‘Sustainability’ and ‘ESG’ (Environmental, Social and Governance) have become some of the hottest topics of our time, but how to actually do it? Most of the Sustainability education and practices in the world focus on reporting, carbon calculation, government regulations, compliance and similar themes. While these are important topics, they do not directly lead to the real actions that are desperately needed for organisations to combat global warming and other critical issues facing the world. This is where ‘Lean’ can help.

Lean Thinking has been around for a few decades and is familiar to many organisations at a basic level, but its huge potential to help with the Sustainability movement is only now being tapped. At its core, Lean is about the relentless pursuit of increasing Value and eliminating Waste through people engagement, problem solving and continuous innovation. ‘Waste’ can include issues vital to achieving a sustainable, circular economy, such as energy usage, food wastage and income inequity. So, how can ‘Lean’ help us get more sustainable? We will show how the well-established techniques of Lean Thinking can play a significant role in achieving Sustainable people, Sustainable organisations and a Sustainable World.

This course is aimed broadly at all staff and managers, as well as Sustainability and ESG professionals and leaders, who are looking for a practical course to help them meet their Sustainability goals by understanding simple ways of how to actually make a difference. The course is designed to be relevant to all kinds of industries and across the private sector, public institutions and non-profits.

8 hours

The Critical Need for Sustainability and ESG

A brief introduction of Sustainability, ESG and the movement towards Sustainable Development will be provided. We present a compelling case for the need to change our thinking and our practices for the benefit of all stakeholders, including investors, customers, employees, communities and the planet. The clear trend is that more and more organisations are embracing sustainability, ‘going green’ and investing significantly in ESG not only because it is the right thing to do but also because it is the smart thing to do for business and the economy at large.

Introduction to Lean Thinking

Basic overview of Lean Thinking: the history, basic concepts and its fascinating journey through multiple industries, applications and continents. A brief comparison between ‘Industrial-Age’ Management and ‘Lean Management’ will be presented. Examples will be shown to demonstrate Lean applications in various sectors and regions.

The Undiscovered Links Between Lean and Green

We will explore the as-yet largely unknown connections between Lean Thinking and Sustainability, incusing ‘Kaizen’ and ‘Respect’ as core beliefs in the Lean approach to thinking and working. With Lean’s obsessive focus on Stakeholder Value, People and Waste Elimination, it will be clearly demonstrated how it can be used to improve ESG performance and lead to better, more sustainable organisations inside and out. Organisations who stop at reporting and compliance and do not fully embrace a holistic Sustainability approach powered by Lean Thinking face the risks of increased costs, damaged reputation, missed revenue opportunities and other negative outcomes such as a reduced ability to retain and attract key talent.

Examples of Lean Applications in Sustainability

Forward-thinking, long-term orientated and innovative businesses and institutions, powered by Lean Thinking, are turning ESG risks into new opportunities, positioning themselves for sustainable success as the world shifts to a Circular, Net-Zero Economy. We will present multiple examples of how organisations have leveraged Lean Thinking to decrease energy usage, reduce wastage, lower carbon emissions, minimise materials usage, etc for financial gain as well as achieve improved competitiveness, employee morale and brand image.

Incorporating ‘Lean and Green’ into Normal Business Practices

Sustainability and ESG will not be achieved through glossy reports and adhoc projects but through sustainability excellence practices that are built-in to the organisation, not bolted-on. This can be accomplished through developing an organisational habit of ongoing efforts to increase value and reduce waste - up, down and across - and there is no better mechanism to do this than Lean.

We will briefly explore how incorporating Green Hoshin, Green Lean Product/Service Design, Green Value Stream Design, Green Lean Process Innovation, Green Kaizen and other lean techniques into an organisation’s normal practices can be a powerful approach to achieve Sustainability.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance from SEAS upon completion.

SCEM: 6.5 PDU Points

GMAP: 2

PE PDU: TBA