Sustainability Skills

Learn about sustainability

What is sustainability?

Business sustainability is a goal for most enterprises. As a micro business owner you may want to sustain an income to retirement or to hand over a viable business to your family. You might be involved in a larger company which has a responsibility … More

Skills and qualifications

Skills and qualifications for sustainability

Sustainability skills Sustainability is recognised as a key driver for new directions within manufacturing enterprises and across the entire value stream. Manufacturing Skills Australia has identified key areas of skills that can support the … More

Sustainability skills resources

Sustainability skills resources

The resources will help Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and enterprises to design and deliver effective skills development programs for sustainability. They are intended as one source of information about the breadth and complexity of … More

About root cause analysis

This guide provides general information about root cause analysis. It explains the basic concepts and demonstrates a number of root cause analysis techniques options that might be used, depending on the context. The information is relevant to several units of competency in the MSS Sustainability Training Package; however the guide is not aligned to a specific unit of competency or AQF level. Download the guide … [Read more...]

About metrics

This guide provides general information about metrics. It explains the basic concepts and demonstrates that a range of options might be relevant, depending on the context. It includes information on choosing metrics and using indicators and includes some examples of possible 'measurables'. The information is relevant to several units of competency in the MSS Sustainability Training Package; however the guide is not aligned to a specific unit of competency or AQF level. Download the … [Read more...]

About mass and energy balancing

This guide provides general information about mass and energy balancing. It explains the basic concepts and demonstrates that a range of options might be relevant, depending on the context. The guide explains the first law of thermodynamics and provides examples of how it might be applied in mass/energy balancing in both industry and domestic situations. The information is relevant to several units of competency in the MSS Sustainability Training Package, however, the guide is not aligned … [Read more...]

About quantifying benefits and costs

This guide provides general information about quantifying benefits and costs. It explains the basic concepts and demonstrates that a range of options might be relevant, depending on the context. It includes information on identifying and ranking direct benefits and costs as well as indirect measures and semi-quantitative data. The information is relevant to several units of competency in the MSS Sustainability Training Package; however the guide is not aligned to a specific unit of … [Read more...]

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international membership based non-profit organisation. Key activities include: promoting responsible management of the world’s forests, setting international standards for forest management managing an accreditation and certification system for forest product producers and forest managers. It aims to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests within Australia and in countries … [Read more...]

Metal fabrication sector reports and links

Fabrication of metal products refers to a range of processes such as shaping, cutting, welding, assembling, folding, roll forming and machining. A variety of products come from the metal fabrication sector. These range from steel beams and panels used in major construction to boilers and tanks and domestic pre-fabricated buildings such as garages. Businesses in the sector are numerous and varied in size, with relatively low profit margins. Larger businesses manufacture large volume products … [Read more...]

Furnishing sector reports and links

The 'furnishings' sector includes, in part, the manufacture of wood, steel, glass and upholstered furniture primarily for home and office use. Total furniture purchasing has increased within Australia in recent years, however, most of this increase reflects purchase of imports, which are now approximately two-thirds of all furniture sales. Imports are primarily from China with some high end, low volume products from Europe and USA. Profit margins are being squeezed by this competition. … [Read more...]

Ethical Clothing Australia

Ethical Clothing Australia provides textile, clothing and footwear businesses with practical resources to help ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations in Australia and offers a method to communicate this to consumers and buyers. It is a voluntary system that helps meet compliance requirements. See: http://www.ethicalclothingaustralia.org.au/ … [Read more...]

Cement and concrete sector reports and links

The manufacture of cement and concrete products uses processes such as grinding, mixing, kilning, moulding, compaction and curing. Products include: Cement, including hydraulic and Portland cement Lime Pre-mix or ready-mixed concrete slurry Concrete pipe, box culverts, pre-cast panels and bridge components Other concrete products, such as pavers. The sector primarily serves domestic markets and is largely protected from global competitors due to the high freight-to-value cost of … [Read more...]

Textiles sector reports and links

The textiles sector manufactures fabric from natural and man-made fibres. Typically this involves processes such as stripping, blending, dyeing and weaving or knitting. The fabric manufacturing process may include preparing and dyeing the yarns to be used, assembling the yarn into fabrics, dyeing and printing the fabrics, and applying a range of treatments to the fabric. Within Australia the sector is a mix of high and low technology, reliant on unskilled and semi-skilled labour. There is … [Read more...]

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This website and many of the products have been produced with the assistance of funding provided by the Australian Government; including through the Green Skills Agreement and the Clean Energy and Other Skills Package.