Introduction to Net Zero online course

The food and consumer goods industry is part of everyday life. It provides the food and products that people rely on every day but producing, transporting and consuming them also affects the climate, nature and the resources we depend on.

As we look to build a healthy, resilient food system for future generations, everyone across the industry has a role to play, whatever their role or level of experience. As businesses navigate supply chain resilience challenges, growing sustainability commitments and changing expectations from customers and key stakeholders, net zero is becoming an increasingly important topic across our industry. But what does net zero mean, why does it matter and how is it relevant to different roles and organisations across the food industry?

To support this, IGD has developed a free Introduction to Net Zero online course.

Who is it for?

This course is designed for people across different roles and levels of seniority who:

• Want to build their understanding of sustainability and net zero

• Recognise that net zero is relevant to the industry and want to understand what it means for their organisation or role

• Want a clear, credible and practical introduction that will help them contribute more confidently to workplace conversations and decisions

It is suitable for people working across a wide range of functions in food and consumer goods businesses, including commercial, supply chain, operations, marketing, sustainability, finance and HR. No previous knowledge is required.

What will you learn?

The course provides a practical introduction to sustainability and net zero. This includes why they matter to the food system, the main sources of emissions and how changes in production and consumption can support the transition to net zero. Learners will also explore how different organisations, functions and individuals can contribute.

By the end of the course, learners should feel more confident discussing net zero, understand how different parts of the food system are connected and be better able to identify how net zero relates to their organisation and role.

What does the course involve?

The course consists of four self-paced online modules:

1. Sustainability and the food system

2. Net zero and business resilience

3. Changing how we produce: the agricultural transition

4. Changing what and how we consume: shaping market demand for net zero

Practical industry examples bring the topics to life and help learners connect the content to their own organisation.