It's easy to lose steam at this time of year and fall into a world of boxsets. While there is nothing wrong with a bit of TV, adding something new to your routine can make the days feel all the better - especially when you're expanding your view of the world. With the invent of the internet, the world really is your oyster when it comes to new knowledge. But with so many silos of pseudoscience and misinformation about that vast ocean, the wealth of free online courses is available to help you to see the light. See below for some of our top online courses for sustainable living and ethical fashion.
1. Fashion's Future: The Sustainable Development Goals
Created by global campaigner Fashion Revolution this free 4 week course looks at the links between people, the planet and the fashion industry's impact on people. An engaging platform with a mix of methods, this should not only teach you about global supply chains but get you thinking about how they impact the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. How can the industry better support human rights? What conversations can be had about resource management in fashion? These may be some heavy questions, but hopefully this 4 week free course can encourage a deeper investigation.
Who?: All those interested in fashion, ethics, sustainability and activism.
Length: 4 weeks
2. From Waste to Value: How to Tackle Food Waste
Whether you've gone for Veganuary or not this year, you probably already know about the difference diet can make to our carbon footprint. Whether you're eating local or purchasing more processed items, this course will show you how to make a difference from home by cutting back on waste. It's the new minimalism...
Who?: Conscious consumers and keen cooks.
Length: 3 weeks
3. Future Food: Sustainable Food Systems for the 21st Century
Interested in food and climate change but want to take it further? This course goes more in-depth into changing cultures, diets and the drivers of consumption behaviour, before exploring production, security and governance.
Who?: Systems thinkers and environmentalists
Length: 4 weeks
4. Unleash Your Potential: Sustainable Futures
Also tackling the United Nations Sustainability Goals, this course, by the University of Bristol, covers everything from happiness to food, energy and homelessness, looking at what needs to be considered for a sustainable future. Looking at the big issues, this course will definitely spur you on to make a change.
Who?: Those looking at the big picture
Length: 4 weeks
5. Upcycling: From Green Ideas to Starting a Business
Come to terms with some of the challenges that face our environment, then learn about what up-cycling can do about it. As well as inspiration from others, this course will help you generate your own ideas, test them and find out how to make them a reality!
Who?: Entrepreneurial folks
Length: 4 weeks
5. Fashion and Sustainability: Understanding Luxury Fashion in a Changing World
Interested in fashion and design but not sure about whether luxury products can really exist in a sustainable world, this could be the course for you. By the renowned London College of Fashion's Sustainable Centre for Sustainable Fashion, the focus is on a need to re-imagine the current damaging system. The biggest polluter but one that employs 50 million people, what can be done to change the way fashion works?
Who?: Members of the fashion industry and curious outsiders
Length: 6wks
Now is the time to put aside a couple of hours a week to delve into a new topic or explore your interests on a deeper level. Good luck and let us know where you end up!
