From knowledge to action: Sustainability Academy marks a year of impact
One year after its launch, Standard Bank’s Sustainability Academy is helping African businesses turn sustainability knowledge into practical action - strengthening resilience, improving efficiency and supporting long-term growth.
For businesses across Africa, sustainability is increasingly becoming a practical business consideration. The question is no longer simply why it matters, but how to apply it in ways that improve efficiency, manage risk and support future growth.
That is the challenge Standard Bank’s Sustainability Academy was created to address. Over the past 12 months, the Academy has provided accessible, practical learning across sustainability and ESG principles, climatesmart agriculture, renewable energy, water management, carbon markets and responsible business growth.
By 7 October 2026, 10 012 users had registered for the Academy, reflecting growing interest in practical sustainability knowledge among businesses.
More importantly, feedback from businesses engaging with the Academy shows how that learning is being translated into action.
Practical changes that make business sense
For Loratho Food Services in South Africa, the training provided a clearer understanding of how sustainability could be incorporated into its dairy operations. The business identified opportunities around sustainable packaging, resource efficiency and circular economy practices, including reusing water during cleaning and considering a container return-and-reuse system for milk and amasi.
“The training gave me practical ideas I can apply immediately to make Loratho Food Services more sustainable and environmentally responsible,” says Patience Lerato Nyelele.
Water management is a recurring theme among South African participants. T J N M R Motloung Enterprise says the training increased its awareness of water-use efficiency, monitoring consumption and reducing losses, while Bohlokoa Ba Sechaba highlighted the relationship between effective water management and business cost savings.
Rakutu Group intends to introduce stricter water-use practices and share what it has learned with employees, while Dopelinez Premium Solutions has identified opportunities to reuse water and educate clients about conservation.
These examples demonstrate that sustainability does not necessarily begin with large-scale investment. It can start with better information and practical operational changes that reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and strengthen a business over time.
Building resilience and identifying opportunity
Participants are applying the same thinking to energy and broader ESG considerations.
Dijo Ko 44 says the training provided a stronger foundation for evaluating energy-efficiency options and renewable-energy practices, while Baked by Logain, which already uses renewable energy, highlighted the benefits of understanding the potential operating-cost savings.
Tharisa Minerals plans to incorporate lessons from the Academy into its social sustainability strategies when engaging with host communities.
Together, these experiences reinforce an important principle: sustainability can contribute directly to stronger businesses. Better resource management, greater efficiency, reduced waste, climate resilience and more responsible operating models can all support competitiveness and long-term growth.
Building on the first year
The Academy is now preparing for its next stage.
DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft, a KfW Group subsidiary that supports private-sector development in emerging markets – has committed to co-fund 50% of the Academy’s costs, helping Standard Bank continue offering the programme to clients free of charge.
Planned enhancements include new sustainability modules, client-curated case studies, an impact assessment tool to help businesses measure their initiatives, and improved referral functionality connecting clients with relevant expertise and solutions.
A year after launch, the Academy is demonstrating that sustainable growth often starts with giving businesses the knowledge and confidence to make better decisions.
Helping African businesses turn sustainability into resilience, efficiency and opportunity is Where Real Growth Begins.