The Environmental Academy was the lead partner for an innovative programme Environmental Renaissance in Europe (ERiE). The consortium of European Partners have technical, project management expertise and track records in delivering high quality, innovative learning programmes in the UK, Slovenian, Spanish and German business communities, particularly in the food and drink sector. The partnership has been the result of preparatory visits funded by the Leonardo da Vinci programme, and partners from previous collaborations involving an Interreg IIIC project. The Food and Drink sector produces 10.5% of the total waste in Europe (Eurostat 2009) and In 2005 only 18% of UK SME's could name any environmental legislation unprompted (SME-Environment 2005: England). Vocational Educational and Training (VET) is an essential tool to addressing these challenges and driving organisational change in environmental improvements, by means of educating SME owners and employees.The main aims and objectives of the ERIE project were:• An investigation into the challenges faced by the Food and Drink Sector SME’s in meeting their environmental responsibilities and how learning programmes can provide solutions.• A comparison of environmental performance in SME's in the food and drink industry and how the agenda is being addressed through learning programmes.• An environmental training needs analysis was carried out with SME's in the Food and Drink sector in each partner country. • A feasibility programme in Year 1 of the project delivering an existing successful Level 2 environmental online learning programme (developed in the UK).• Modification and translation of the Level 2 programme as determined by each partner & roll out in each country in year 2 of the project.Each partner engaged with 10 SME's, and 2 employees who undertook the environmental online learning programme. A food and drink sector specific Level 2 learning course was developed with country specific case studies and translated into the partner languages. A ‘Green Tube’ website was also developed to disseminate the findings and share best practice.The main impact envisaged was a behavioural change of Food and Drink SME owners and employees, resulting in improved business and resource efficiency, a more environmentally aware workforce, a sustainable Food and Drink sector and the mainstreaming of environmental qualifications in the partner country VET systems.