Faculty of Business and Law

Version 1

Date 15/12/2017

Module Handbook

Module Name: Sustainable Business

Module Code: UMED95-15-3

Module Leader Name: Dr Peter Bradley

2018

Version 3 03/9/2015
Aim of the Handbook

The handbook is a guide for students in the Faculty of Business and Law. The
information in the handbook can also be found in a number of other electronic or
paper sources and the document provides links to the definitive data sources
wherever possible.

Please note that the electronic version of the handbook will be kept up to date and
you will be notified of any significant changes. If you have taken a hard copy of any
information please remember to refer back to the electronic version to ensure that
you are working with the most up to date information.

Contents
1. Module team information ..................................................................................... 3
2. Module enhancement .......................................................................................... 3
3. Module specific information ................................................................................. 3
4. Assignment Brief.................................................................................................. 4
5. Submission details ............................................................................................... 5
7. Communication .................................................................................................. 19
8. Advice and support ............................................................................................ 21

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1. Module team information

UWE Teaching team:

Dr Peter Bradley (peter.bradley@uwe.ac.uk);

Anthony Plumridge (anthony.plumridge@uwe.ac.uk)

Ian Brooks (ian.brooks@uwe.ac.uk)

External examiners from other institutions are appointed to each module to act
independently and work with the module team in the management of threshold
academic standards. The external examiner appointed to this module can be found
at http://www2.uwe.ac.uk/services/Marketing/about-us/cas/Extnl_Exam_Allocation_to_Mods.pdf

2. Module enhancement

This year the structure of the course will be laid out in detail in the first lecture as
feedback from last year identified that a more detailed look at the structure of the
course would improve understanding of the course structure and updates. You can
also refer to the lecture, workshop and seminar table further in the document to get
an idea of the broad structure.

3. Module specific information

Environmental issues are of growing importance, as shown by their prevalence in the

news and other media; and businesses are under pressure to respond to these
issues, either by changing their production and consumption practices, adjusting
their supply chains and adapting their marketing strategies to the new consumer
sentiment. This module considers the main environmental concerns such as climate
change, oil depletion, sustainability and pollution, their causes and possible
remedies. It also considers policy and economic means of measuring and
conceptualising key ecological phenomena. It then considers business responses to
these challenges.
This is a key module for all students. Sustainable development is now critical to
business thinking and practice and is needed to ensure that society survives in the
future. This is a pressing need for all people to act. Business is central to the
environmental sustainability crisis that society now faces both in it terms of its
creation, but also in the transition towards a sustainable economy. Everything which
business does could be affected by the challenge of sustainability; those which do
not adapt will perish. Students hoping to understand business and direct future
business policy must be able to meet the challenge of sustainability: indeed, one
could say that someone who does not grasp the issues of sustainability grasps little.

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Aims of the module:

1. To provide an understanding of the business and economic issues connected

to sustainability
2. To allow students to understand the causes and consequences of ecological
change, particularly for business
3. To evaluate critically the effectiveness of various policy interventions and
other measures designed to achieve greater sustainability and to examine the
likely impact on businesses and markets
4. To equip students to be able to examine business responses to the problem
of ecological constraints on activity

Learning outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate the

ability to:

1. Develop knowledge of a range of ecological, social and economic causes

and consequences of global climate change and resource depletion;
2. Location and evaluation of a range of relevant information on the
relationship of business to sustainability;
3. An ability to apply appropriate business and economic methods to the
analysis of problems in achieving sustainability;
4. Critical discussion of the limitations of business and economic analysis in
evaluating the full social, economic and environmental impacts of business
activities;
5. Synthesis of different types of information and think systematically and
critically about problems.

4. Assignment/assessment Brief

Assessment

The assessment media are chosen to assess the full range of student skills and
knowledge at the relevant stage of the course. The assessment gives students an
opportunity to demonstrate the ability to discuss a range of issues and to show a
critical appreciation of the subject matter covered. The use of a two hour unseen
examination, covers a wide range of the subject matter, which will allow all module
objectives to be achieved.

Assessment is therefore:

Component A (50% of the marks for the module)

Two-hour Examination. A past year’s paper will be put on blackboard.

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Component B (50% of the marks for the module)

All coursework will be uploaded into Blackboard by students themselves, so there

will be no need for hard copies. Work should be produced in Word document, single
spaced and font size 12. Preferred fonts are Times New Roman and Garamond.

Assignment – 2000 word individual essay

5. Submission details

Please note that the submission deadlines are absolute and based on UWE server
time, therefore you are strongly advised to submit work well ahead of the deadline
dates to avoid situations where penalties could be incurred. Penalties are imposed if
a submission is made up to 24 hours after the deadline, and the highest mark you
can receive will be the minimum pass mark (if the assessment is passed). After the
24 hours have passed, the work will not be accepted for marking.

If you are submitting your coursework in the submission boxes please ensure that
the work is secure and placed in a plastic wallet, unless you have been advised to
submit it in another style. Don’t forget to print your coursework coversheet from
myUWE which should also be attached to your work.

ASSESSMENT BRIEF

Module Code: UMED95-15-3

Module Title: Sustainable Business
Submission Deadline: 1st March 2017 2pm.
Assessment Component Coursework
Assessment Weighting: 50%

Assessment Instructions

Coursework report title: Business Model for Sustainable Development Case Study

This coursework is to be conducted by individuals as a report. Within the report you should engage
strongly with literature and a case study and attempt the tasks as outlined below.

Tasks: 1. Choose and justify the definition of sustainable development that you will apply in the
report. 2.) Outline the business model strategy of your case study business applying the framework of
Baden-Fuller and Mangematin 2013. 3.) To what extent is the current business model sustainable?
And 4.) How could the business model be changed/reconceptualised to make it more sustainable?

(100 marks)

Relevant reference; Baden-Fuller, C., Mangematin V., 2013. Business models: A challenging
agenda. Strategic Organization, 11, 418-427.

The case study will require either the use of primary of secondary data. This report will summarise

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you research and findings. It should cover the case study, change or proposition you are
investigating, the literature reviewed and business context, an explanation of your methodology and
theoretical framework, data collection to support the case study or other conclusion (with any data
tables and questionnaire in an appendix outside the word limit), data analysis and findings. A
conclusion should include a brief reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of the research and
suggest improvements that could be made on the basis of experience.

Marking Criteria

The following criteria will be used in evaluating this assessment:

Marking Scheme
A Yes and to very high standard
B Yes and to a good standard
C Yes and to an acceptable standard
D Yes but not to an adequate standard
E No or to a poor standard
F Not attempted or to a very poor standard

Would students please note that achievement of the learning outcomes for this assessment is
demonstrated against the assessment criteria shown below (which are not necessarily weighted
equally). Your assignment is marked as a whole and your grade is more than a summation of your
performance as rated below.

Assessment Criteria Use the five-point

scale* below and insert
ratings for all criteria.

1. Clear statement of an objective of the research A B C D E F

2 Literature review/context A B C D E F

3 Theoretical framework and methodology A B C D E F

4. Empirical data collected/diversity of sources to support or

A B C D E F
business case

5 Analysis of data/sources to reach conclusion or business

A B C D E F
case

6. Critical and reflective approach A B C D E F

7. Completeness of specified task and quality of presentation A B C D E F

Format

All work should be word processed in 12 point font Times New Roman

Please use the following file format: Word

Please ensure that you provide the following details on the first page of your coursework:
 Student Number
 Module Name and Number
 Word Count

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Word Limit

The word limit for this coursework is 2000 words.

 Word count includes everything in the main body of the text (including headings, tables,
citations, quotes, lists, etc.).
 The references, bibliography and footnotes (provided footnotes only include references) are
NOT included in the word count.
 There is no direct penalty for exceeding the word count but the marker WILL stop reading
once the word limit has been reached and nothing further will be taken into account in the
allocation of marks.
You can view the UWE word count policy here: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/policies

Referencing:

Please ensure you adhere to the principles of good academic practice and ensure you use the UWE
Harvard system to reference your work. Failure to properly reference your work to original source
material can be grounds for the assessment offence of plagiarism and may result in failure of the
assessment or have more serious implications.

For further guidance on correct referencing go to:

http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills/referencing.aspx

Details of what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found here:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills/readingandwriting/plagiarism.aspx

For general guidance on how to avoid assessment offences see:

http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/assessments/assessmentoffences.aspx

Instructions for submission

You must submit your assignment before the stated deadline by electronic submission
through Blackboard. Notification that the electronic submission portal is open for your assignment is
displayed (usually two weeks before the submission date) in the Coursework tab in myUWE, the
Coursework tab in Blackboard and via an announcement in the Blackboard course.

Please ensure you allow sufficient time to upload your script, noting that the system becomes busier
and slower as the deadline approaches. Only your final upload will be counted. Ensure all your
information is submitted at one attempt to avoid ‘overwriting’ your intended submission. Always check
and retain your receipts.

Late submission in the 24 hours following the deadline will be accepted but the assignment mark will
be capped at 40%. Submissions after 24 hours will not be accepted. For full guidance on online
submission through Blackboard, see:

http://info.uwe.ac.uk/online/Blackboard/students/guides/assignments/default.asp

Submissions of coursework by any other method (including a paper copy, on disc, by email or by fax)
are NOT permissible for this module unless specifically agreed in advance of the submission date.

Before submitting your work, please ensure the following:

 That you have proof read you work thoroughly to ensure your work is presented appropriately
 That you have addressed all the required elements of the assessment
 That you have referenced in accordance with the guidance provided
 That you have addressed each of the marking criterion
 That the submission is in the correct format

Feedback
Students will normally receive marks and feedback on their submission within 20 working days of the
submission deadline (not including any public holidays or university closure days). Any delay in
returning students’ work will be communicated by the module leader via Blackboard.

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Please note feedback can take many forms and can be summative (provided for work completed) or
formative (provided for on-going work or activities). Feedback on this module is not limited to the
written comments you will receive on individual written assessment submissions.
For further guidance on feedback, please refer to the module handbook.

Further Guidance

Guidance on study skills: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills.aspx

Support from the FBL Academic Success Centre (2B076):

http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/bl/bbs/aboutus/studentexperience/academicsupportcentre.aspx

Guidance on UWE assessment regulations and terminology:

http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/assessments/assessmentsguide.aspx

Guidance on using the library: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/library/usingthelibrary.aspx

Nnnnn
Extenuating Circumstances

If you are experiencing difficulties in completing a piece of assessment on time due to unexpected
circumstances (for example illness, accident, bereavement), you should seek advice from a Student
Support Adviser at the earliest opportunity.
Please note the module leader cannot grant extenuating circumstances or extensions.

Appointments with a student adviser can be made via an Information Point or online at:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/studentadvisers.aspx

The Student Support Adviser will advise as to whether you should submit an application for
‘Extenuating Circumstances (ECs)’, how to do so and what evidence is required to support the
application.

Further details on ECs can be found here:

http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/assessments/extenuatingcircumstances.aspx

Submission date for the essay – 1st of March 2018 2pm.

You will receive informal feedback verbally through teaching sessions – ensure you
listen carefully. Each assessment you submit will be returned to you with written
feedback, and consists of comments made by tutors on students’ assessed work
which enables students to understand how they have met the defined assessment
criteria and identifying areas for further improvement. The period for providing
feedback will not normally exceed 20 working days, students will be informed of the
deadline and the rational for the extension.

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6. Additional information and reading strategies
Teaching and learning strategy will involve a combination of lectures, workshops,
seminars and private study. The module will run in Semester 2 and there will be a
lecture, a workshop and a seminar each week. The workshop and seminar
programme are designed to support the lectures. Lectures will be used to convey
core material. Workshops will often be used to explore analytical skills. Seminars are
an essential forum in which students will be expected to discuss the scheduled topic,
usually with reference to the directed relevant journal article(s) on the topic. Students
will be expected to engage in private study to obtain, read and analyse prescribed
reading and to develop independent learning skills in seeking out relevant material
from electronic and non-electronic sources. Considerable use will be made of
Blackboard in delivering this module, but a broad outline of what will be covered
when is provided below.

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Structure of the module

Week Lecture Workshop Seminar

27 Introduction: ecological systems; Exercise/lectoral on explaining concepts for a Introduction, major challeneges likely to be
(unit 1) sustainability views and externalities non-expert audience faced by business
28 Assessing Sustainability at the global level Understanding and analysing externalities and The environmental kuznets curve. Relative and
Intro

(unit 2) internalisation absolute decoupling

29 Business models for sustainable development Sustainable development, techology as a Coursework discussion
(unit 3) solution
30 Valuation Applying the business model concept to a case Barriers to sustainable business models
(unit 4) study business
Micro

31 Assessing sustainability - project appraisal and Valuation workshop (environmental Coursework progress and help
(unit 5) CBA (Anthony) economics perspective)
32 Evaluation of interventions Pros and cons of CBA in sustainable CBA exercise: computer lab
(unit 6) development assessment
33 Sustainability auditing (GRI reporting and Design your own intervention Pro-environmental behaviour: successful
(unit 7) SCOPES 1,2,3) and resource efficiency environmental programmes in the workplace
34 Policies on pollution: taxes and permits Sustainability auditing for business exercise Sustainability auditing for business
(unit 8) (Sainsburys and Ians other examples)
35 Carbon footprinting using input-output Policies on pollution Analysing the impact of externalities
Economy wide

(unit 9) analysis and the ecological footprint

38 Carbon accounting tool workshop Perspectives in carbon footprinting
Green Economy (Anthony)
(unit 10)
39
Green economy Green economy
(unit 11) Circular and green economy (Anthony)
40
(unit 12) Revision Revision workshop Green and circular economy

Version 3 03/9/2015
Reading Strategy

All students will be encouraged to make full use of the print and electronic sources
available to them through membership of the University. These include a range of
electronic journals and a wide variety of resources available through web sites and
information gateways. The University Library’s web pages provide access to subject-
relevant resources and services, and to the library catalogue. Many resources can
be accessed remotely. Students will be presented with opportunities within the
curriculum to develop their information-retrieval and evaluation skills, in order to
identify such resources effectively. There will be opportunities (study skills
workshops) provided to students to develop their information finding skills in order to
identify further suitable reading.

Key reading for workshops and seminars are identified under each in the schedule in
this handbook, this (and references at the end of lectures) should be your first place
to start with reading. There is no one core text book for this module, but useful text
books for the subject area for concepts and theories (particularly in relation to
environmental economics) are:

EITHER
Field, BC & MK (2012), Environmental Economics, McGraw Hill
A clear introductory text to environmental economics but omits resource economics
and is written in the US context. This text is referred to as “Field” when suggesting
readings.

OR

Roger Perman et al, (2011), Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, 4th.
edition Prentice Hall.

A more comprehensive theoretical approach suitable for economics students with

extensive use of mathematical notation. Do not be put off by this – there are clear
verbal explanations of concepts and relationships. Includes resource economics and
is written in a UK context. This text is referred to as “Perman” when suggesting
readings.

You could also read new cutting edge papers published in Ecological Economics,
journal of cleaner production and similar journals on relevant topics free as a UWE
student at: www.sciencedirect.com

Other potential reading of interest:

Books and papers:

Jackson, T 2009. Prosperity without Growth: economics for a finite planet. London:
Routledge (Earthscan). Available at: http://www.ipu.org/splz-e/unga13/prosperity.pdf
or you can buy online his most up to date 2016 revised version of this book on
Amazon or elsewhere. See the book at: http://www.cusp.ac.uk/news/pwg/

Blewitt, J. (2008) Understanding Sustainable Development, Earthscan

Version 3 03/9/2015
Behrensa, A., Giljuma, S., Kovandab, J., & Nizac, S. (2007). ‘The material basis of
the global economy: Worldwide patterns of natural resource extraction and their
implications for sustainable resource use policies’. Ecological Economics, Vol. 64,
Iss. 2, pp. 444-453

Brown, L.R. (2003). Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth, Earthscan.

Heinberg, R. (2004). Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World,

New Society Publishers

Henriques, A & Richardson, J. Eds (2004). The Triple Bottom Line, Earthscan.
Hitchcock, D. and Willard, M. (2009) The Business Guide to Sustainability:
Practical Strategies and Tools, Second Edition, Earthscan

Hulme, M. (2010) Why We Disagree About Climate Change: Understanding

Controversy, Inaction and Opportunity, Cambridge

Mellahi, K & Wood, G. (2002). The Ethical Business – Challenges and

Controversies, Palgrave.

Paul Lingl, Deborah Carlson and the David Suzuki Foundation (2010) Doing
Business in a New Climate: A Guide to Measuring, Reducing and Offsetting
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Earthscan

Mellahi, K & Wood, G. (2002). The Ethical Business – Challenges and

Controversies, Palgrave.

Myers, N. & Kent, J. (2003). ‘New consumers: The influence of affluence on the
environment’. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States
of America, Vol. 100, No. 8, pp. 4963-4968

Nordhaus, W.D. (2007) ‘To Tax or Not to Tax: Alternative Approaches to Slowing
Global Warming’, Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 1,1, 26-4

M.,Simms, A. (2003). Ghost Town Britain II: Death on the High Street, New
Economics Foundation.

Stern, N (2008) Key Elements of a Global Deal on Climate Change, London School
of Economics

Wirtenberg, J., Russell, W & Lipsky, D., (eds.) (2008) The Sustainable Enterprise
Fieldbook: When It All Comes Together, Greenleaf Publishing.

Periodicals:
The Ecologist
Ethical Consumer

Films

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Before the flood with Leonardo DiCaprio documentary 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dxAgt9XXPU

The Corporation, 2004, Canada, d. Achbar, Abbott & Bakan

The End of Suburbia, 2005, USA, d. Greene

You can also google relevant government and non-government websites;

The governments Waste and Resource Action Programme;

Forum for the Future;
The New Economics Foundation;
The Green Alliance;
The Carbon Trust

Workshop and Seminar Program

It is essential that you attend workshops, seminars (and lectures) and conduct
preparation, if you are to do well in this module. A section from a recommended book
or a reference to a journal article is given for most seminar activities outlined below.
Make sure you read these as a minimum. The activities taking place in workshops
each week are outlined below together with details of any preparation required. The
way in which these questions are explored and resolved in seminars will vary.
Additional material and links will be placed on Blackboard through the course of the
semester. Please make sure you look at these.
W/C 27
Workshop 1: Exercise/lectorial on explaining concepts for a non-expert
audience
Imagine you are talking to a non-expert audience. Try and prepare for this workshop
by looking up key concepts before you attend and reading the student task sheet on
blackboard.
Assimilative capacity;
Substitutability;
Irreversibility;
materials balance; - why particularly important
Ecosystem; - why particularly important
Biodiversity;
Feedback;
Entropy;
sustainability.

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Seminar1: Introduction, major challenges likely to be faced by business
This workshop will be used to introduce you to the course and course structure. A
brief outline of the content and assessment of the module will be given with
opportunities for questions. We shall also conduct complementary lecture activities
during the session. For this seminar, prepare a short description of at least three
major challenges likely to be faced by all businesses in the UK over the next 20
years. These will be discussed and issues associated with sustainability explored.

W/C 28
Workshop 2: Externalities and internalisation
We will look at the various categories of externality and how business and consumer
behaviour might be influenced so as to take external costs and benefits into account.
Think about the questions below and prepare some answers:
1. What is an externality?

2. (i) List five actions that you undertake on a daily basis that produce negative
externalities.

(ii) Note one action that produces no externalities.

(iii) Note one action that produces positive externalities.

3. From your list in 2(i), rank these from most significant to least significant. What
factors did you consider in order to do this?

4. Public goods and merit goods – how do they relate to externalities?

Seminar 2: The environmental Kuznets curve and decoupling

This seminar will provide a useful framework for thinking about sustainability at the
global level. In particular, it will assess the usefulness of the Environmental Kuznets
Curve. We will also explore the allied concept of “decoupling”. To prepare for the
seminar, read the papers and OECD report referenced below and think about the
following proposition:
Beckerman (1992) suggested that “….. in the end the best – and probably the only –
way to attain a decent environment in most countries is to become rich.” Analyse this
assertion in relation to the evidence provided in estimations of the Environmental
Kuznets Curve
Suggested reading:

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The OECD environment programme (2011) Indicators to measure decoupling of
environmental pressure from economic growth. Executive Summary available at
http://www.oecd.org/environment/indicators-modelling-outlooks/1933638.pdf

Jackson, T 2009. Prosperity without Growth: economics for a finite planet. London:
Routledge (Earthscan). Available at: http://www.ipu.org/splz-e/unga13/prosperity.pdf
Grossman, G and Krueger, A, (1995) Economic Growth and the Environment, The Quarterly
Journal of Economics, May 1995.
Bradford, David F.; Fender, Rebecca A.; Shore, Stephen H.; and Wagner, Martin (2005) "The
Environmental Kuznets Curve: Exploring a Fresh Specification," Contributions to Economic
Analysis & Policy: Vol. 4 : Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/bejeap/contributions/vol4/iss1/art5
Absolute and relative de-coupling

W/C 29
Workshop 3: Definitions of sustainable development, implications for
technology as a solution to sustainable development

In preparation for this workshop read one of the following paper and come prepared
with your thoughts on the authors logic or definition on sustainable development, do
you agree or disagree with their standpoint? Given their standpoint, to what extent
can technology provide the main solutions to sustainable development?

Beckerman W., (1994). Sustainable Development: Is it a Useful Concept?

Environmental Values. 3, 191-209.

Sneddon C., Howarth R.B., Norgaard R.B., 2006. Sustainable development in a

post-Brundtland world. Ecological Economics. 57, 253 – 268.

Robinson, J., Tinker J., 1997. Reconciling ecological, economic, and social
imperatives: a new conceptual framework. In: Schrecker, T. (Ed.), Surviving
Globalism: Social and Environmental Dimensions. Macmillan, St. Martin’s Press,
London, New York, pp. 71-94.

Seminar 3: Coursework discussion

In preparation for this seminar please read carefully and fully the assignment brief
and think about a case study business that you would like to focus your coursework
on. This is an opportunity to debate the coursework and ask any questions.

W/C 30

Workshop 4: Applying the business model concept to a case study business

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How might your case study business move to a new more sustainable business
model? What potential barriers may it face in making the transition? Apply the
framework (presented in the lecture) by Baden-Fuller C. and V. Mangematin (2013)
to: Your case study business’s current business model and the (more sustainable)
new business model that you are proposing.

Seminar 4: Barriers to Sustainable Business Models

Before the seminar read Ceschin (2013): Critical factors for implementing and
diffusing sustainable product-Service systems: insights from innovation studies and
companies’ experiences. This is available online by google searching the title
above. Whilst reading the article, identify barriers to more sustainable business
models and be prepared to discuss these in your seminar group.

You will start by brainstorm on what some of the barriers to more sustainable
business models might be.
Then having read the article by Ceschin (2013) pair up into groups and identify a full
list of all the barriers to more sustainable business models that you can think of and
be prepared to discuss these with the rest of the class toward the end of the
seminar.
W/C 31
Workshop 5: Coursework progress session
Attend this workshop to develop and discuss your ideas, thinking and approach to
the coursework with teachers Ian and Anthony.

Seminar 5: Valuing the environment

Reading: Field chapter 7; Perman Chapter 12.

1. Define the terms: i) use value; ii) non-use value. In some hypothetical context
of your choosing, make a list of those costs and benefits you would include
under each term.
2. Draw up an outline questionnaire for use in a contingent valuation of the loss
due to the closure of a standard urban park in Bristol. Your questionnaire
should be complete. Don’t just write down the payment question. Outline your
approach to sampling in this instance.

3. How might you assess the validity and reliability of CVM survey results?

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Skills achieved: Comprehending the challenge of operationalising theoretical
analytical tools

W/C 32
Workshop 6: pros and cons of CBA and alternatives
In this seminar we shall discuss the pros and cons of cost benefit for sustainable
development assessment. In this seminar, we will also discuss alternatives, such as
multi-criteria decision analysis.

Seminar 6: CBA exercise in the computer lab

The tasks for this computer based exercise will be presented in the lab.

W/C 33
Workshop 7: Design your own intervention
Before the seminar read the energy company case study intervention by Bradley et
al (2016) before the seminar. To get the paper google: “emergence and diffusion
social norms” and then click on the paper titled: “Motivating energy conservation in
organisations: Smart metering and the emergence and diffusion of social norms”.
Whilst reading, think about the key aspects of the intervention design that enable a
scientific approach to evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention?
Having read the paper, come to the workshop with an intervention that you would
like to propose to be implemented in your case study business to influence the social
or environmental impacts of a business. Think what might be the important
considerations in designing your intervention to robustly measure the impact of your
intervention.

Seminar 7: Pro-environmental behaviour: successful environmental

programmes in the workplace (intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation)
In preparation for the workshop read the paper by Young et al (2013): Changing
behaviour: successful environmental programmes in the workplace. And or
Ryan and Deci (2000) “Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions
and New Directions”

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These articles are available online by google searching the title above. Think how
some of the approaches might apply to your case study business, and be prepared
to discuss your thoughts on this and the paper in groups.

W/C 34
Workshop 8: The global reporting initiatives and wider perspectives
In this seminar, we will be evaluating some previous industry reporting examples.
Prepare for this workshop by looking at the GRI reporting initiative guidelines (looked
at in the lecture), including scopes 1,2 and 3.

Seminar 8: Sustainability auditing for business

List the environmental assessment techniques referred to and give a brief summary
of each. Whilst reading, think about what the different tools are used for and the
similarities and differences that exist between the approaches and how they can be
used in by businesses for sustainable development. Prepare for this seminar by
looking at:

Environmental management systems;

http://www.wrap.org.uk/content/your-guide-environmental-management-systems-ems

Environmental risk assessment and management

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidelines-for-environmental-risk-assessment-
and-management-green-leaves-iii

Environmental impact assessment:

https://www.gov.uk/assessing-environmental-impact-guidance

W/C 35

Workshop 9: Policies on pollution

Suggested reading: Most texts treat the topic in more depth than we require, so be
selective. Read Field, pages 179 to 193 and then dip into the remainder of Section 4
alternatively, read Perman pages 206 to 238.
List and comment upon at least five criteria that you consider important in assessing
environmental policy.
Use these criteria to evaluate three basic approaches to pollution policy:

 Regulation or standards
 Taxes

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 Marketable permits

All the above are primarily concerned with influencing producer decisions and
strategies. Is there a case for attempting to reduce pollution through influencing
consumer choices and lifestyles?
How might this be achieved?

Seminar 9: Analysing the impact of externalities

Read Perman Chapter 6, pps. 165 to 177 or Field Chapter 5.

Make sure you understand:

 Marginal Benefit
 Marginal Net Private Benefit
 Marginal Private Cost
 Marginal External Cost
 Marginal Social Cost
 Social optimum output
 Static and dynamic efficiency.

Shade the relevant costs on the diagram and then think why P* is the optimum level
of pollution?

Be prepared to sketch a diagram (or two!) illustrating the Social optimum output

Be critical – is this analytical approach useful or is it a load of rubbish????

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Workshop 10: Carbon accounting tool workshop
This workshop exercise will take place in a PC lab and enable you to use software
for various evaluations of industry and businesses energy and carbon footprints.
Each student will produce an energy and carbon account for a business or industry
of their choice and compare this to a range of other sectors. You will be asked to
investigate differences between industries.

Seminar 10: Perspectives/approaches in carbon footprinting

Prepare for this seminar by doing the reading below. Be prepared to discuss the two
most prominent carbon accounting perspectives in the literature (seen in Druckman
et al..) and think about how the different perspectives can shift responsibility and
approaches for addressing carbon abatement.

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Francisco Ascui (2014) A Review of Carbon Accounting in the Social and
Environmental Accounting Literature: What Can it Contribute to the Debate?, Social
and Environmental Accountability Journal, 34:1, 6-28, DOI:
10.1080/0969160X.2013.870487
or
Druckman, A., Bradley, P., Papathanasopoulou, E. and Jackson, T. (2008)
Measuring progress towards carbon reduction in the UK.Ecological Economics, 66
(4). pp. 594-604. ISSN 0921-8009 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22026

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Workshop 11: Green Economy and Policy discussion

Before the seminar Read Green Economy at Community Scale:
http://metcalffoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/GreenEconomy.pdf Think
critically about the report whilst reading, as we shall be discussing and evaluating the
pros and cons of such a view of the green economy.

If of interest, also see the UNEP Green economy reports.

http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/GreenEconomyReport/tabid/29846/language/en
-US/Default.aspx

Seminar 11: ‘Our logic’ - envisioning green economy and rising towards it
Based on the lecture and suggested reading what do you believe a green economy
(for a sector of your choice) should look like (in your view, and from your experience
of the course)? Think about the opportunities and barriers to such a transition. If
barriers exist, how might they be overcome? Try and also think what stakeholder
work/envisioning tools might be useful in moving towards such an economy.

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Workshop 12: Exam revision
This workshop will be used to look at revising for the exam.

Seminar 12: Exam revision

This seminar will be used to look at revising for the exam.

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7. Communication

Throughout your time with us, you will receive regular communication from your
module leaders, and also administrative staff, and it is your responsibility to ensure
that you read everything that you are sent, and act upon it where appropriate.

The main communication channel used is the Blackboard for all the modules you are
currently studying. Blackboard provides the main communication channel for
module specific information and these too should be checked regularly for new
content and announcements.

Please see http://info.uwe.ac.uk/myUWE/guidance/default.asp for further information

on all aspects of your myUWE portal.

8. Advice and support

There are a range of facilities and services available to go to for advice and support
depending on what the issue is. Remember - asking for help at the earliest possible
stage will help you in the long run. Your first point of call should always be your
Academic Personal tutor, as they will be able to sign post you to the right services
and will be able to deal with specific matters relating to teaching and learning. If you
are not able to contact your Academic Personal tutor for any reason go to an
Information Point, details of which can be found at
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/informationpoints.aspx

Student advisers are available and can also be contacted through the Information
Points, see http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/studentadvisers.aspx
for information on how they might be able to help.

However, you are more than welcome to talk to other members of UWE staff
depending on who you feel most comfortable talking to.

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