Blue Engineering
Wechseln zu: Navigation, Suche

Baukasten:Fast Fashion - beyond its environmental impact - digital

Fast Fashion - beyond its environmental impact - digital

Fast-fashion.jpg


This building block deals with fast fashion and its environmental and social impact. It focuses on one’s own behavior regarding fashion and thereby with the responsibility of the consumer and what one can do to make a change.

The (fast) fashion industry expanded extremely over the past years which lead to a faster cycle of production and new pieces every week. The demand for new clothes is high and many of them are thrown away after a short period of time or even without being worn once. That causes negative impacts on environmental and social aspects due to points like a massive water consumption, the pollution of landfills, underpaid labor or an insane release of carbon dioxide and further greenhouse gases.

In small groups the participants reflect on their own consumption behavior regarding fashion and what they think of it. In order to get deeper into the topic, the facilitators do a presentation combined with questions for the participants to provide some knowledge. On the basis of the facts, the participants are using the Blue Engineering toolbox to analyze and reflect on the problems of fast fashion.

Title
Fast Fashion - beyond its environmental impact - digital
Topic
The environmental and social impact of the fast fashion industry
Type
Digital
Keywords
Fast fashion industry, Environmental impact, consumption behavior
Competences
Perspective-Taking, Anticipation, Motivation, Reflecting Principles, Acting Morally
Forms of Learning
creative and cooperative
Methods
discussion, survey, presentation, toolbox
Group Size
>2
Duration
30 minutes - if necessary, “Analyzing with the tools” task can be extended
Material and Space
E-learning unit based on information material and videos about algorithmic bias
Quality
good - building block developed by participants in Berlin
Semester
Winter Semester 2020/21


Preparation and Follow-Up

Facilitators’ Preparation

The facilitators have a look at the given references to get to know the topic. They do some research if the given facts within the presentation are still valid and update them if necessary.

They create five several forums for the preparation and follow up tasks for the participants to post their results and opinions. Furthermore, the facilitators prepare the poll.

Participants’ Preparation

The participants complete the “preparation 01 - first thoughts on fast fashion”. With that, they start to think about the topic of fast fashion and about their own behavior. They also do the “preparation 02 - tools” to be prepared for applying the tools within the building block.

Participants’ Follow-Up

The participants watch the given video to learn more about the topic and to reflect on their own behavior. They use the tool “jam jar of the individual” to think about what they could change and if they know any brands that are doing things in a more sustainable way. Furthermore, they present a special piece from their wardrobe in the forum to show and inspire others through interesting stories about it.

Schedule

Minute 00 - Introduction

Notes

The facilitators welcome the participants and give them an overview on what the building block will look like and what its aim is. They also prepare breakout sessions with up to 4 people per group.

Slides

Overall aim of the building block

  • Reflecting on your behavior regarding fashion
  • Getting an awareness on the environmental impact of fast fashion
  • Analyzing the problem and looking for solutions

Schedule of today’s session

  • 00:00 - Greetings
  • 00:02 - Discussion & reflection on the preparation in small groups
  • 00:10 - Short summary
  • 00:12 - Quiz and knowledge
  • 00:18 - Analysis with the tools in small groups
  • 00:26 - Presenting results, conclusion and follow-up

Minute 02 – Discussion & reflection on the preparation task

Notes

The facilitators put the task into the chat and send everyone into the prepared breakout sessions.

The participants discuss and reflect in small groups about the preparation. They have 8 minutes in total.

The facilitators open the presentation to start the screen sharing afterwards and prepare everything that is still needed for the poll.

Slides

Task for the participants

  • Chat about your feelings on the topic:
  • Which words did you note?
  • Do these words have a rather positive or negative connotation?
  • How is your overall perception of fast fashion?
  • Reflect on your consumption behavior:
    • Share the number of tops/shirts you have in your wardrobe and whether you think that it is, or it isn’t much.
    • Put your shopping behavior in relation to the amount of clothes you own.
    • Guess whether your environmental impact is good/bad regarding the previously discussed points.
  • You have 8 minutes in total, so everyone has 2 minutes to share their thoughts.

Minute 10 – Short summary

Notes

The breakout sessions end. The facilitators welcome everyone back and request one or two participants to share what they have discussed.

Slides

Task for the participants

  • Please share briefly what you have just discussed.
  • Do you think rather positively or negatively about fast fashion?
  • What do you think regarding your own behavior - is it good or bad?


Minute 12 – Quiz and knowledge

Notes

The facilitators get ready to share the polls. The other facilitators start the screen sharing of the presentation and lead through it by presenting the facts and asking the questions. It is important that the facilitators display a question and then, after the participants have voted, answer the question.

The participants listen and answer the questions by voting. They have 15 seconds to answer each question.

Slides

Question What percentage of the selling price does a garment worker earn?


Answer

  • A t-shirt is one of the most common garments purchased worldwide.
  • One T-shirt costs approximately $18,25 ≈ 15,31€
  • ~ 50 % margin for the selling company: $9,13 ≈ 7,65€
  • 2,96% of sales price: $0,54 ≈ 0,46€ for garment worker
  • Most of the garment workers don‘t earn their country‘s minimum wage.


Question

  • How much kg of greenhouse gases are released by producing a single t shirt?


Answer

  • 23 kg greenhouse gases per kg produced fabric => 4,6 kg per t-shirt (200g)
  • Fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emission = more than all international flights and marine shipping combined


Question

  • How many liters of water are used for the production of our t-shirt?


Answer

  • 2.700 liters of water = 30 bathtubs
  • 3 liters of drinking water per day for one person for almost 2,5 years
  • 5 trillion liters of water are used for dyeing alone by the fashion industry each year = 2 million olympic sized swimming pools
  • 20% of industrial water pollution comes from textiles treatment and dyeing


Question

  • 1 kg of chemicals are needed to produce 1kg of garment.


Answer

  • That is right => 200g chemicals within our t-shirt = 1 glass of water


Question

  • How many different microfibers are released when washing a synthetic garment?


'Answer

  • 1.900
  • ~ 35% of primary microplastics in oceans are from synthetic clothes


Question

  • How many kg of clothes are thrown away each year by an average western person?


Answer

  • ~ 30kg

Minute 18 – Analysis with the tools

Notes

The facilitators explain the task and send everyone into the same breakout rooms as in the previous task.

The participants analyze the topic with the help from the tools of the blue toolbox. They have 8 minutes for the analysis.

The grouping depends on how many students participate.

Slides

Use the given tool to analyze the problem of fast fashion and its environmental (and social) impact.

  • Keep the example of the t-shirt and the thereby presented facts in mind.
  • Try to find ideas on how the problem can be changed. What can you do to make a change?
  • Take notes. One of you is supposed to present your results in front of everyone in the end.


Grouping

  • Weight of requirements
  • TINS-D
  • Fireworks to my delight and your suffering
  • Happy Meal of the Buy-Yourself-Happy
  • Slime of limit


Minute 26 – Presenting results, conclusion and follow up=

Notes

The breakout sessions are ended. The facilitators welcome everyone back.

The participants present their results in front of the entire group.

Afterwards the facilitators do a short conclusion, briefly explain what the participants will do as follow up and end the building block.

Slides

Task 1 - Reflection

  • Watch the given video.
  • What facts surprised/upset/concerned/etc. you most?
  • How do you view your own fashion consumption/behavior after learning about the impact of the fashion industry?
  • Post your answers in the forum: Write 2-3 sentences for both questions each.


Task 2 - Making a change

  • Looking at the tool “jam jar of individuals” – what can we do to have a positive impact regarding the problems that result from the fashion industry?
  • Post your ideas below and stick to them for the following month.
  • Do you know any brands that do an amazing job by using organic fabrics, by paying fair wages for the garment workers, etc.? If yes, please share them with us! A short summary is enough. If no, just get inspired by the brands that the others presented.


Task 3 - Your special piece of clothing

  • We want you to go through your wardrobe carefully. Have a look at the pieces you own. Choose a special piece and present it to us in the forum (picture + text).
  • What makes that piece so special? (e.g.: self-made, thrifted, from grandma/dad, upcycled, …)
  • How long do you have it?
  • What material does it consist of?

Notes and Remarks

Authors’ Note

The facilitators should be precise with the timing so that the participants have enough time to do the discussion and the analysis in the small groups. The building block could be extended time wise, so that the participants have more time for the analysis with the tools.

Further Notes

Still to come.

References

Material

Participants’ Preparation

Note

As preparation, the participants do the following task to start thinking about the topic and their own behavior. They also go through the tools again to be able to apply them within the building block.

First thoughts on fast fashion

Task

  • Please answer the following questions, write them down and have them ready for the building block.
    • What are the first thoughts that come into your mind when you think of fast fashion?
    • Write down 5 words that pop up in your mind.
    • How many tops/shirts do you own? Do you think that amount is much?
    • How many times per month do you go shopping?

Tools

Task

Please have a look at the following tools again to be able to apply them during the building block.


Weight of Requirements

All humans are seen as equal before the law, but their respective needs and requirements carry varying weights in terms of shaping technology and society.

Generally, only a few requirements are explicitly considered when developing a product, and these usually originate from people who use, engineer, or profit from the resulting product. However, it is important when designing any technology to consider all people who may be affected by its use, production, etc., regardless of whether they have different or conflicting requirements, such as the conservation of nature or humane working conditions.


TINS-D - Constellation

Technology, individuals, nature, society and democracy (TINS-D) repeatedly form powerful reciprocal relations that create something new and allow old ideals to fade away. These constellations must be both analyzed and democratized.

The constellation of technology, individuals, nature, society and democracy (TINS-D Constellation) consists of five interconnected coordinates. Democracy is placed in the middle in order to determine the democratic content of any decision as well as the decision-making processes with regard to TINS. At the same time, this allows for the clarification of a normative standpoint which aims to democratize the reciprocal relations of TINS. The TINS-D constellation allows for the analysis of both individual coordinates and their interrelationships.


Fireworks to my delight and your suffering

A little bling-bling to make my own suffering more bearable has always ended up hurting everyone.

Almost all the “modern” technologies we are having today are cost-relocation robbery techniques. They are the means by which we appropriate private benefits such as profit, income, convenience, pleasure, fun, etc., resulting in non-quantifiable costs such as pollutant emissions, noise, land erosion, climate impacts, etc., to the detriment of others. The relocation of costs often affects people and living beings located in countries geographically removed from our own, and has large scale temporal effects reaching far into the future thus affecting future generations. The scene and time of the crime compared to the scene and time of the suffering as a negative ramification of the crime thus diverge from one another. - Otto Ullrich.


Happy Meal of the Buy-Yourself-Happy

Buy, buy, buy - for a brief moment you feel alive, yes, you definitely feel better! Now you are someone …ohh, not so fast, the next moment you are noone again.

The act of buying feels so good because it is a social interaction in which people exchange two things that are seemingly equal. I give you something, so that you can give me something back that I desire of the same value. However, mere seconds later, I feel like I got the worse end of the deal and we seem to be unequal. I can hardly look forward to my house, my car and my boat because I like your house, your car and your boat much better.


Slime of the Limit Values

All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; only the dose ensures that a thing is not poisonous. Paracelsus

One thing is for sure: Anything can be harmful. Yet it remains uncertain what exactly the damage is, how much or how little it takes to cause it and whether there exists a causal connection or just a coincidental correlation. Therefore a limit value is not a fixed value, but rather a slimy guck that politically brings together what falls asunder: scientific knowledge, economic interests, social welfare, individual health, the integrity of nature, etc.

Presence time - Materials

Notes

No additional material is needed

Participants’ Follow-Up

Task 1 - Reflection

  • Watch the given video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq0--DfC2Xk
  • What facts surprised/upset/concerned you most?
  • How do you view your own fashion consumption/behavior after learning about the impact of the fashion industry?
  • Post your answers in the forum: Pick two of them and write 2-3 sentences each.


Task 2 - Making a change

  • Looking at the tool “jam jar of individuals” - what can we do to have a positive impact regarding the problems that result from the fashion industry? *Post your ideas below and stick to them until the end of this course.
  • Do you know any brands that do an amazing job by using organic fabrics, by paying fair wages for the garment workers, etc.? If yes, please share them with us! A short summary is enough. If no, just get inspired by the brands that the others presented.


Task 3 - Your special piece of clothing

  • We want you to go through your wardrobe carefully. Have a look at the pieces you own. Chose a special piece and present it to us in the forum named ‘Your special piece of clothing’. (picture + text)
  • What makes that piece so special? (e.g.: self-made, thrifted, from grandma/dad, up cycled, …)
  • How long do you have it?
  • What material does it consist of?
Von „http://www.blue-engineering.org/index.php?title=Baukasten:Fast_Fashion_-_beyond_its_environmental_impact_-_digital&oldid=15559“