More businesses than ever are investing in sustainability training, and for good reason. Employees who understand their carbon impact are better placed to reduce it, and that matters for everything from your Net Zero target to your supply chain relationships.
But once you’ve decided to invest in training, a second question follows quickly: Do you build it in-house, or bring in an external provider?
The right answer depends on your goals, your resources, how seriously you want your people to take it, and who you want to train/involve within the process.
What is sustainability training?
Sustainability training gives employees the knowledge and tools to understand their carbon footprint and take meaningful action to reduce it.
At its best, it goes beyond awareness. It builds confidence and motivation to change behaviour, and to contribute to your organisation’s wider sustainability strategy.
The most widely recognised standard is Carbon Literacy Training, accredited by The Carbon Literacy Project. A Carbon Literate workforce understands the carbon costs of everyday decisions and is equipped to act on that understanding. It is also one that understands that sustainability is not just one person’s job, but everyone’s within the business.
Dan Jackson, Sustainability & Social Impact, Tesco Mobile
“Positive Planet has been an invaluable partner in helping Tesco Mobile build Carbon Literacy across our business. Their tailored training, designed specifically for the mobile industry and adapted to share relevant examples and information specific to our business, has equipped more than 120 of our colleagues with a clear understanding of climate change and the actions we can take both professionally and personally. Andrea Wood’s energy, expertise and engaging delivery have consistently received outstanding feedback. This programme is already supporting our wider ambition to decarbonise our business and make a more positive impact for the planet.”
The case for in-house training
Some organisations prefer to develop and deliver sustainability training themselves. Here’s when that can work:
You have strong internal expertise. If you have a dedicated sustainability lead with deep knowledge and the time to develop a curriculum, or another sustainability champion, in-house delivery is a real option. This works best in large organisations where sustainability is already embedded at a senior level.
You want total control over the content. Internal teams can tailor every element of the training to your specific operations, sector, and culture. There’s no briefing a third party or waiting on revisions.
You’re training at scale, repeatedly. If you need to train hundreds of employees on an ongoing basis, building internal capability can reduce long-term costs and build further internal rapport.
The limitations to consider. In-house training is only as good as the person delivering it. Without formal accreditation, it carries less weight externally, which matters if you’re working with clients or investors who want to see verified credentials. It can also be harder to keep content current as regulations and reporting standards evolve, and if your internal trainer leaves, so does the knowledge.
The case for external sustainability training
For most organisations, working with an accredited external provider is the more practical, credible, and cost-effective option.
Instant credibility. External providers who deliver accredited Carbon Literacy Training offer a recognised, verifiable qualification. That matters to stakeholders, clients, and supply chain partners who want to see evidence of genuine commitment, not just good intentions.
Access to specialists. A dedicated sustainability training provider brings expertise that’s difficult to replicate internally. At Positive Planet, our Head of Training, Andrea, holds the Carbon Literacy Certified Consultant certification, an accreditation only 10 people globally have reached, and the highest trainer category awarded by The Carbon Literacy Project. That means bespoke course design, experienced facilitation, and a level of depth that goes beyond what most in-house teams can offer.
Content that stays current. External providers keep their material up to date with the latest science, regulation, and best practice. You don’t have to worry about your training falling behind.
Flexibility to scale. Whether you want to send individuals to a public course or roll out training across your entire workforce, an external provider can adapt to your needs. At Positive Planet, we run regular online and in-person sessions in Manchester, and we offer bespoke on-site delivery for organisations that want a more tailored approach.
Stronger employee engagement. Third-party facilitators often bring fresh perspective and energy that internal trainers can’t always replicate. When employees hear directly from specialists who live and breathe sustainability, it lands differently.
What does accredited Carbon Literacy Training actually involve?
Carbon Literacy Training from Positive Planet is a programme that gives your team a clear understanding of:
- The carbon costs of everyday activities, both personal and professional
- Practical actions they can take to reduce their carbon impact
- How individual and organisational decisions contribute to emissions
- How their role connects to your organisation’s Net Zero goals
Participants who complete the course can become Carbon Literate certified, and organisations that embed Carbon Literacy across their workforce can work towards becoming a Carbon Literate Organisation, an accreditation recognised by The Carbon Literacy Project.
Can you become a Carbon Literate Organisation?
A Carbon Literate Organisation (CLO) is one that has demonstrated a substantial commitment to Carbon Literacy, from leadership through to frontline teams. We’re proud to say we are a Carbon Literate Platinum Organisation!
Achieving CLO status signals to clients, investors, and partners that your commitment to sustainability is genuine and embedded, which can help recruitment, bids & tenders, and employee retention.
Employees increasingly want to work for organisations that take climate action seriously. Visible investment in accredited training is a meaningful signal. Likewise, sustainable organisations are increasingly becoming more likely to win new tenders as the expectation for sustainability rises.
Real examples
HotelShopUK started with a single employee attending one of our public Carbon Literacy courses. That one session sparked a wider conversation, and the company went on to work with Positive Planet on a full Carbon Reduction Plan and a bespoke Carbon Literacy course rolled out to the wider workforce.
It’s a reminder that the best sustainability outcomes often start with getting people in the room, and giving them something that genuinely shifts how they think.
So which is right for your business?
If you have a large, specialist internal team and the resources to develop and maintain a high-quality programme, in-house training can work.
For most organisations, external accredited training is the stronger choice. It’s faster to implement, more credible with stakeholders, and more likely to produce lasting behaviour change.
The key is making sure the training you choose is effective, which means working with a provider who understands your sector, tailors content to your context, and delivers with the expertise to back it up.
Ready to get your team Carbon Literate?
Positive Planet offers accredited sector-specific Carbon Literacy Training for businesses across the UK, both online and in-person. We also deliver bespoke courses for businesses and CLP Toolkits. We are proud to work with organisations of all sizes, across all sectors, to make sustainability training practical, engaging, and impactful.
Find out more about our Carbon Literacy Training or get in touch to talk about what’s right for your team.