Course Title: Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: OHTH5461C

Course Title: Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices

School: 350T Fashion & Textiles

Campus: Brunswick Campus

Program: C6082 - Advanced Diploma of Textile Design and Development

Course Contact : Julia Raath

Course Contact Phone: 03 9925 9201

Course Contact Email:julia.raath@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Lucy Adam              lucy.adam@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 40

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:

MSAENV472A Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices


Learning Outcomes


In this unit you will be required to develop the skills and knowledge to address processes and techniques necessary to implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices, including the development of processes and tools.

It includes:

  • Indentifying areas for improvement
  • Developing plans to make improvements
  • Implementing and monitoring improvements in environmental performance


Details of Learning Activities


Sessions will include group presentations, guest lectures, research sessions and class discussions.
Students will undertake an audit of a design brief and report on how improvements can be applied .


Teaching Schedule

Week 1: Introduction to unit, course guide, assessment requirements. Group discussion about what is sustainability and the notion of how we put in place sustainable practice. The story of stuff.

Week 2: Approaches to sustainability, People, Planet, Profit, Cradle to Cradle principles, Product stewardship. Case study of businesses that engage in sustainable practice

Week 3: Ethics and Fashion production. Film: China Blue, Class discussion about human rights and fairtrade principles

Week 4: Ethics and fashion production continued. Guest speaker: Ethical clothing Australia

Week 5: Greenwashing, what is it? Guest speaker: Julia Raath. Group allocation of topics for presentations

Week 6: Melbourne Fashion week (no class). Assisgment:reflections on sustainability events/designers at Fashion Week.

Week 7: Group topic and planning research, scheduled library time

Week 8: Fibres and sustainability, Manufactured fibres, natural fibres and fibre alteratives. New textile and Fabric technologies. Class activity: in small groups research different fibres and assess their sustainability. Findings will be compiled into a booklet

Week 9: Presentations: Innovation in production and Trend analysis and Fashion &Textiles and sustainable possibilities

Week 10: Presenations: Rethinking Fast: Slow fashion/Slow design and Fairtrade principles/Corporate Social responsibility

Week 11: Presentations: Life cycle analysis and the global textile recycling chain

Week 12: Presentations: Recycling, packaging and design strategies and Reduce, reduce, recycle - waste management strategies

Week 13: Presentations: Retail scan and Ethical fashion organisations

Week 14: Scheduled class time to work on sustainability report. Students will undertake a personal audit of their experimental textiles project Drop which willbe undertaken in Desing and Produce Experiemtnal Textiles . An analysis of all materials and processes will be required and presented as a report.

Week 15: Presentations: DROP - to include finished piece of work from experimental textiles and analysis of all materials and processes,details of implementing and monitoring improvements in environmental performance

Week 16: Presentations: DROP - to include finished piece of work from experimental textiles and analysis of all materials and processes,details of implementing and monitoring improvements in environmental performance




Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

Sustainable Fashion & Textiles Design Journeys, Kate Fletcher



Eco-chic the fashion paradox, Sandy Black


Slow Living, Perkins


Sustainable Fashion: Why Now? Janet Hethorn & Connie Ulasewicz


Designers, visionaries & other stories, A collection of sustainable design essays, Jonathan Chapman & Nick Grant


Environmental Management Systems: A Step by Step Guide to Implementation and Maintenance, Christopher Sheldon & Mark Yoxon


Biomimicry, Janine M. Benyus


Bioregional Solutions: For living on one planet, Pooran Desai


Environmental Law (Nutshells), Brenda Short


Modern Environmentalism: An Intro, David Pepper


Other Resources


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.


Assessment Tasks

Sustainability audit plan - 60%

Students will undertake a personal audit of their experimental textiles project Drop. An analysis of all materials and processes will be required and presented as a report.

Group Presentation - 40%

In small groups students will be required to present to the group on an aspect of sustainable practice from provided list of topics. Prepare a 15-20 minute presentation on your group topic. Provide a clear overview and explain what the topic is about. Provide examples of companies, organisations or individuals that have developed or adopted the practices you have researched. You must include references and websites.

Weekly Journal Keep a weekly journal, jot down points of interest to you, personal reflections,  notes on presentations, reflections on sustainable events at Melbourne fashion week, articles from newspapers/magazines, fibre analysis. Journal refernce will be discussed each week - You are encouraged to do as much research on sustainable practice as practicable.


Assessment Matrix

 Elements Sustainabilty audit plan Group Presentation Weekly journal
Investigate current practices in relation to resource useage  X  X  
Set targets for improvements  X    
 Implement performance improvement strategies  X    X
 Monitor performance  X    

Other Information

RMIT Textile Design and Development  promotes and supports sustainable practice. Please refer to online course guides and RMIT email  for communication.

Please consider the environment before printing .

Course Overview: Access Course Overview