Activity 01
Product Journey Mapping: T-Shirt Trace
Provide world maps and product fact sheets. Students mark production sites, transport routes, and emission hotspots for a t-shirt. Use class calculators to tally CO2 and discuss alternatives like local manufacturing.
Evaluate the environmental footprint of a product's journey from production to consumption.
Facilitation TipDuring Product Journey Mapping, ask students to annotate each transport stage with a sticky note showing estimated CO2 to make calculations visible and collaborative.
What to look forProvide students with a product, e.g., a smartphone. Ask them to list two modes of transport likely used in its journey and one environmental consequence of this transportation. Collect and review for understanding of transport impacts.
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Activity 02
Local vs Global Goods Debate
Divide class into teams. One side defends importing exotic fruits, the other local options. Teams prepare evidence on emissions and costs, then debate with teacher moderation and vote on best choice.
Compare the environmental impact of local versus globally sourced goods.
Facilitation TipFor the Local vs Global Goods Debate, assign roles like ‘local farmer’ or ‘global retailer’ to ensure balanced perspectives and structured arguments.
What to look forPose the question: 'Is it always better to buy local?' Facilitate a class discussion where students present arguments for and against this, referencing the environmental costs of transport versus potential local production impacts. Guide them to consider factors like seasonality and production methods.
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Activity 03
Supply Chain Strategy Design
Groups receive a scenario, like chocolate production. Brainstorm and sketch three ways to cut emissions, such as rail over air or reusable packaging. Present prototypes to class for feedback.
Design strategies to reduce the environmental cost of global supply chains.
Facilitation TipIn Supply Chain Strategy Design, provide a fixed budget so students practice trade-offs between speed, cost, and emissions when choosing transport methods.
What to look forShow images of different transport methods (container ship, cargo plane, lorry, train). Ask students to rank them from lowest to highest carbon emissions per tonne-kilometre. Discuss their reasoning, checking for accurate comparisons of transport efficiency.
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Activity 04
Emission Hotspot Simulation
Set up stations with toy vehicles representing ship, plane, lorry. Students 'ship' goods, logging emissions per mode. Compare totals and graph results to identify worst offenders.
Evaluate the environmental footprint of a product's journey from production to consumption.
Facilitation TipRun the Emission Hotspot Simulation twice: once using standard routes and again after students adjust for lower emissions to highlight the impact of their choices.
What to look forProvide students with a product, e.g., a smartphone. Ask them to list two modes of transport likely used in its journey and one environmental consequence of this transportation. Collect and review for understanding of transport impacts.
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Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Teachers should introduce this topic by starting with students’ lived experiences, such as clothing brands or food items they know. Avoid overwhelming them with global statistics; instead, build understanding step-by-step using relatable products. Research shows that combining visual mapping with numerical data strengthens comprehension, so use simple calculators or pre-made cards to support calculations without losing the focus on big ideas. Emphasize that solutions aren’t simple—trade-offs exist between speed, cost, and environmental impact.
Successful learning looks like students confidently explaining how transport modes differ in emissions, weighing evidence to challenge assumptions, and designing solutions that balance trade-offs between cost, speed, and environmental impact. Evidence of understanding includes accurate calculations, clear reasoning in debates, and thoughtful design choices in group work.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
During Product Journey Mapping, watch for students who assume all transport methods have similar environmental costs.
Prompt students to compare the emissions per tonne-kilometre for each transport mode on their maps and recalculate totals when they notice discrepancies.
During Local vs Global Goods Debate, watch for students who claim buying local is always better without examining production methods.
Ask debaters to reference specific products, such as strawberries grown in heated greenhouses versus those shipped from warmer climates, and quantify the hidden emissions in their arguments.
During Supply Chain Strategy Design, watch for students who prioritize speed over environmental impact or cost.
Provide a scenario where the fastest route exceeds the budget or emissions limit, forcing students to revise their plans and explain their trade-offs.
Methods used in this brief