Circular economy, cradle to cradle and zero waste frameworks in teacher education for sustainability
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 1 March 2022
Issue publication date: 26 July 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Sustainability is a major concern in education policies. This paper aims to describe how alternative economic education including concepts of the circular economy (CE), cradle to cradle (C2C) and zero waste can be addressed by teacher education. The author asks to what extent such alternative concepts contribute to sustainability education and transitions and empower students and future teachers, through fieldtrips.
Design/methodology/approach
Fieldtrips to three extracurricular learning places in Graz (Austria) – a plastic waste disposal facility, an upcycling design atelier and a supermarket without packaging – were organized as part of a university seminar on economy and sustainability. Based on student essays reflecting the fieldtrips, this praxeological paper provides insights on how students perceive awareness-raising and innovative responses to mass consumption, recycling/upcycling and waste prevention issues.
Findings
Including altermatic economic frameworks, such as CE/C2C and zero waste, into teacher education contributes to reflections on the economic growth paradigm and promotes more sustainable futures. In various statements, students highlighted social-ecological change and awareness-raising. They rather focussed on recycling, upcycling and (plastic) packaging than on the problematic eco-efficiency of downcycling.
Originality/value
Alternative economic concepts can be addressed and critically reflected in sustainability education, even if rarely taught. Although the extracurricular learning places described offer partial solution from the perspective of degrowth, they can serve as an eye-opener and promote alternative economic education, where students can share experiences, knowledge and creative ideas to engage in sustainability transitions.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author wishes to thank to the three extracurricular learning places Saubermacher, Heidenspass and Das Gramm/Dekagramm for welcoming the author and the students from University of Teacher Education Styria. The discussions were very helpful for the development of this paper. A big thanks goes to the two anonymous reviewers for comments that helped to improve the structure and the quality of this paper. Moreover, the author is deeply grateful to Simon P.J. Batterbury and Heide Bruckner for proof reading and useful comments.
Citation
Kowasch, M. (2022), "Circular economy, cradle to cradle and zero waste frameworks in teacher education for sustainability", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 23 No. 6, pp. 1404-1425. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2021-0428
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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