As the world’s population continues to rise toward an expected 10 billion citizens by 2050, it is imperative that business practices change to ensure a high quality of life is possible for all of us, both human and non-human. Today’s learners are very aware of this. Moreover, they are highly motivated and have the extraordinary capacity to create a future that provides both economic success and a more enduring, resilient, and sustainable planet. If you are one of these learners, then Sustainability and the Circular Economy is a course for you.
Sustainability and the Circular Economy is the first course in the Applied Sustainability for Technical Managers specialization and builds the foundation for the rest of the specialization. It aims to provide learners with the strategies and tools to realize their vision by integrating sustainability into everyday life, and in the companies where they work.
The course opens with an examination of climate change and human impact on the environment, and the opportunities created for innovative solutions that drive real change. We then explore the sources of many of our environmental challenges, and the need to transition to a zero-carbon energy future.
A sustainable future is more than just renewable energy, as we need to pay attention to our ever-growing desire for products that add value to our lives. Therefore, the course explores how we’re electrifying transportation, making our homes more energy efficient, eating more sustainable food grown with regenerative agricultural practices, and wearing clothes designed to last and made from more natural materials using fair and equitable labor.
It is important to recognize that many of the 10 billion global citizens will want the same products and lifestyles as citizens in wealthier industrialized nations. Yet products require materials - and our current extractive approach to resources will not meet this burgeoning demand. The course concludes with an overview of the Circular Economy, an innovative way of decoupling such economic growth from traditional resource extraction.
This course was developed in collaboration with Siemens Digital Industries Software and is part of the "Design for the Circular Economy" collection. Learners who complete and pass the course can receive an industry-recognized digital badge.
The “Design for the Circular Economy” microcredential and graduate certificate are developed around the educational goals of providing technical, business, and leadership knowledge and skills that inspire the transformation towards a more circular economy. This includes gaining technical knowledge to apply circular economy principles in product design, minimizing waste and maximizing impact; developing business acumen to implement innovative circular economic models that prioritize sustainability and resilience; and acquiring leadership strategies to communicate effectively and inspire change within an organization.
This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.
Status: Environment
Environment
Status: Building Design
Building Design
Intermediate·Course·24 hours
Featured reviews
HS
5.0·Reviewed Apr 10, 2026
This course is very informative and easy to understand. It helped me learn about sustainability and circular economy concepts in a practical way.
JA
4.0·Reviewed Jun 13, 2025
This is a very complete course for everyone who is interested in learning more about sustainability. Great course !
MM
5.0·Reviewed Sep 6, 2024
This was a great course to cover basics on sustainability. It could have been better if the section on Circular Economy was more elaborate to include how to make everyday tasks circular ecologically.
KG
5.0·Reviewed Mar 22, 2026
Excellent Content. Great Learning Experience. Thanks
DD
5.0·Reviewed Aug 21, 2024
Very interesting course with complete info and good real examples. Highly recommended.
VS
5.0·Reviewed Oct 21, 2024
Course content was relevant well explained by the professor. It was interesting throughout the course module. Happy to finish it within timeline.
MR
5.0·Reviewed Apr 15, 2024
I really like this course and also i learn manymore unknown details about our economy and sustainability.
EL
5.0·Reviewed Jan 3, 2025
This has been an amazing course. The content gives you a good introduction to Sustainability and Circular Economy. I really enjoyed the videos and learned a lot from the content
SS
5.0·Reviewed Apr 3, 2026
very good content that enhanced my knowledge as well as influenced my overview.
All reviews
Showing: 20 of 159
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F
Fasil Yilma Tekeleselassie
5.0
·Reviewed Aug 27, 2024
It is a great course, packed with all current and relevant references. The instructor is exceptionally good. I completed it without much hassle. However, peer grading is not controlled and abused by some, which frustrates serious learners. Coursera's chat-bot is half-baked and there is not human assistance, even for paying learners. I have to rate it 5/5 for the impressive and engaging course content and instructor, Prof. Readey. I wish the specialization course is available outside Coursera!
D
Davide
5.0
·Reviewed Aug 21, 2024
Very interesting course with complete info and good real examples. Highly recommended.
A
ARYAVIR SINGH
1.0
·Reviewed Jun 28, 2024
Video Assignments not appreciated
T
Toheeb Jimoh
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 28, 2024
Great course! It's beginner friendly and best teaching from the Course Professor DR. MICHAEL REEDY. Being a science student wasn't my proudest achievement in my early academic days. when i first found this course i have a great feeling as it may increase my admission chances into my profound program in Sustainable engineering Bachelor. I have done quite impressive fundamental courses on coursera but in the case of this particular course, i have the best study run that i covered week 1 under 24 hours with excellent score in quizzes and answers. The tutor delivered a top notch style of tutoring video and breaking down schematic process of sustainability and circular economy in the simplest term that anyone can think of. In my case, i felt i miss quality education in my life which this Professor and coursera has offer with this platform. if you're seeing this Prof. Michael Reedy and every committees that gave a third-world country citizen like me and others this privilege. I sincerely appreciate this and i hope to give back to the society in any way that i can in future. Thank YOU.
O
Owoeye Josiah Abolade
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 25, 2025
The course gives sufficient background and clearly addresses all fundamental and salient aspects of sustainability. It is an excellent course to begin one's foray into sustainability and will serve as a good signpost for professionals who intend to pursue sustainability as an alternative career path.
M
MARLIN ROCIO BUESAQUILLO CHAVEZ
5.0
·Reviewed Mar 24, 2026
El vídeo hace un gran trabajo mostrando cómo la empresa implementa la economía circular de manera práctica. Me gustó que no solo explicara los principios, sino que también mostrara ejemplos reales y cotidianos, lo que hace que el tema sea interesante y fácil de conectar con la vida real.
D
D P
5.0
·Reviewed Jun 4, 2025
Excellent comprehensive course that 1) covers all the current 'you-need-to-know' basics while embarking on the practice of sustainability and 2) is an excellent refresher for those who have worked in the field of applied sustainability and need to fill in gaps- thanks Dr. Readey!
R
ROLANDO QUINAYAS JIMENEZ
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 5, 2026
Este video es muy claro y bien explicado. Se entiende cómo la empresa aplica los principios de la economía circular y el tema se presenta de manera organizada. Como sugerencia, podrías mejorar un poco el audio o agregar más ejemplos para hacerlo aún más interesante.
J
JORGE HERNANDO BEDOYA SANCHEZ
5.0
·Reviewed Mar 24, 2026
"Excelente curso. Me brindó herramientas prácticas y una visión clara sobre cómo aplicar la economía circular en mi comunidad. Los conceptos de límites planetarios y el modelo de la rosca son fundamentales para cualquier emprendedor hoy en día.
M
Monalisa Mohanty
5.0
·Reviewed Sep 7, 2024
This was a great course to cover basics on sustainability. It could have been better if the section on Circular Economy was more elaborate to include how to make everyday tasks circular ecologically.
E
Erwin Lizarondo
5.0
·Reviewed Jan 3, 2025
This has been an amazing course. The content gives you a good introduction to Sustainability and Circular Economy. I really enjoyed the videos and learned a lot from the content
R
RUTH ESTHER ORTEGA PEREZ
5.0
·Reviewed Nov 15, 2025
En este mundo tan cambiante, la economía sostenible es la mejor opción para sobre vivir y dejar un mundo mas amable con la naturaleza a las nuevas generaciones
A
ANA VALENTINA HERNANDEZ RAMIREZ
5.0
·Reviewed Feb 9, 2026
Me pareció un curso bastante interesante, fortalece nuestro espíritu emprendedor. Nos enseño diferentes habilidades a tener en cuenta al momento de emprender
M
MARTHA LILIANA POLO FAJARDO
5.0
·Reviewed Mar 27, 2026
Muy interesante en este momento de nuestras vidas, muy explicativo todos los módulos para aprender sobre la sostenibilidad y la economía circular
R
Rakib Hussain
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 5, 2026
Good and excellent
A
ANDREA CAROLINA LOPEZ ESPANOL
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 6, 2026
siiiiii
K
Kelash Chand
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 5, 2026
Good
H
HIMANISH ROY
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 10, 2026
This course on Sustainability and the Circular Economy was both insightful and practical. I appreciated how the content connected big-picture ideas like Ellen MacArthur’s vision with real-world case studies from industries actively adopting circular practices. The mix of theory, quizzes, and reflective assignments helped me not only understand the principles but also apply them in discussions and projects. The emphasis on storytelling—like linking sailing experiences to resource limits—made the concepts memorable and engaging. Overall, I feel more confident in explaining circular economy principles and identifying how they can be implemented in everyday business contexts.
H
HEMANT KUMAR SAINI
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 11, 2026
This course is very informative and easy to understand. It helped me learn about sustainability and circular economy concepts in a practical way.
V
Vinay Sindhu
5.0
·Reviewed Oct 21, 2024
Course content was relevant well explained by the professor. It was interesting throughout the course module. Happy to finish it within timeline.
