ENE484 Sustainable Supply Chain II – Circular Economy and Extended Corporate Responsibility (E)

• Topics

  This course examines challenges and opportunities pertaining to sustainability in supply chains. The course considers the circular economy and the extent of corporate social responsibilities in the supply chains.

  Description

  Sustainability issues in supply chains can be challenging for organizations around the world. It can also present opportunities. The course will cover aspects of the circular economy by studying principles of eco-design, reverse supply chains, and end-of-life management. Additionally, the course will present the challenges related to social aspects of sustainability in the supply chain including issues related to child labor, human rights, workers safety, and fair wages.

  A significant part of the class time in this course is dedicated to case discussions in break-out groups. Students are expected to read the case text before class, and make notes or highlights in advance to help find potentially relevant information quickly while in class.

  Tentative program:

  • Course intro & Summary Intro Supply Chains & Summary intro LCA Application
  • Eco-Design in Product development
  • Waste Management, Recycling, Reverse Supply Chain
  • End-of-Life Management & Extended Producer Responsibility
  • Human Rights, Child Labor, Working Conditions and Safety

  A companion course, ENE483 Sustainable Supply Chain 1 - Sustainable Supply Chain I - The climate impact of transport, energy, and buildings in supply chains, considers other supply chain sustainability aspects. It is recommended, but not necessary, to take ENE483 Sustainable Supply Chain 1 before ENE484 Sustainable Supply Chain 2. For as far ENE484 builds on content and concepts from ENE483, these will be summarized at the start of ENE484. Courses ENE483 and ENE484 can be taken independently of each other. If you consider to take both, it is recommended to take ENE483 before ENE484.

• Learning outcome

  Knowledge

  Upon successful completion of the course, the student knows:

  • The principles behind circular economy and eco-design.
  • Alternative approaches to waste management and end-of-life management.
  • Challenges with working and living conditions of workers in the supply chain.
  • Principles of extended corporate responsibility.
  • Concrete measures to implement principles of circular economy and extended corporate responsibility to reduce climate and environmental footprints of, and improve working and living conditions in, supply chains.
  • How to apply Life Cycle Assessment and use its information to aid the process of eco-design and improve circularity of material flows in product manufacturing and end-of-life management.

  Skills

  Upon successful completion of the course, the student can:

  • Assess the life cycle environmental impact of product manufacturing and end of life management in the context of supply chains.
  • Explain social, environmental and climate issues with product manufacturing and end of life management depending on an organization’s operating context.
  • Identify the strengths and weaknesses in the supply chain in developing solutions to sustainability challenges with product manufacturing and end of life management faced by organizations.
  • Compare different practices to address challenges pertaining to social, environmental and climate issues with product manufacturing and end of life management in supply chains.
  • Evaluate sustainability impacts of product manufacturing and end of life management in supply chains using information from Life Cycle Assessment studies.
  • Design a plan to implement sustainable solutions for social, environmental and climate issues with product manufacturing and end of life management in the context of supply chains and in an organization’s operations.
  • Reflect critically on assumptions and uncertainties related to climate, environmental and social impact assessments.

  General competence

  Upon successful completion of the course, the student can:

  • Communicate sustainability related challenges and analyses pertaining to social, environmental and climate issues with product manufacturing and end of life management in the context of supply chains clearly and professionally, both orally and in writing.
  • Reflect critically on sustainability challenges of social, environmental and climate issues with product manufacturing and end of life management in the context of supply chains. and discuss alternative approaches and solutions.
  • Apply relevant knowledge and analytical perspectives to assess sustainability issues of social, environmental and climate issues with product manufacturing and end of life management in supply chain contexts.

• Teaching

  A significant part of the class time in this course is dedicated to case discussions in break-out groups. Students are expected to read the case texts before class, and make notes or highlights in advance of class to help find potentially relevant information quickly when in class. There will be some brief written evaluations to register course attendance and verify understanding of main course concepts. 

• Recommended prerequisites

  A companion course, ENE483 Sustainable Supply Chain 1 - Sustainable Supply Chain I - The climate impact of transport, energy, and buildings in supply chains, considers other supply chain sustainability aspects. It is recommended, but not necessary, to take ENE483 Sustainable Supply Chain 1 before ENE484 Sustainable Supply Chain 2. For as far ENE484 builds on content and concepts from ENE483, these will be summarized at the start of ENE484. Courses ENE483 and ENE484 can be taken independently of each other. If you consider to take both, it is recommended to take ENE483 before ENE484.

• Credit reduction due to overlap

  There is a full credit reduction between ENE484 and the course ENE435, which is no longer offered.

• Compulsory Activity

  To be allowed to participate in the project group work that is used for the class evaluation, an attendance of at least 80% of class time is required.

  Students are expected and encouraged to come to class prepared by reading case texts and readings in advance.

  There will be a brief written evaluation every day to register course attendance and verify understanding of main course concepts. Submitting four evaluations confirms 80% class attendance.

• Assessment

  The evaluation of this course will be done based on a case. This will be group work (2-4 students in each group), from week 46 until the end of week 49. The case assignment will be made available at the end of the course week. Means of support and other details will be communicated when the case description is handed out to the students. 

  To pass, students must demonstrate their ability to apply main concepts of this class on a realistic or stylised project case with an explicit or implicit description of existing of potential issues related to the class topics. This includes, but is not limited to, the application of Life Cycle Assessment on (parts of) a Supply Chain, the formulation of meaningful recommendations for sustainability improvement based on that assessment, a critical reflection on main assumptions and outcomes. Appropriate care to the project report, including structure, formatting, and language is expected.

• Grading Scale

  Pass-Fail

• Computer tools

  Instructor is in a dialogue with Position Green (positiongreen.com/carbon-management) for a demonstration of the tool and allowing students to apply the tool to a stylized case. Licenses / tool access will be arranged by the instructor.

• Literature

  The mandatory readings for this course are a selection of journal papers, reports, case descriptions and online sources. The readings will be made available no later than a week before classes are scheduled.