Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present an innovative and transformative online approach to sustainable development in management education. Design/methodology/approach: A case study and action research were carried out in a Brazilian business school during an academic semester. Specifically, in the context of a discipline entitled "Socio-environmental Management in Companies", several pedagogical strategies were designed and implemented to ensure undergraduate students' learning. This study involved the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data from multiple sources, which were analysed using descriptive statistics, thematic and content analysis techniques. Findings: By assessing the strategies, tools and resources used during the course, the findings of this study show that the discipline supported the students' transformative learning towards sustainability. Research limitations/implications: This study has both theoretical and practical implications by describing and evaluating an innovative and engaging pedagogical approach to sustainable development in management education. Originality/value: The approach developed through this research provides educators and higher education institutions with innovative strategies for transformative learning towards sustainability in management education. Moreover, the approach can be adapted and implemented in other fields of knowledge.