Course Title: Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2012

Course Code: EASC5049C

Course Title: Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

School: 350T Fashion & Textiles

Campus: Brunswick Campus

Program: C4219 - Certificate IV in Fashion and Textiles Merchandising

Course Contact : Katrina Rose

Course Contact Phone: 9925 9138

Course Contact Email:katrina.rose@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Eloise Bishop – eloise.bishop@rmit.edu.au 0402 068330

Nominal Hours: 30

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit covers the outcomes required to effectively analyse the workplace in relation to environmentally sustainable work practices and to implement improvements and monitor their effectiveness.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	MSAENV272B Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices
Element:	1.1 Identify environmental regulations applying to the enterprise. 1.2 Assess procedures for assessing compliance with environmental regulations. 1.3 Collect information on environmental and resource efficiency systems and procedures, and provide to the work group where appropriate. 1.4 Measure and record current resource usage by members of the work group. 1.5 Analyse and record current purchasing strategies. 1.6 Analyse current work processes to access information and data and assist in identifying areas for improvement.
Performance Criteria:	1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4
Element:	2.1 Seek input from stakeholders, key personnel and specialist. 2.2 Access external sources of information and data as required. 2.3 Evaluate alternative solutions to workplace environmental and ethical issues. 2.4 Set efficiency targets.
Performance Criteria:	2.1,2.2
Element:	3.1 Source techniques/tools to assist in achieving targets. 3.2 Apply continuous improvement strategies to own work area of responsibility and communicate ideas and possible solutions to the work group and management. 3.3 Integrate environmental and resource efficiency improvement plans for own work group and other operational activities and implement them. 3.4 Seek suggestions and ideas about environmental and resource efficiency management from stakeholders and act upon them where appropriate. 3.5 Implement costing strategies to fully value environmental assets.
Performance Criteria:	3.1,3.2
Element:	4.1 Document outcomes and communicate reports on targets to key personnel and stakeholders. 4.2 Evaluate strategies. 4.3 Set new targets and investigate and apply new tools and strategies. 4.4 Promote successful strategies and reward participants where possib
Performance Criteria:	4.1,4.2,4.3,4.4

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements.

Details of Learning Activities

Assessing & understanding ethical workplace criteria,
Current sustainability theories and practice in relation to fashion industry,
In-class workshop in creative design & recycling,
Research into design philosophy and practice of one environmentally-focused designer,
Environmental Management Systems.

Teaching Schedule

Week 1:
Introduction to Sustainable Fashion
Assessment Requirements.
Film: An Inconvenient Truth
Discussion

Week 2:
Lecture: Approaches to Sustainability
People, Planet, Profit (Triple Bottom Line)
Cradle to Cradle principles
Product Stewardship
EMS: ISO 14001 (+ ISO 19011)

Week 3:
Ethics & Fashion Production a Global Perspective
Film: China Blue + Discussion
Human Rights and Workers Rights Issues in the industry
Fairtrade principles, CSR models

Week 4:
Ethics & Fashion Production in Australia
(Speaker: Ethical Clothing Australia)

Week 5:
Auditing for Ethics
Ethical Fashion organizations & crediting organisations
Assignment handout: Sustainable fashion communication

Week 6:
Fibres & sustainability – devils in disguise
Manufactured fibres, Natural Fibres and Fibre ‘alternatives’.
New textiles and Fabric Technologies.

Week 7:
Innovation in Production
Fashion on Demand & Mass customisation
Principles of Biomimicry in design.
Life Cycle Assessments
Supply chain

Week 8:
Using fashion: designing interventions
Problems in use
Case studies of designers and brands who positively influence the way garments are used
Assignment due: sustainable fashion communication

Week 9:
Reduce, reuse and recycle (+ rethink)
Waste management strategies, waste disposal & resource efficiency issues.
The global textile recycling chain.
Precycling, packaging & Design strategies
Reducing the impact of use-phase

Week 10:
Disposal: Fashion Wasted
Sources of fashion waste
Properties of fibres in landfill
Design strategies to overcome fashion waste
Assignment handout: reflections on sustainability at MSFW

Week 11:
Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (No class)
Students to review sustainable events / designers at MSFW

Week 12:
Environmental Management Systems
Assignment due: Reflections on Sustainability events/designers at MSFW
Assignment handout: Environmental Management Systems Report (Group Work)

Week 13:
Rethinking Fast: Slow Fashion/Slow Design
Local and/or Global/ Bioregionalism
Traditional craftsmanship including drapery
User-Creator possibilities
Design-led alternatives, multifunctional clothes
MID-TERM BREAK

Week 14:
Fashion Future
Scenario mapping for fashion systems
Case studies of best practice sustainable fashion practice

Week 15:
Communicating Fashion
You’re doing good– tell people!
Best practice in sustainable communication – information flows
Dangers of green washing
Channels and scheduling
Writing a good press release

Week 16:
Environmental Management Systems Assignment
In-class preparation and questions

Week 17
Assignment due: Environmental Management Systems
Degrees of Sustainability
Revision and Conclusion.
Evaluation
 

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Recommended text: Sustainable Fashion & Textiles Design Journeys, Kate Fletcher
Recommended text: Eco-chic the fashion paradox, Sandy Black
Slow Living, Craig & Parkins
Sustainable Fashion: Why Now? Janet Hethorn & Connie Ulasewicz
Designers, visionaries & other stories, A collection of sustainable design essays, Jonathan Chapman & Nick Grant

Overview of Assessment

Detailed course and assessment requirements and information will be made available to you first week of class. Specific details will be explained to you during scheduled classes.

This course comprises both practical and theory components. You will be expected to attend and participate in class activities.

As well as class activities you will be required to undertake research and assessment practice outside of regular class times and participate in formal assessment tasks.

PLEASE NOTE: work that has not been authenticated during class as your own work will not be considered for assessment.

All assignments and tasks must be completed to be deemed competent.

Referencing must follow RMIT University regulations.

Assessment Tasks

Sustainable Fashion Communication: article 500 words 20%
Reflections on sustainability at MSFW 10%
Press Release 500 words 20%
Environmental Management System Report 50% (group Work)

Assessment Matrix

	Sustainable Fashion Communication (20%)	Reflections on sustainability at MSFW (10%)	Press Release (20%)	Environmental Management System Report (Group work) (50%)
Investigate current practices in relation to resource usage.	x	x		x
Set targets for improvements				x
Implement performance improvement strategies.
Monitor performance.			x	x
Communicate performance	x		x

Course Overview: Access Course Overview