The Sustainability World Cup
The 2025 program has now finished
Want to be involved in The 2026 Sustainability World Cup?
Follow our podcast
Simulations
Latest Posts
April 30, 2026
March 26, 2026
October 17, 2025
October 9, 2025
September 10, 2025
A Gamified Learning Experience
The Sustainability World Cup is a gamified learning experience where teams from around the world learn about sustainable business growth and compete for awards using our Sustain2Win simulation. It’s where we find the responsible business leaders of tomorrow.
In the 2025 program, multiple international teams competed in two separate games online over seven weeks, from April to May.
The 2025 Sustainability World Cup – Results
The following two awards were based on game results, performance data and a video submission:
Sustainability World Champions:
Game 2 Curupira Team (from Spain and Latin America)
Best Sustainability Leader:
Game 1 : Fiona Wright (from Canada)
Game 2: Asier Murua (from Spain)
The following awards were based on game results only.
Game 1:
- Best Sustainability Performance and Best Business for Sustainable Growth: Curupira Team (from Latin America)
- Best Sustainability Governance Performance: Kanga Team (from England)
- Best Sustainable Profits: IowaCola Team (from the USA)
Game 2:
- Best Sustainability Performance and Best Business for Sustainable Growth: Curupira Team (from Spain and Latin America)
- Best Sustainability Governance Performance: Kanga Team (from Scotland)
- Best Green Market Strategy: AmbassaT Team (from Sri Lanka)
The winners were announced on Friday 6th June 2025.
Congratulations to our winners and everyone that finished the program. You are the sustainability change-makers of the future.
Celebration at DES, Málaga, Spain
In addition, we were centre stage at The Digital Enterprise Show (DES) in Málaga, Spain on Wednesday 11th June to discuss the program and celebrate all those who contributed to its success. DES is the largest digital show in Europe with over 17.000 attendees from 30 countries. Our thanks to Igancio Villoch and Jose Manuel del Pino for their amazing support with the whole program and presentation.
From left to right: Edmund Bradford, Ignacio Villoch, Leila Bardasuc and Jose Manuel del Pino.
Key Benefits for Participants
During the program, the participants:
- Learned the fundamentals of sustainability and its key terms
- Learned about ESG and how it measures sustainability
- Identified the challenges and opportunities of sustainability for business leaders
- Developed and executed a sustainable market strategy that drives sustainable growth
- Learned useful tools, principles and models to understand the subject and grow sustainably
- Learned from experts with “live” Q&A sessions
- Improved their team-working skills
- Grew their sustainability network with other sustainability champions at an international level
- Gained awards and certificates to add to their sustainability credentials
A Special Thanks To…
Get involved in the 2026 program!
To register your interest in being part of The 2026 Sustainability World Cup, use the form below to get in touch with us. We would love to hear from you!
Be a Sponsor for 2026!
Have your brand associated with The Sustainability World Cup. There are many benefits to being a sponsor, including:
- Enhancing the sustainability credibility of your brand
- Developing the sustainability talent of your own staff
- Finding new potential good sustainability talent to recruit
- Promoting your brand to an educated audience
- Building academic-industry links
- Universities: Promoting your courses on sustainability
Interested in being a sponsor? Please contact us using the form below.
The Creators
The Sustainability World Cup was created by Professor Leila Bardasuc and Edmund Bradford. It uses the Sustain2Win simulation for the gameplay.
The first Sustainability World Cup
You can read about the first Sustainability World Cup in 2024 here
What they say about the program:
We won the Sustainability World Cup 2025!
Together with the tremendous Latin American team CURUPIRA DRINKS S.A. (Javiera, Raimundo, Pedro and Juliana ), we were recognized with two global awards:
Best Sustainability Performance Best Business for Sustainable Growth
The competition challenged us to lead a shell company in the beverage industry, making strategic decisions to strike a real balance between economic growth and ESG performance. Over the course of several weeks, we measured results, adjusted strategies, and worked as a team to move towards a sustainable business model. 
Even if it was a simulation, the learning was very real: profitability and sustainability can not only coexist, but must enhance each other. It is not a question of choosing between one thing or another. The challenge is to integrate them with coherence, vision and purpose. Special thanks to Pablo Villoch, who generously and intuitively summoned us as a team to represent Latin America in this experience.
Thank you for believing in us and opening this space for learning, collaboration and meaningful play.
Thanks also to the organizers of the The Sustainability World Cup (Official Page) competition, and to all the participating teams, for this great experience.
Nina Muñoz García, Participant in The 2025 Sustainability World Cup
I’m happy to share that I’ve successfully completed The 2025 Sustainability World Cup – a global simulation where we learned to lead sustainably, make tough decisions, and compete for business results in real-time.
Over 7 weeks, we:
✔️ Ran virtual companies facing ESG challenges
✔️ Drove innovation and managed brand and product portfolios with a sustainability focus
✔️ Designed communication strategies for responsible growth
✔️ And most importantly, made decisions that balanced profit, people, and the planet
Grateful to the organisers:
👏 Edmund Bradford for vision, gamification and inspiration
👏 Dr. Stuart Webb for expertise and engagement
👏 Oana Dragomir – my brilliant teammate, thank you for the support, collaboration, and professionalism
In today’s world, neither business nor society can afford to ignore the climate crisis. That’s why programmes at the intersection of leadership, strategy and responsibility are no longer optional, they are a must for building the economy and companies of the future.
Natlalia Bolshova, Participant in The 2025 Sustainability World Cup
Happy to share that I took part in the 2025 The Sustainability World Cup and the team I was leading was awarded with the Best Sustainable Profits!
A great opportunity to improve my sustainability knowledge while playing, learning, and networking with marketers from around the world
Thank you to Dr. Leila Lunguleac-Bardasuc and Edmund Bradford for the guidance throughout.
Nelson Bernardes, Participant in The 2025 Sustainability World Cup
Participating in The Sustainability World Cup 2025 has been an incredibly exciting experience. If you’re passionate about sustainability and purpose-driven strategy, I highly recommend joining this market simulation game next year. I discovered the competition by chance while attending a marketing training course, and it turned out to be the most rewarding 6 weeks.
Thanks to the fantastic organising team, Dr. Leila Lunguleac-Bardasuc (Co‑founder & strategist), Edmund Bradford (Co‑founder & educator), Stuart Webb (Judge & podcaster), and Manish Maharjan ACIM (Marketing lead), along with the judging panel, the simulation ensured a world-class learning experience.
Also, huge thanks to my team members, Arwen C. and Boryana Sirakova. Their dedication, collaboration, and late-night work made this journey fun as well.
Iby Bakos-Tonner, Participant in The 2025 Sustainability World Cup
I had the pleasure of taking part in The 2025 Sustainability World Cup, a unique and engaging business simulation created by Edmund Bradford and his team.
What stood out to me most was how powerfully Edmund brought the topic of sustainability to life through gamification. Over 7 weeks, we ran virtual companies navigating ESG challenges, made strategic decisions balancing profit, people and planet, and explored how to lead responsibly in a business-driven context.
His commitment to helping professionals develop sustainable leadership in action, not just theory, makes this programme a true standout.
Natalia Bolshova, Participant in The 2025 Sustainability World Cup
Congratulations to all the 2025 Sustainability World Cup winners and champions! 🌍👏 A powerful celebration of innovation, leadership, and global collaboration. Huge thanks to the hosts, judges, and every contributor driving real impact. Onward toward a more sustainable future! 💚
Manoj Raveendranathan, Participant in The 2024 Sustainability World Cup
I was named over the weekend as the 2024 The Sustainability World Cup Best Sustainability Leader in #MalagaSpain.
On behalf of the team we express our deepest gratitude to the cofounders of the 2024SWC Edmund Bradford & Prof. Dr. Leila Lunguleac-Bardasuc, along with the esteemed panel of sustainability judges Stuart Webb, @ gnacio (Nacho) Villoch, Dr. @Alexandra von Westernhagen, Anu Honkalinna, Jose Manuel del Pino, @Kurt Uhlir, Nishan Chelvachandran FRSA & Manuel Vexler. Their guidance was instrumental in creating this enriching experience, which combined #education, practical application of #corporate principles, and #SDG advocacy in a positive inclusive and engaging environment.
Our thanks extend to the our team sponsor Ms. Rhiannon Gallagher and the event sponsors of the 2024SWC : TeamLabs/ Industry 4.0 Club, Iron Lakes, Aalto University, Dexterisys Consulting Ltd, Al for Sustainability, Ibai Martínez Andreu, Mike Yost.
We owe a debt of gratitude to our continental and diaspora youth leaders, including Mary Apollo from South Sudan, Ms. Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, African Union Special Envoy on Youth, Prof Nelson Aluya, Board chairman Team54Project International, Hajia Ramatu Ahmed & Daniel Awomnab, for their support and encouragement.
A huge thanks to the DES | Digital Enterprise Show for hosting our #awardsceremony. * and News Central TV & NIGERIAN TRIBUNE for sharing to Africa. The 2024 Sustainability World Cup exceeded our expectations.
Beyond the championship title, Team Hankuna Matata Akabor Umuedo secured three prestigious team awards: Best Business for Prosperity, Best Environmental Performance, and Best Social Performance.
As Team Leader, I was honored to receive the Best Sustainability Leader award. This recognition highlights the competition’s ability to identify individuals who seamlessly integrate sustainability principles with academic knowledge, real-world application, and advocacy for the SDGs. Although the game has ended virtually, it is now time to apply what we’ve learned in the real world. My team and I are eager to do this with the wonderful support of the new community of sustainability experts we have been inducted into. Once again, #Africa and her youth are ready to work with organizations as we steadily rewrite our history and dispel the regressive narratives that cloud our continent.
We promise to be the new face and true ambassadors of sustainability principles, which apply to every sphere of life, not just business.
Together, we can make our world a better and more sustainable place to live and earn our livelihoods.
Thank you.
Daniel (Chidubem) Gbujie, Participant in The 2024 Sustainability World Cup
Tired of attending panel discussions that sound great in theory but often leave you scratching your head once the session is over?
Why are returns on sustainability relegated to something that is nice-to-have, but not a need-to-have? How will you practically implement and integrate these ideas into your real-world business strategy and day-to-day decision making?
The Sustainability World Cup is a clever program designed to guide participants through incremental learning and application of no-nonsense sustainability best practices. Over a 6-week period, participants enter into a simulation where they are sorted into, and responsible for, the go-to-market strategy of one of many beverage manufacturing organizations competing at a global scale.
This sandbox presents a controlled environment for these organizations to produce 3-years worth of profit and loss statements. These P&L statements are the direct outcome of sustainability strategies that you and your team of decision-makers deploy to the broader and dynamic market of competitors also seeking to maximize their returns on profitability and sustainability.
In this exercise where I’ve been empowered to learn-by-doing, I feel much better equipped to lead sustainable initiatives and to address some of the key sustainability challenges facing business leaders within global markets. I now have a much healthier appreciation of how micro issues of an organization are connected to macro issues of global economics and climate change, where sustainability initiatives can be a source of competitive advantage.
If you’re looking for a low-risk, high-impact opportunity to learn and apply sustainability-oriented business practices towards “the real world”, then I would highly recommend for you to apply to join the next cohort of competitors in Edmund and Leila’s “Sustainability World Cup”.
Allen Xu, Participant in The 2024 Sustainability World Cup
I had the opportunity to participate in the Sustainability World Cup 2024.
The competition provided an immersive experience where my team and I, along with participants from 17 countries, engaged in making crucial financial and sustainable business decisions for our fictional brand, Kuipers. The algorithm designed by Market2Win, meticulously assessed our inputs and provided valuable feedback, enhancing our understanding of sustainability fundamentals, ESG metrics, and sustainable business strategy.
The Sustainability World Cup not only sharpened our skills but also encouraged a collaborative spirit.
Live long and sustainable!
Daniel Sfita, Participant in The 2024 Sustainability World Cup
Congrats to everyone who participated and all the winners! Simulation is the top tool for me as a racing driver so I’m happy to see other people using it as a way to learn about sustainability 🌍
Ellis Spieza, Ambassador for The Sustainability World Cup
Amazing experience! The world is our playground. Let’s make it fun, learningful and sustainable!
Pablo Villoch, Ambassador for The Sustainability World Cup
So proud of being part of this project.
Ignacio Villoch, Judge for The Sustainability World Cup
It was great to hear such an inspirational group of people!
Mark Boudreau, Supporter of The Sustainability World Cup
Happy to support the competition for the second year as well and I believe there is real chance to make a global impact and a true community 🤩💪
Anu Honkalinna, Judge for The Sustainability World Cup