Module manager: Eleanor Scott
Email: e.l.scott@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
For sustainable innovation, the textiles sector must be considered as a complex system with interconnected and interdependent components. Systems thinking within textiles looks at the entire textile supply chain, from raw material production to manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal. This approach recognises the dynamic interactions and feedback loops within the system whilst making space for innovation to reduce negative environmental, social, and economic impact. Drawing on the expertise of researchers and industry experts working across the sector, this module introduces systems thinking within textiles by looking at the textiles supply and value chain, the environmental and social life cycle of materials, and the state of textiles legislation and certification. The module then considers the new manufacturing and recycling capabilities which are facilitating a closed loop system, whilst examining revolutionary tools such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and on demand manufacturing.
The aim of the module is to facilitate the holistic thinking necessary for successful sustainable innovation within the textiles industry. This is achieved by exploring the textiles supply chain, life cycles, legislation, and certification of textiles materials. The interpretation and application of published life cycle analyses to assess alternative approaches for the textile system in terms of environmental impacts and contributions to circularity models. Through knowledge of the textiles system, the recent innovations within the sector can be explored, to allow for a greater understanding of the novel technologies driving sustainable innovation today.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Critique life cycle assessments of textiles materials and products with an awareness of the opportunities and limitations.
2. Appraise textiles systems for environmental, social, and economic impact, with consideration to systemic constraints.
3. Articulate the state of the current regulatory landscape for textiles materials and products and identify potential developments in legislation, regulation and certification.
4. Investigate and identify opportunities for sustainable innovation within textiles material and product design and development.
5. Generate innovative ideas for sustainable textile product design and development.
Skill learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
6. Select, justify, and strategize novel approaches and propose solutions to systemic issues.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 14 | 2 | 28 |
| Seminars | 8 | 2 | 16 |
| Private study hours | 256 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 44 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
In the essay, students will compare different life cycle assessments (LCAs), identifying their limitations in relation to system boundaries, functional units and focus, these align with LO 1, 2, and 3. Lo 1 and 2 measure the students ability to critically analyse the LCAs. The regulatory landscape (LO3) is discussed in terms of Life Cycle thinking in the lectures, and the essay asks for students to discuss this for LCAs chosen for the essay.
In Semester 2, students take part in a group project where they develop a new innovative product which responds to a sustainability issue throughout a life cycle. Therefore the last 3 LOs focus on sustainable innovation and the skills needed to innovate.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 50 |
| Coursework | Group Report | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2025
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