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How can a genuine project of social responsibility and ecological sustainability in the workplace move forward in a global capitalist economy? In this presentation I address this from the particular perspective of vocational education, focusing on two related questions: What learning is involved in generating ecological sustainability? How might this learning be fostered, and by whom? I start by clarifying this vague term 'sustainability', then examine what has happened to promote sustainability in worklife and workplace. I argue that a persistent problem in these movements has been a lack of attention to the learning dimension: in particular, a lack of challenge to the cultural and economic knowledge that continue to hold in place consent to work processes that are alienating and destructive; and a lack of systemic support for learning processes that can sustain change for more healthy, life-giving work. Yet there are generative spaces of learning that have influenced notable change. I draw examples from the corporate social responsibility movement to analyse not only why change has often not occurred, but more important, what possibilities are emerging. I consider these possibilities against ecological theories of learning to suggest a way forward for educators interested in promoting ecological sustainability in work.