Objectives and competences

In this course students: 1. Get the knowledge on the role of sustainable development as an important aspect of international business, as well as development of sustainable products. 2. Acquaint with the environmental impact of the products and the significance of their reduction and elimination for the company. 3. Acquaint with the knowledge of packaging materials and products, packaging functions optimization, packaging costs, quality assurance, standards and environmental criteria of packaging.

Content (Syllabus outline)

1.Quality of products (criteria, standards, labels) 2. Sustainable development concept 3. Sustainable development concept and significance 4. Environmental impacts in supply chains 5. Environmental life cycles of products 6. Environmental impact assessment of products 7. Carbon footprint and water footprint 8. Circular economy; waste treatment options 9. Eco-labelling 10. Packaging (role in supply chains, functions) 11. Classification of packaging (primary, secondary, tertiary; returnable and non-returnable packaging) 12. Damage factors of packed goods 13. Packaging materials 14. Pallets and palletizing; modular packing system 15. Packaging costs 16. Waste packaging (regulations, treatment options) 17. Sustainable criteria for packaging 18. Ecodesign of packaging

Learning and teaching methods

lectures case studies laboratory work (active group work of students)

Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding

Development of knowledge and understanding: Students: 1. Have a detailed knowledge of theories in the area of packaging. 2. Develop skills to review the gained results in the field of sustainable product development. 3. Acquire the skills to identify the interactions between business environment and natural environment. 4. Solve the problems with modern methodological and analytical tools and methods based on standards. Cognitive/Intellectual skills: Students: 5. Get the ability to search for and synthesize new information of sustainable devlopment in literature and praxis and to place them in appropriate professional frame. 6. Can identify key aspects of environmental problem based on different aspects and able to find solutions. 7. Can identify key aspects of problem from inter- and multidisciplinary view points.

Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes

Key/Transferable skills Students: 8. Upgrade the ability for team-work and team leadership. 9. Judge better and consequently, more efficient integrate teh knowledge acquired into business decisions. 10. Further develop their communication skills in an effective manner to effectively solve conflicts. 11. Can identify key aspects of problem from different view points and are able to find solutions. Practical skills: Students: Can operate in situation of varying complexity and predictability requiring application of a wide range of techniques. Can operate in situation of varying complexity and predictability requiring application of a wide range of techniques.

Readings

Obvezna študijska literature (Textbooks Gregor Radonjič. (2020). Trajnostni vidiki izdelkov – Zbrano gradivo. Ekonomsko-poslovna fakulteta Maribor Gregor Radonjič. (2008). Embalaža in varstvo okolja – zahteve, smernice in podjetniške priložnosti. Maribor: Založba Pivec. Dodatna študijska literatura / Supplement textbooks A.A. Jensen, A. Remen. (Eds.) (2006). UNEP Guide to Lyfe Cycle Management – A Bridge to Sustainable Products. United Nation Environment Programme. W. Power (Ed.). (2012). Life Cycle Management. How Business Uses It to Decrease Footrprint, Create Opportunities and Make value Chains more Sustainable. United nation Environment Programme & SETAC. G. Radonjič.(2014). Oblikovanje in razvoj okolju primernejše embalaže. Univerza v Mariboru. Fakulteta za kemijo in kemijsko tehnologijo Maribor. Zbicinski Ireneusz, Stavenuiter John, Kozlowska Barbara, van de Coevering (2006). Product Design and Life Cycle Assessment. Book 3 in a series on Environmental Management. Baltic University Press, Uppsala.

Prerequisits