individual needs and goals of a company. You can read more about how exactly that can look here.

My favorite insights:

• The learning and development market is estimated to be at $366.2 billion.

• The global eLearning market is expected to double in size from around $250 billion in 2020 to $499.1 billion in 2027.

• 2,500 companies with “comprehensive training programs” have 218 percent higher revenue per employee and 24 percent higher profit margins.

Want to learn more?