The Sustainability Fundamentals, Spring 2016 The World s First Online Course in Sustainability for Apparel Brands & Retailers

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1 The Sustainability Fundamentals, Spring 2016 The World s First Online Course in Sustainability for Apparel Brands & Retailers Type: Online (with hands-on assignments) Start & End Dates: April 1 to June 17 & September 12 to November 25, 2016 Time Commitment: Core Curriculum: 10 hours; Extended: 1-10 Extra Hours Price: 840 Euros (Discounts Available for Groups of 5 or More) Background Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for business success in the apparel industry. For companies to be successful, knowledge about sustainability needs to be integrated into the core functions and processes of an organization, in efficient and costeffective ways. Online education and training, combined with applied assignments, supports this efficient and effective integration. Target Audiences This course is designed for professionals working in the apparel industry. This includes fashion, luxury, sport, outdoor, and footwear. Because this is a foundational course, it is relevant for all functions in a company including designers, purchasers, production and quality managers, retail and sales personnel, communications specialists, and logistical staff. Course Aims The purpose of the Sustainability Fundamentals course is to provide brand and retail professionals the foundational knowledge and inspiration they need to engage with sustainability challenges and opportunities within their companies, and to become more confident organizational ambassadors for sustainability. As a result of the course, participants will: 1) understand the key sustainability challenges and opportunities during garment production, use and end-of-use; 2) be able to identify a range of solutions to these current challenges; 3) understand what their company and other leading companies are doing to address these challenges; 4) identify generally how they can contribute to improved sustainability performance within their company; and 5) access additional resources to use when continuing their journey after the course. Course Structure In order to provide the flexibility companies need, the course is divided into a Core Curriculum and an Extended Curriculum. The Extended Curriculum is optional. The Core Curriculum consists of 5 modules that are available over 11 weeks. The lessons & assignments in the Core Curriculum are designed to take 10 hours to complete. This means each module takes an average of 2 hours to complete and learners can do the course at their own pace within allotted time frame. The course includes a mix of online lessons and practical assignments. Students are required to complete the Core Curriculum if they are to receive a course certificate. 1

2 The Extended Curriculum includes additional lessons and inspiration and can take between 1 and 10 additional hours to complete. Because the Extended Curriculum is not mandatory, students with more time and interest can choose to spend time on some or all of these additional components. However, this is not required for receiving a Certificate of Completion. Course Outline, Spring 2016 Below is the course outline for Spring SFA reserves the right to adjust the course structure and update the content to ensure the best results. SFA will inform participants if significant changes are made. If you have questions about the course topics and structure, please contact m.schragger@fdse.se. Course Introduction During the Course Introduction students learn about sustainability in relation to the apparel industry and the product lifecycle. We clarify what types of social and environmental impacts occur throughout the production, use and end-of-use of a garment. We also introduce the concept of a Lifecycle Analysis, and ask students to familiarize themselves with the SFA Learning Platform. Module 1: First Things First Choosing Better Materials During Module 1 we begin our journey throughout the product lifecycle by presenting 6 important materials - Cotton, Polyester, Viscose, Wool, Down, Leather and explore 1) how they are made conventionally; 2) their impacts on people and planet; and 3) what better alternatives exist today. Students are also asked to learn about their own company s current material s policy and reflect upon if and how they can contribute to better material choices in their company. Module 2: Textile Dyeing & Finishing - The Toxic Challenge During Module 2 we continue our journey along the product lifecycle by focusing on the primary sustainability challenge during textile dyeing & finishing: harmful chemicals. By the end of this lesson students will have learned 1) how dyeing and finishing works in practice; 2) the environmental and health impacts of dyeing and finishing, 3) current solutions, such as Restricted Substances Lists and leading standards and certifications. Students are asked to learn more about their company s chemical management policy and reflect upon if and how they can contribute to better chemical management. Module 3: Garment Manufacturing- Improving Working Conditions During Module 3 students learn about a key challenge during garment manufacturing: working conditions. By the end of this lesson students understand 1) what makes supply chains so complex how this creates challenges for ensuring good working conditions; 2) what key social challenges are prevalent in apparel supply chains; 3) current solutions, such as social auditing and collaborative initiatives. Students are asked to learn more about their company s approach to ensuring good working conditions and to reflect upon if and how they can contribute to better fair labor practices. 2

3 Module 4: Empowering Customers- Product Use & Re-use The journey continues: During this module students learn about the key sustainability impacts during garment use and end-of-use and are introduced to a range of practices designed to engage the customer in reducing these impacts. Students are asked to analyze and improve a range of inspiring cases and assess what it would take to implement their ideas in their respective companies. Module 5 Getting Creative: Sustainable Design Module 5 completes our journey throughout the product lifecycle by exploring the role of design in contributing to the development of more sustainable products and services. At the end of this lesson students have learned about 6 concepts and approaches for designing with better resource use in mind. These include 1) dematerialization; 2) durability; 3) zero waste; 4) disassembly; 5) up-cycling; 6) mono-materiality. Students are then asked to apply their learning from the entire course by redesigning a product of their choice (ideally from their own companies product portfolio). Students are also given the option to create a simple professional action plan to help them guide their work after the course. Module 6 (Optional): Dive Deeper Although the lessons and assignments in Module 6 are NOT required, we encourage students who have the time and ambition to explore these areas in greater depth. In this section students can learn more about: 1) the future of the apparel industry and the need for industry transformation; 2) about how to be a better change agent; and 3) about the link between sustainability and creating value for a business. 3

4 Sustainability Fundamentals - Course FAQ How often is the course offered? We are currently offering Sustainability Fundamentals twice a year. But as demand increases, we will offer the course more frequently. If the times offered are not convenient for your company, it is possible to tailor the course to your special needs. Contact us for information about the next available course or what it will require to tailor the course to your special needs. Which LMS platform are you using and what are its technical requirements? We are currently using the Docebo Learning Management System for our courses. To learn about Docebo s technical requirements to ensure a smooth interface with your computer system, contact us. Can learners complete course lessons on their mobile phones? The course is currently designed for computers and tablets, both Mac and PC. In the future learners will also be able to access the course on mobile phones. Are any other computer programs or devices needed? The course assignments require that participants have Microsoft word. For assignments, we also ask participants to take pictures of their clothing, so it is helpful to have a digital camera. This can be the camera in a mobile phone. What happens if learners do not complete the course within period allotted? Learners who do not complete all the modules by the end of the course will not receive a Certification of Completion. Some of the course assignments require that learners find out more about their company s current sustainability policies and practices. Do you recommend that we assign a contact person in advance for these internal questions? Yes, this is especially helpful if many employees from your company are participating in the course. Some organizations also use the course modules as an opportunity to gather their learners on a regular basis and debrief them on their learning, discuss how their learning links to their company s sustainability strategy, and/or to answer any company related questions that might have arisen during the course. You mentioned that students are required to submit assignments as part of the course. Are assignments and company information kept confidential? Yes, all assignments and company related information are kept confidential. This excludes forum related assignments, where students are asked to comment on each other s ideas in an open forum. What other tips can you give to ensure we get the most out of the course? The best methods for ensuring effective learning include a combination of individual work, group work and application. We therefore 1) encourage you to pair students together as they do the course, so they can complete the assignments together and benefit from the social nature of learning; 2) we also recommend reserving designated days during the course for students to focus solely on the online education and assignments. It can even be effective to gather many students from your company during these times and so everyone can do them together. This will better ensure that students prioritize the education, and are not distracted by competing priorities. 4

5 We want to build a more comprehensive internal program for our employees, using the fundamentals course, or other SFA courses as the backbone. Can you assist us? As noted above, including live workshops and networking events in conjunction with online courses improves their effectiveness and impact. We encourage this. Yes, we can support you in designing an internal program that achieves this, and links to your sustainability strategy and education and training goals. How can I find out more about this course or other courses and services SFA offers? For more information please contact Mike Schragger at m.schragger@fdse.se /