Assignment, key dates and word limit 1
Details on assignment task 1
Deliverables and submission 2
Learning outcomes 2

Assignment 1 Individual written article
Assignment, key dates and word limit
• This is the first (of two assignments) for the third year undergraduate course option module, Visioning Sustainability for Change.
• The assignment counts for 50% of the total marks for the course module.
• The assignment handout date is on Monday 18th November 2013 via Blackboard.
• The assignment hand-in date is on Friday 17th January 2014 via ‘Turnitin’.
• The article will be 3,000 words inclusive of references.
Details on assignment task
• Your assignment task is to critically analyse a credible and non-credible eco label and to understand the role and importance of eco labels in behaviour change for sustainability.
• In order to do this it is suggested that you consider the following issues. They are:
o Contextualise the study by briefly defining, explaining and connecting the terms: ‘state of the planet’, ‘sustainability and sustainable development’, ‘government regulation (policy mix/tools) for sustainability, and ‘voluntary environmental programmes’.
o Clearly and concisely define the terms ‘eco-label’ and ‘greenwash’.
o Analyse (break down into its component parts) and summarise the criteria and principles for effective eco labels as set out by Zadek, ISEAL alliance, Goodguide and the Greenwash Index, for example.
o Critically compare and contrast one credible eco label from the ISEAL list of members against one non-credible eco label (greenwash) taken from the Greenwash Index, based on the above analysis.
o Critically discuss the main issues of the article and some of their potential implications for business, government and consumers.
Deliverables and submission
• Students must submit their assignment by Friday 17th January 2014 via ‘Turnitin’.
• Submissions will also be accepted before this date, as required.
• All articles must have Harvard Referencing.
Learning outcomes
This assessment assesses the following learning outcomes:
• Critically appraise the nature of voluntary environmental programmes (by focusing on a prime example, namely, eco labels).
• To understand one of the principal approaches in public policy mix for advancing and promoting behaviour change for sustainability.