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Chapter 10a: Discussion Questions & Activities

Discussion Questions for Chapter 10A

  1. Before reading this chapter, how aware were you of the social and environmental issues in the fashion industry? How has this chapter influenced your willingness to support sustainable brands?
  2. How has your impression of your clothing consumption habits changed after reading this chapter? Are there specific areas where you feel you can make more sustainable choices?
  3. Reflecting on the environmental impact of the fashion industry, how do you think your purchasing decisions contribute to these issues? What steps can you take to minimize your impact?
  4. What are the most significant environmental impacts of fast fashion, and how can sustainable practices mitigate these effects?
  5. How do social media campaigns influence consumer behavior towards sustainable fashion?
  6. Discuss the role of certifications in promoting ethical fashion. Are they effective in influencing consumer choices? Have you seen them before? If so, where?
  7. Think about the sustainable practices mentioned in the chapter. Are there any specific initiatives or actions you would like to adopt or see more fashion brands adopt?
  8. What are some specific design standards and practices that companies can adopt to make garments more reusable or recyclable? How might these standards impact the overall life cycle of clothing and footwear products?
  9. Compare and contrast mechanical and chemical recycling technologies in the context of textile recycling. What advancements are needed to improve the quality of recycled fibers, and how can companies support these developments?
  10. How can higher labor and environmental standards for suppliers, along with transparent supply chain mechanisms, contribute to more sustainable fashion? Discuss the role of technology, such as tagging clothing for traceability, and provide examples of companies that are leading in this area.

 

 

Activity 1: Comparing Textile Company Ratings on Sustainability

Objective: analyze and compare the sustainability ratings of two companies, critically assess their impact on consumer and employee decisions, and articulate insights in both written and oral formats.

Instructions:

  1. Visit a website that compares the environmental sustainablilty of fashion companies such as Good On You https://goodonyou.eco/
  2. Choose two companies listed on the website.
  3. Look at the ratings and information provided for each company. Write a paragraph to answer the first question and four or more additional questions:
    • What are the overall ratings for each company?
    • How do the companies score in terms of environmental impact?
    • How do the companies score in terms of labor practices?
    • How do the companies score in terms of animal welfare?
    • What specific practices or policies contributed to these scores?
    • Are there any areas where one company significantly outperforms the other?
    • What initiatives or improvements have each company committed to for the future?
    • How transparent is each company about its sustainability practices?
    • What certifications or third-party verifications do the companies hold?
    • Based on the ratings and information, which company would you be more likely to support and why?
  4. Form small groups to discuss your findings and insights from the comparison.
  5. Present your group’scomparison and answers to the questions to the class.
  6. After presentations, discuss as a class
    • How did the environmental impact scores influence your perception of the companies?
    • Did the labor practice scores affect your view of the companies’ ethics? How?
    • Were the companies’ animal welfare scores a significant factor in your comparison? Why or why not?
    • Which company had more compelling initiatives or future commitments? Explain your reasoning.
    • What improvements would you suggest for the lower-scoring company to enhance its sustainability rating? Do you think consumers and employees can influence companies to improve their sustainability practices? Why or why not?

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Thoroughness and accuracy in answering the research questions.
  • Depth of analysis in comparing the two companies.
  • Clarity and coherence of the group presentation.
  • Engagement and contribution to the group discussion.
  • Ability to critically assess and discuss the impact of sustainability ratings on consumer and employee decisions.

 

 

Activity 2: Lifecycle Assessment Presentation

Objective: Conduct a lifecycle assessment of a textile product to understand its environmental impact.

Instructions:

  1. Choose a textile product (e.g., a cotton t-shirt, a pair of jeans, polyester jacket, wool sweater, silk scarf, nylon activewear, leather shoes, bamboo socks, hemp tote bag, organic cotton pillow case, or another if approved by your instructor). Find more on a website such as https://www.designlife-cycle.com/ .
  2. Investigate the stages of the product’s lifecycle, from raw material extraction to manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal. The above website can help or find another.
  3. Assess the environmental impacts at each stage (e.g., water usage, carbon emissions, waste generation).
  4. Develop something that visually represents the lifecycle and its environmental impacts. It can be a poster, PowerPoint, flyer, etc.
  5. Present your visual to the class, explaining your findings and suggesting ways to reduce the product’s environmental footprint in 3-5 minutes.

 

 

Activity 3: Textile Sustainability Report Analysis

Objective: Analyze and evaluate the sustainability reports of major textile companies.

Instructions:

  1. Pick a major textile or clothing company.
  2. Find and download the latest sustainability report from the company’s website.
  3. Evaluate the company’s sustainability initiatives, achievements, and future goals.
    • Assess the comprehensiveness and transparency of the report.
    • Answer questions such as these:
      • What is the mission statement or vision regarding sustainability in the company’s report?
      • How does the company define sustainability in the context of its operations?
      • What specific sustainability initiatives has the company implemented? How do these initiatives address environmental, social, and economic sustainability?
      • Are there any innovative practices or technologies the company is using to enhance sustainability?
      • What key achievements has the company highlighted in its sustainability report? How has the company measured its progress in these areas?
      • Are there any third-party certifications or awards mentioned in the report?
      • What future sustainability goals has the company set? Are these goals SMART specific, measurable, actionable, reasonable, and time-bound)?
      • How does the company plan to achieve these goals?
      • What challenges does the company acknowledge in achieving its sustainability goals?
      • Are there any areas where the company needs significant improvement?
      • How effective are the visuals (graphs, charts, images) in conveying the report’s information?
      • Is the report accessible and easy to understand for a diverse audience?
      • What is your overall impression of the company’s commitment to sustainability based on the report?
      • Would you consider this company a leader in sustainability within the textile industry? Why or why not?
    • Write a 3-5 paragraphs summary of your findings.
    • Include an evaluation of the company’s performance and suggestions for improvement.
  4. Present to the Class. Present your analysis to the class, highlighting key findings and recommendations.

 

Activity 4: Green Index Analysis of Fashion Sustainability Statements

Objective: Analyze how companies in the fashion and textile industry communicate their sustainability efforts, particularly after being accused of wasteful or unethical practices; evaluate whether companies genuinely improve sustainability or engage in greenwashing by promoting ethical materials (e.g., organic cotton, recycled polyester), sustainable production processes (e.g., water usage, carbon footprint), or claims about improving the environment with their profits; apply the  Greenwashing Index to fashion and textile industries.

Instructions:

To evaluate company claims, you will apply The Greenwashing Index, a tool designed to assess how truthful or misleading sustainability messaging is. See more here: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4715053 . This index examines:

  1. Misleading language or exaggeration – Does the company use vague or misleading terms like “eco-friendly” without clear evidence?
  2. Imagery that falsely implies sustainability – Are there nature-based visuals or colors that create an illusion of sustainability?
  3. Lack of transparency – Does the company fail to provide concrete data or third-party certifications to back up its claims?
  4. Irrelevance – Is the company highlighting sustainability in ways that are insignificant or unrelated to its overall impact?
  5. Best Practices – Is the company genuinely improving sustainability with concrete, measurable actions?

As you analyze your selected case study, consider how these factors apply to the company’s sustainability messaging.

A. Case Study Options: Sustainability and Greenwashing in Fashion

Select one of the following companies and view their websites. Find a sustainability statement or report. Then use the Greenwashing Index above to assess their sustainability claims:

  1. Patagonia vs. Shein – Authentic Sustainability vs. Fast Fashion Greenwashing
  2. Levi’s Water<Less Campaign – Can Small Efficiency Improvements Justify Sustainability Claims?
  3. H&M’s Conscious Collection – Is It Genuinely Sustainable or a Marketing Tactic?
    • H&M: https://www2.hm.com/en_us/sustainability-at-hm.html
  4. Adidas vs. Allbirds – How Do Different Shoe Brands Approach Carbon Neutrality?
    • Adidas: https://www.adidas.com/sustainability
    • Allbirds: https://www.allbirds.com/pages/sustainability
  5. Natural Dyes vs. Synthetic Dyes – How Do Companies Communicate Dyeing Processes?
  6. Luxury Brands and Fur Alternatives – How Do High-End Brands Like Gucci or Stella McCartney Present Sustainability?
  7. Deadstock Fabric and Upcycling – Do Brands Effectively Communicate Circular Fashion Strategies?
    • Re/Done: https://shopredone.com/pages/sustainability
  8. Zara and Inditex’s ‘Join Life’ Collection – Does This Initiative Truly Make Zara’s Supply Chain Sustainable, or Is It Greenwashing?
    • Zara: https://www.zara.com/us/en/sustainability-l1449.html
  1. Boohoo’s ‘Sustainable’ Line and the UK Labor Scandal – Can a Brand with Labor Exploitation Issues Claim to Be Sustainable?
    • Boohoo: https://www.boohooplc.com/sustainability
  1. Bangladesh Garment Factories and Worker Safety – How Do Brands Like Primark, H&M, and Nike Communicate Improvements After the Rana Plaza Disaster?
  1. The ‘Made in Italy’ Label and Sustainability Myths – Do Luxury Brands Mislead Consumers by Implying High Ethical Standards When Some Production Still Involves Exploited Labor?
    • Various Italian Luxury Brands: Explore how “Made in Italy” labeling is used across brands like Prada, Gucci, and others.
  1. Secondhand and Resale Platforms (ThredUp, Vestiaire Collective, Poshmark) – Do Resale Markets Actually Promote Sustainability, or Do They Encourage Overconsumption?
  1. Vegan Leather vs. Traditional Leather – How Do Brands Justify Plant-Based Leather as Sustainable Despite Concerns About Plastic Content?
    • Mylo (Bolt Threads): https://boltthreads.com/technology/mylo
    • Piñatex: https://www.ananas-anam.com/pinatex

B. Write Your Analysis

Answer the following in 3-5 sentences:

  1. What sustainability claims does the company make?
  2. Are these claims backed up by real data and transparency?
  3. Using the Greenwashing Index, do you believe the company is genuine, misleading, or engaging in full greenwashing?
  4. How effective is the company’s sustainability communication?
  5. What recommendations would you make to improve its messaging?

C. Present Your Analysis

Share the above answers to the class in a short presentation (1-3 minutes). Pay attention to your classmates’ responses about other case studies. Compare your reaction to the case to their reaction(s). Ask a question, challenge their assumptions, or provide additional insights in a short paragraph (2-4 sentences) for each presentation.

Possible Rubric for Activity 4

Criteria Exceeds Expectations (2.5) Meets Expectations (2) Approaching Expectations (1.5) Below Expectations (1 or below)
1. Critical Thinking & Case Study Evaluation Thoroughly examines the company’s sustainability claims using strong logic, the Greenwashing Index, and insight; offers original or nuanced observations Answers all guiding questions with reasonable depth and shows a clear grasp of the case and key issues Responses are brief or surface-level, with limited critical insight or weak application of the Greenwashing Index Misinterprets case details or misses key analysis; little to no application of critical thinking or Greenwashing Index
2. Written Analysis Clearly and concisely addresses all five questions with well-organized, error-free writing that demonstrates clarity and depth All five questions answered with mostly clear writing and minimal errors Missing one or more answers; writing lacks clarity, organization, or contains noticeable errors Answers are unclear, incomplete, or very poorly written
3. Presentation Delivery Shares analysis confidently within time limits, engaging the audience with clear speaking, structure, and tone Presents within time limit with clear delivery and appropriate content Presentation is rushed, disorganized, or lacks clarity or confidence Does not present or fails to communicate key points effectively
4. Peer Engagement & Listening Actively engages with multiple classmates’ presentations by writing thoughtful responses (2–4 sentences each) that question, compare, or add insight Responds to each classmate with relevant and clear engagement (e.g., a comparison or question) Incomplete or superficial responses to classmates; lacks reflection or critical engagement Fails to listen actively or does not submit any responses to classmates’ presentations

 

 

License

Communicating Environmental Sustainability in Business for Global Audiences Copyright © by Marie Moreno. All Rights Reserved.

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