Across the four modules, students develop an increasingly broad view of how logistics decisions shape sustainable development outcomes.
These modules are designed to embed sustainability within the Logistics discipline, treating it as an essential consideration in how logistics activities are planned, coordinated, and managed rather than as a separate topic.
Students begin by looking at logistics as a connected network of material, information, and decision flows, then explore more specific challenges related to freight transport, supply chain resilience, and circular logistics. Through this progression, students examine how logistics decisions can create both benefits and unintended consequences, requiring trade-offs between environmental performance, operational efficiency, economic viability, social responsibility, resilience, and infrastructure capacity.
With a focus on Vietnamese and Southeast Asian contexts, the modules connect logistics concepts with current industry and societal challenges. Students engage with relevant logistics and supply chain cases to identify key pressures, consider the interests of different stakeholders, and assess the practicality and wider implications of potential interventions. Across the modules, students develop capabilities in systems thinking, trade-off assessment, stakeholder analysis, evidence-based decision-making, and applying sustainability principles to real logistics challenges.
How to apply these materials into teaching?
These modules are designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing lecturers to integrate sustainability into existing Logistics and Supply Chain Management courses rather than teaching it as a standalone subject.
A practice-led, discussion-driven approach is recommended. Core concepts, such as systems thinking, freight decarbonization, supply chain resilience, circular logistics, and SDG trade-offs should be introduced briefly to establish a shared foundation, then applied through structured activities.
Suggested teaching applications include
Which parts require direct instruction or theory explanation?
The lecturer’s role is to introduce relevant logistics challenges, facilitate discussion, and encourage critical thinking, helping students connect logistics concepts with operational realities, stakeholder perspectives, and broader sustainability considerations.
Therefore, brief and focused instruction (10 - 20 minutes) is recommended for introducing key frameworks, such as systems thinking, freight decarbonization, resilience thinking, or circular logistics principles. These should then be followed by interactive activities that allow students to apply concepts to practical logistics scenarios.
SDG integration
Rather than focusing on a fixed set of goals, the modules allow students to explore how multiple SDGs intersect within logistics systems. For example, logistics infrastructure and innovation can be linked to SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, urban freight and congestion to SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, resource use and reverse logistics to SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, freight emissions and climate resilience to SDG 13 Climate Action, working conditions and supply chain responsibility to SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, and cross-sector coordination to SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals. Transport-related impacts on air quality and public well-being can also connect logistics decisions to SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being.
Modules
Below are the downloadable module materials designed specifically for this course. Please download each file to view the details.
Access and download the module PDF and assessment
- Module 1: Sustainable Logistics Systems and SDG Trade-offs (PDF, 295KB)
- Module 2: Sustainable Transport, Freight Decarbonization, and Policy (PDF, 303KB)
- Module 3: Sustainable Supply Chain Resilience, Risk, and Responsible Decision-Making (PDF, 306KB)
- Module 4: Circular Logistics, Reverse Flows, and Resource Recovery (PDF, 276KB)
- Assessment Task: Sustainable Tourism Action Plan (PDF, 282KB)
Connect and collaborate
Share experiences and form partnerships around sustainability in education with SDGs.