With this project, we wanted to help more people learn how to start and run businesses that are good for the planet. Our goal was to show that it’s possible to be both an entrepreneur and environmentally responsible. We believe that the future belongs to those who can create businesses that respect nature, reduce emissions and bring real value to society. Here’s what we aimed to do: - Create a training program that teaches people how to build a carbon-neutral business – in other words, a business that doesn’t harm the environment. - Support our trainers and team members to learn new things and improve their teaching with updated tools, so they can help others in the future. - Give learners and future entrepreneurs the knowledge and confidence to turn their green ideas into real projects or businesses. - Make a digital tool so that people can easily access the materials and learn at their own pace. - Test the program with real participants
We applied for this project because we recognized an urgent and growing need to equip individuals and training organizations with the knowledge and skills required to support Europe’s green transition. The European Green Deal and the Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on learning for environmental sustainability highlight the critical role of education and training in fostering a climate-neutral, circular and sustainable economy. Despite the existence of strategic frameworks, there remains a clear gap in practical, accessible, relevant VET content specifically addressing carbon neutral entrepreneurship. Our organizations work directly with learners and educators in the VET sector and we observed increasing interest especially among young people and future entrepreneurs in creating businesses that align with green values. The lack of structured training opportunities and curriculum on how to develop a carbon-neutral business was a major barrier. Traditional entrepreneurial education often lacks integration of environmental sustainability and climate literacy, leaving a disconnect between economic innovation and ecological responsibility.