Course Overview

This course explores the critical relationship between the circular economy, sustainable consumer awareness, and wellbeing. It introduces the principles of a circular economy, how it contrasts with the traditional linear model, and its implications for sustainable consumption and production which are crucial transformations imposed by climate change and reflected in the achievement of the SDGs (sustainable development goals) and reflected in European Green deal Students will learn how sustainable consumption behaviour can influences environmental, social and economic approaches of sustainable development. They explore strategies to raise consumer awareness about sustainable practices especially through applying circular economy 4R (recycle, repair, reuse, reduce) and beyond.

The course also delves into the concept of consumer wellbeing and smart living linking it to broader social, environmental, and economic approaches. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge to make informed, sustainable consumption choices and promote sustainable practices starting at the individual level and their application within their families, communities and organisations using interdisciplinary lenses.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand apply key strategies of the Circular Economy such as 4R( recycle, repair, reuse, reduce) in consumer choices

• Understand circular economy business models and their role for sustainable consumption

• Understand the importance of sustainable consumption behaviour at the individual level and its impact at the collective level  through environmental, social and economic approach of sustainable development

• Develop sustainable skills and self-efficacy for sustainable consumption behaviour

• Critically asses the importance of stakeholders in sustainable consumption awareness

• Understand and apply sustainable consumption for wellbeing

• Understand and apply sustainable consumption for smart living

Course Content

Day 1 -Introduction to circular economy
Day 2- Implementation of the circular economy at the macro level
Day 3- Key players and policies for circular economy
Day 4- Barriers to the circular economy
Day 5- 4R (recycle, repair, reuse, reduce) and beyond
Day 6- Linking circular economy and sustainable consumption: starting with sustainable
business models canvas and consumer involvement
Day 7- Consumer awareness, education and green marketing
Day 8- Smart living and sustainable consumption sectoral focus: fashion industry and food industry
Day 9: Resilience and wellbeing through sustainable consumption
Day 10: Consumer happiness and sustainable consumption

Instructional Method

The instruction method will be interactive, it will include face-to-face theoretical lectures combined with practical case studies and practical exercises about sustainable business models canvas for their sustainable consumption, open discussion and roleplaying
on they topics of the course.

Required Course Materials

Liu, L., & Ramakrishna, S. (2020). An Introduction to Circular Economy. In Springer eBooks.                        https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8510-4

Swain, R. B., & Sweet, S. (2021). Sustainable Consumption and Production, Volume I. In Springer eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56371-4

Assessment

The course assessment will be group project which will constitute 80% of the grade presented on day 9 and short multiples choice test of 10 questions to be done on the last day of the course which will represent 20% of the course.