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Explain how there is an inequality around workers rights in fast fashion 

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Explain how there is an inequality around workers rights in fast fashion 

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Discuss in groups workers rights and how are shopping may impact these rights 

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Discuss in groups workers rights and how are shopping may impact these rights 

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Discuss in groups how packaging may effect sustainability 

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Discuss in groups how packaging may effect sustainability 

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Discuss in groups if these workers have access to education 

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Discuss in groups if these workers have access to education 

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Learning  Outcomes

2.4 + 3.11

Learning Intentions

Students learn about their rights as an employee

Students learn how to protect their rights

Students learn how rights differ across the globe

Students learn how the impact of our choices may effect workers rights globally

How might stiumulus be used in class?

Students watch the video and choose a side for a debate - Is the Indian government justified in temporarilt suspending workers rights.

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Indian workers' rights suspended to restart the economy

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Have a class debate on the use of electric cars and their impact substituting fossil fuels. 

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Have a class debate on the use of electric cars and their impact substituting fossil fuels. 

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Discuss Patagonia model and enlightened approach to fashion and do you think more business could model this approach 

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Discuss Patagonia model and enlightened approach to fashion and do you think more business could model this approach 

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Evaluate the environmental impact of fast fashion 

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Evaluate the environmental impact of fast fashion 

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Learning Outcomes
- 1.9, 2.5 and 3.10

Learning Intentions
- Investigate the benefits of different energy sources along with consumer rights.
- Debate the importance of the change towards renewable energy.
- Present information from stimulus in different methods E.g poster, Powerpoint etc.

How might Stimulus be used?
- The video discusses clean energy use in Ireland, students can use stimulus to inform their opinion on the introduction of clean energy in Ireland.

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Ireland's first large-scale solar opens in Co Antrim

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IKEA Sustainable living - Bing video

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Food Waste causes Climate Change. Here's how we stop it. - YouTube

Learning outcomes - 3.1 Explain how the scarcity of economic resource results in individuals having to make choices, predict possible consequences of their choices

Learning intentions - the impact on the climate when food is wasted, the impact of excess shopping and the importance of buying local

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Food Waste causes Climate Change. Here's how we stop it.

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The economic policy of sustainable development locally supporting local businesses

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Learning Outcomes:
1.9 & 2.4

Learning intentions:
1. Students will learn about the impact of consumer behaviour on others -locally, nationally & globally.

2. Students will learn about the impact that businesses have on the environment through the production, packaging and delivery of their products.

3. Students will learn about how consumer choices and consumer power can influence the provision of goods and services.

4. Students will evaluate how they can contribute to sustainable development.

How might the stimulus be used in class?
This video provides a great introduction to 'The Sustainable Consumer'. It introduces the topic and highlights the importance of making sustainable choices.

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HowTo | Initial plunge towards sustainable packaging

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1.7, 1.9 &2.5

Learning intentions:
Students will learn about consumer rights and responsibilities.
Students will analyse the impact consumer choice has on the world in the production and manufacturing of goods.
Students will learn about the positive and negative impacts a business can have from both an environmental and economic perspective.

Stimulus:
Students watch the video

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HowTo | Initial plunge towards sustainable packaging

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learning outcomes 1.9 Educating consumers

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learning outcomes 1.9 Educating consumers

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Educating people on the global supply chain logistics , to give consumers an informed decision on their purchases

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Nike- Unethical practises (documentary) 4 minutes long. Looks into workers having to give up their passports, sign contracts in different languages and in debt as a result of these contracts. They have no way of escape- they are a supplier for Nike.

Learning Outcomes:
2.4 Distinguish between the rights and responsibilities of employer and employee from a legal, social, environmental and ethical perspective

How might I use this Stimulus Material in Class:
1) Walking Debate questions- getting students up and walking around.
- Would this stop you from buying from Nike?

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JUST DO IT! Human trafficking in Nike's sweatshop factory in Malaysia

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Look at this business on Instagram. How does this business encourage sustainability?

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Meade.

Sustainability is central to every single decision we make

Plastic Free, all our boxes are. We have a plastic free grocery aisle.

Circular economy, we collect and reuse our boxes.

There are no chemicals on our food.

We have planted nearly 5000 trees, and every year we add to this. We plant strips of wild flowers for the bees, we have 6 beehives.

Ethical. We source food that has been produced sustainably (organically) and Fairtrade where possible. Our sourcing policy is simple: We grow it, We source it from other local organic farmers, then Irish organic farms, then European organic farms. We never airfreight and if it is available in Ireland we will do our best to source it here.

We power our packing shed with solar electricity from our roof.

We collect our rainwater to water our polytunnels.

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Green Earth Organics is a 30 acre organic vegetable farm located just outside of Galway City, Ireland. We deliver locally in Galway, Mayo, Limerick and Dublin for only €3.50 (depending on your address) and also nationwide via courier. Most of our customers join our box scheme and receive a seasonal box of fruit and veg delivered to them automatically every week.

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LOs : 1.9 and 2.5
Learning Intentions:
Explain what it means to be an ethical consumer
Outline the concept of sustainability
Debate the ethical/sustainability issues arising from consumption of goods and services

How might stimulus be used?

Introduction to discussion on stakeholder v shareholder and the impacts of consumer choice

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INVESTORS ATTACK BOOHOO EXPLAINED // Boohoo Faces Investors Attack over ESG Concerns

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Discuss the factors a business should consider when choosing the packaging for their product.

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https://youtu.be/kSvT02q4h40

Quick YouTube video that looks at how Apple workers were treated unfairly. Made to work for 18 days straight and made to work in poor conditions

Learning Outcome - 2.4

Discuss the rights that are broken. Discuss the options available to the workers

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Apple accused of failing to protect workers

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1.1, 1.2, 1.9, 3.1, 3.2. 3.3,3.10
-looking at the costs involved in installing panels and the benefits to the environment as well as your pocket.
-Are they becoming a need, with soaring energy costs??
-How would you finance them, how many years payback?
-Availability of Government grants and the recent cut in these grants

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Fuel and electricity prices are going through the roof. There is one thing you can do, and help the planet while you're at it - put in solar panels

Fuel and electricity prices are going through the roof. There is one thing you can do, and help the planet while you're at it - put in solar panels.

If I already have oil or gas for my heating and water, can solar play with that system?"It can play beautifully with storage heaters," says Mr Cooper. "Otherwise, you can put the immersion heater in the hot water cylinder and heat it with a diverter, which would take the load off the boiler, whether it's oil or gas.

"But in the long term, those oil and gas boilers are probably on the way out, so you should be thinking along those lines anyway."If I don't have a south-facing part of my roof, should I bother?Panels placed on an easterly or westerly have around 25pc less power generation than a south-facing roof, according to most experts. If you only have a north-facing pitch, you'll get well under 50pc and experts say it's comparatively not worth it.

What's the difference between what you'll get in summer and winter?A sunny day on December 21 will produce about 25pc of the energy of a sunny day on June 21. It's a sliding scale between those dates."My 1.75kWp system in Cork generates up to 12.5kWh per day in the summer and as little as 0.25kWh per day in winter," says Mr Cooper. "But the maximum daily output last January was 4.5kWh while the minimum last June was 2.2kWh. It's varying all the time." headtopics.com

Read more: Independent.ie "

Thousands set to Climb With Charlie this weekend

Thousands of people all over Ireland will climb mountains and hills this Saturday as part of the Climb With Charlie project - brainchild of former RTÉ Chief News Correspondent Charlie Bird. Read more >>

Let them eat cake.

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Seeing the light on solar panels - could they shield us from soaring energy bills?

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Fuel and electricity prices are going through the roof. There is one thing you can do, and help the planet while you're at it - put in solar panels Fuel and electricity prices are going through the roof. There is one thing you can do, and help the planet while you're at it - put in solar panels.

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Learning Intention:
- Students will learn about the environmental impact of single use plastic/packaging.
- Students will reflect on their purchasing habits and the impact it has on the environment.
- Students will learn how some businesses are trying to run their business more sustainably & reduce plastic packaging.
- Students will learn how they can shop more sustainably.

How might I use this stimulus in class:
- Show video & student answer questions using question quadrant
- Students carry out research online to find other companies that are making efforts to reduce plastic packaging. Share findings with class.
- Students draft a checklist for how to shop sustainably

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Iceland becomes first UK supermarket to announce end of plastic packaging

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A simple, easy to watch video to educate our students on the difficulties faced by students around the world accessing education.

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Open Access E- Resources for Learning Teaching & Research

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Ensuring Sustainability in Car Manufacturing - UK

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Ensuring Sustainability in Car Manufacturing - UK

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Educating students on how the motor industry is delivering efficiency and achieving sustainability targets in the UK.

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sustainability in car manufacturing - Bing video

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Road to Success - Optimizing Automotive Development with designaffairs, Zielpuls and E...

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The costs and benefits of the development of Greenways in Ireland

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The costs and benefits of the development of Greenways in Ireland

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60rvGTivRgc

Learning Outcomes:
3.2 Explain how individuals, organisations and and the government work together to distribute economic resources used to produce goods and services

3.11 evaluate the benefits and costs of a government economic policy and assess who enjoy the benefits and who bears the cost

1.9 evaluate how they can contribute to sustainable development through their own consumer behaviour

Learning intentions:
Students will explain how different groups come together in an enterprising manner to create an amenity from something unused- utilising one of our resources LAND  to benefit society, the economy and the environment

Student will evaluate if the money spent developing Greenways to date is worth it and should this policy be continued (Opportunity Cost)

How:
Discuss and document what groups come together on these projects- who benefits and how? And ewho bears the cost and how is it paid for?   Poster in groups

Decision Tree activity on opportunity Cost to evaluate the benefits.

Personal- will they use the Greenway in the future- if so what are substituting out (not doing) are they contributing to sustainable development by doing so?

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A simple explanation of this term with regard to all of the topics in this padlet.

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Learning Outcome:
Evaluate how students can contribute to sustainable development through consumer behaviour

Learning Intention:
Students will discuss issues about consumer behaviour towards 'transport'

Students will debate 'clean transport' as a sustainable industry.

Students will reflect on the idea's discussed in the video documentary 'Eco Eye - Clean Sustainable Transport Infrastructure'

Students will identify the impact of 'Clean Sustainable Transport Infrastructure' on consumer choice & behaviour.

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Learning outcomes
- 1.9, 2.4, 2.5. Could also bring in 1.1 and 1.7

Learning intention:
-Students will be able to explain what fast fashion is.
-Students will be able to describe the impact of fast fashion on the environment.
-Student will be able to reflect on their own spending and link with L.O 1.1.
- Students will be able to list their rights and responsibilities as a consumer and refer back to the video (L.O 1.7)

Stimulus:
-Introduce the topic.
-Have a worksheet handed out before watching the video.
-Get students to write down where they shop most.
- Start video and complete the worksheet.
- Class discussion- what have they taken from the video and has it influenced them.
- Go over answers on the worksheet.

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The Problem With Fast Fashion | Teen Vogue

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Limit flooding by developing sustainable gardens - a school project

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Limit flooding by developing sustainable gardens - a school project

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A lovely idea for any school or community with flooding problems. Help student to see that small actions can have big results - encourage them to see that sustainability gives us achievable goals.

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Stopping Flooding With Sustainable Gardens | Bang Goes The Theory | Earth Lab

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Learning Outcomes

1.9 and 2.5

Learning Intentions

I will learn about consumer responsibilities

I will reflect on the impact of my shopping.

I will learn about the impact businesses have on the environment through the production of clothes.

How might you use this stimulus material in class?

This video provides a great introduction to Fast Fashion - defining the problem and outlining the role of social and financial organisations in the industry.

Support resources: the question quadrant provides open and closed questions to support student discussion.

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Learning outcome: 1.9

Learning intentions:
- Explain the term fast fashion
- Outline the environmental issues of cheap clothes

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Is fast fashion destroying our environment?

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Learning Outcomes:
1.7 and 2.4

Learning Intentions:

1. Understand what is meant by the term "fast fashion"​

2. Understand what happens in sweatshops and how they violate the pillars of sustainability​

3. Analyse methods taken by fashion businesses to end 'fast fashion'​

4. Understand what individuals can do end 'fast fashion'

Class stimulus:
- First video is an undercover investigative piece where a journalist enters a sweatshop and interviews an employee. Highlights the brands which are guilty of using sweatshops in their production. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tf6qc51Kbw

- Second video shows how H&M are trying to tackle the issue of Fast Fashion, in the context of the three pillars of sustainability.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY4FeUYMFzM

- I would then give students the template of a decision tree and a specific situation regarding Fast Fashion and ask them to come to a conclusion.

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Undercover: The Refugees Who Make Our Clothes (Panorama) - BBC News

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Learning outcome:
1.9 & 2.1 ** link to social enterprise

Learning Intention:
- Students learn about the role of Social Enterprise in society.
- Students will learn about the impact of Food Waste.
- Students will learn about two young female social entrepreneurs who set up Food Cloud to reduce food waste.
- Students will reflect on their food consumption/waste and discuss ways to reduce food waste.

How might stimulus be used:
- Show video & students answer Q on question quadrant

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FoodCloud: Transforming Surplus into Opportunity

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Learning outcomes
- 3.10

Learning intentions
- Students will learn the different ways the government receives income
- Students will complete a cost-benefit analysis for the government funding the repair of roads after flooding
- Students will look at the opportunity cost of funding the repair of roads after flooding

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Wexford has been allocated almost €24m in funding to help protect and renew regional and local roads across the county in 2022.

he figure of €23,749,787 includes €4m which has been specifically earmarked for the repair and maintenance of roads impacted by the floods which wrought havoc across Wexford on Christmas Day of last year.

A further €603,000 will be used for bridge rehabilitation, €631,000 for climate change adaptation and resilience works, and €744,632 will go towards drainage works.

Announcing the funding, Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, said: "The main priority in 2022 continues to be the protection and renewal of the existing regional and local road network. Last year I introduced a climate change adaptation grant for works on roads at risk due to the impact of climate change and severe weather events. Specific provision of €4m has been made to assist Wexford County Council with road repair works arising from the flooding event that occurred in Wexford on Christmas Day."

Among the areas to benefit from climate change adaptation works are the R730 at Ferrycarrig where the road will be raised to prevent further instances of flooding (€165,000), Rochestown, where works to address the undersized culvert will be carried out (€60,000), and Kiltra, where the sea wall will be restored at a cost of €85,000.

Bridge rehabilitation works will be carried out at the Kiltrea Bridge, Enniscorthy (€50,000), Cherryorchard Bridge, Enniscorthy (€40,000), Kiltillahan Bridge, Gorey (€45,000), and Crossabeg Bridge (€75,000), and a number of locations across the county.

"Bridge rehabilitation work is consistently required to maintain and renew an old bridge stock which is made up of approximately 80 per cent masonry arch structures," said Minister Ryan.

Safety improvement works will be carried out at the junction at the monument, Gorey (€40,000), the Rock of Ballingly (€35,000), Mulgannon Hill (€35,000), and Limerick Junction in Kilanerin (€30,000) among others.

Minister Ryan also confirmed that a new two year work programme under the Community Involvement Scheme is starting this year with €15m being allocated to the scheme in 2022.

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€4m in funding to repair Wexford roads damaged by Christmas Day flooding

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Wexford has been allocated almost €24m in funding to help protect and renew regional and local roads across the county in 2022. he figure of €23,749,787 includes €4m which has been specifically earmarked for the repair and maintenance of roads impacted by the floods which wrought havoc across Wexford on Christmas Day of last year.

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Learning Outcomes:
1.7, 1.9 & 1.10

Learning Intentions:

To define the term "Fast Fashion"

To understand the impact of consumer choice on people, the environment and the economy

Stimulus
Open question on what is their understanding of fast fashion
Show the video "True Cost Trailer" & using a post it note, write down key points from the video
Students check their belongings for where they were made
Using a marker they pinpoint on the whiteboard, on the map of the world to show how far their garments have travelled

Materials:
- True Cost documentary/trailer
- Map of the world
- Powerpoint
Anita D.

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The True Cost Official Trailer 1 (2015) - Documentary HD

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YouTube is becoming more like normal television

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Learning Outcomes: 1.9/ 3.6                            Students will learn about sustainability in terms of packaging,Consumer and ethic responsibilities.  

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Learning Outcomes: 1.9/ 3.6                            Students will learn about sustainability in terms of packaging,Consumer and ethic responsibilities.  

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Stimulus: -Students to bring different Types of packaging in from home for a group discussion.
-Different themes under packaging such as:
Food/Drinks/Clothing/Electrical/Homeware.
-Discuss the type of material used in the packaging-can we reuse? up-cycle?
-Create a poster on different companies packaging and go to their website and see their sustainability section on the website.

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LO; 1.1 needs and wants 1.9 sustainability issues from consumption of good and service
LI; Identify needs/wants in urban and rural areas. How has technology improved infrastructure and business. The environmental impact that transport has.
Stimulus material - see link
Read the document attached and discuss how rail has helped in the transport of people, goods and services, Look at needs and wants of people in an area/facilities available. The effect on the environment that railways have pollution etc. Other topics that could be looked at as revision; Types of ownership - state owned/privatisation. Grant aid, EU grants for infrastructure, Government spending/budget for transport. Compare transportation costs/methods etc.

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Iarnród Éireann Projects and Investments

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Iarnród Éireann Projects and Investments

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Sustainable alternatives to Fast Fashion

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Sustainable alternatives to Fast Fashion

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Learning Outcomes:
2.4, 1.2, 2.2

Learning intentions:
Students will be able to define and explain fact fashion.
Students will be able to give an example of an alternative to fast fashion.

Stimulus:

The Little Loop website (This company offers an alternative to fast fashion using a subscription based service, pay a set fee, get correct sized baby clothes, return when finished)

Dragon's Den Sales Pitch for The Little Loop - students can watch the video and link it in with how to present a sales pitch (CBA)

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Fair Trade -  Ben & Jerry's how practice supports workers in Uganda

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Fair Trade -  Ben & Jerry's how practice supports workers in Uganda

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Learning Outcomes 1.1, 1.9 and 2.4

Learning Intentions
1. Investigate how my needs and wants impact on others
2. Discuss the ethical and sustainable issues in relation to this clip..
3. What are my responsibilities in relation to future purchases

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Episode 1: Fair Trade Uganda | Ben & Jerry's

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Learning Outcomes
1.7 & 1.9

Learning Intentions
Students learn about ethical consumption
Students learn about their responsibilities as consumers

Stimulus Material

Video showing clothing factory in Bangladesh making clothes for Wrangler and Asics using child labour in very poor conditions
This video could generate a discussion around child labour
Why are these children not in school?
By purchasing these brands are we supporting this?
If companies outlawed child labour would we pay more for clothes ?

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Undercover in a Bangladesh clothing factory

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Learning Outcomes 1.7, 1.9, 2.4, 3.6
Learning intentions:
Consumer responsibilities
Positive and negative impact of business from social, environment perspective

Stimulus: MITZ and Mars Trash-to-Treasure Project
Shop Products https://www.mitz.org.mx/collections/bolsas-y-carteras/Bolsas-y-Carteras

How to use:
Identify sustainable development Goals addressed through this project
Choose favourite brands and evaluate how these brands could try implement a similar strategy, support system

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Mexico's biggest garbage dump lies in the outskirts of Mexico City. In the nearby sunny offices of MITZ, a group of female artisans - many who once relied on the landfill for survival - are putting the trash to good use.

MITZ, from the ancient Nahuatl word meaning "for you," is a nonprofit organization benefitting local female artisans who use industrial waste packaging, like our candy wrappers, to create fun, colorful products including handbags, wallets, notebooks and key rings. You can buy the one-of-a-kind items on MITZ's website and in boutiques around the world, including our M&M'S® stores in London, New York City, Las Vegas, and most recently in Shanghai.

One artisan, Gaby, says she was really struggling before she began her work with MITZ. "The opportunity has brought me enormous personal development," she says, "including the chance to be independent, and find great women and friends who also want to pursue their dreams. Now I value myself. I own myself. I love being part of MITZ."

The women of MITZ are working to "tejer un porvenir" - "weave a future."

Judy Romano de Achar founded MITZ in 2003 and we joined two years later to offer financial backing and exposure through international marketing. "The relationship between Mars and MITZ is an incredible example of what the union of wills from different sectors can achieve in the face of social challenge," Judy says.

Profits from the handcraft sales fund scholarships at a local Montessori school for the artisans' children. Thanks to their success, MITZ has granted 4,875 scholarships worth $139,000 to children from impoverished families living in the marginalized community of Palo Solo ravine.

"We're recycling our packaging while we help improve the quality of life for many women and their families. It's a win-win equation. Projects like this make me deeply proud to work at Mars."

- Paulina Ruiz Lang, External Communication Manager, Mars Wrigley Mexico

All our operations in Mexico at Mars Wrigley and Mars Petcare collect excess packaging, which MITZ uses as raw materials to "upcycle" their creations. The project won an Energy Globe Award recently for being an "environmental changemaker" dedicated to helping save our planet.

Our collaboration is living proof that demonstrates how The Five Principles in action help the communities where we live and work. At Mars and MITZ, we're convinced that working as a team to achieve better moments makes the world smile.

"Through collective impact we're able to transform the lives of others," Judy says. "Let's continue giving more women the opportunity to dignify their lives and those of their families through education, empowerment and caring for the planet."
Interested in learning more about the great work MITZ is doing in Mexico? Check out www.mitz.org.mx. Think Mars might be just the place where you can put your passion to work? Come join us!

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MITZ and Mars Celebrate Success With Trash-to-Treasure Project | Mars, Incorporated

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Mexico's biggest garbage dump lies in the outskirts of Mexico City. In the nearby sunny offices of MITZ, a group of female artisans - many who once relied on the landfill for survival - are putting the trash to good use.

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Learning Outcome
Students to show an awareness and understanding of the impact of cheap labour  on individuals and communities in 2nd and 3 world countries

Learning Intention
To create a social awareness around the issue of cheap labour.

Activities

Youtube link attached:

Group work:
Break class into small groups of 4 or 5 and ask each group to identify products they may be familiar with that might have used cheap labour to produce.

Class discussion:
How do we contribute to and support cheap labour in less well off countries?

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Indonesian workers protest cheap labour policy

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Learning Outcomes
2.4 Distinguish between the rights of employer and employee from a legal, social, environmental and ethical perspective.

Learning Intentions
Students will learn about the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees
Students will learn how their needs have an impact on others
Students will discuss social responsibility

How I might use this stimulus
- Class discussion about where we purchase our clothes
- Are students aware of any ethically sourced brands
-Read article - think, pair, share in groups
- Does this article change your mind about purchasing from Shein, Zara, H&M etc, are Shein acting responsibily with regard to employee rights.

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Workers for some suppliers of the Chinese fashion giant Shein are doing excessive overtime, a non-governmental organisation has suggested.

A number of staff across six sites in Guangzhou were found to be working 75-hour weeks in a report by Swiss advocacy group Public Eye.

David Hachfeld of Public Eye said there was "enormous pressure" on staff to turn clothes around quickly.

Shein said it takes supply chain issues seriously and will review the report.

Public Eye's researchers visited 17 factories supplying Shein and its parent company Zoetop, near the Shein headquarters in Guangzhou. The organisation typically campaigns on big Swiss businesses and their dealings abroad.

It interviewed 10 workers across six of those sites, which were solely receiving orders from Shein at the time.

They reported that the workers they spoke to clocked three shifts per day, often with only one day off a month.

Public Eye suggests the fact that workers, mainly migrants, are paid per item of clothing encourages them to work long hours.

Although such hours aren't unusual in Chinese production hubs, they violate local labour laws, which set out a maximum working day of eight hours, as well as a 40-hour working week.

Shein said: "Upon learning of the report, we immediately requested a copy and when we receive and review the report, we will initiate an investigation.

"We have a strict supplier Code of Conduct which includes stringent health and safety policies and is in compliance with local laws. If non-compliance is identified we will take immediate action," the spokesperson said.

Public Eye launched an investigation into Shein, which works with thousands of suppliers, last year in a bid to find out more about the fashion giant's structure.

The private company does not disclose financial figures, but its sales are thought to have soared during the pandemic with consumers making more of online shopping. Data provider CB Insights estimates that revenues topped 63.5bn yuan (£7.4bn) in 2020.

So-called "fast-fashion" companies, who offer low price clothing, have faced scrutiny over their supply chains.

Victoria Bellandini, senior fashion lecturer at the University of Lincoln said: "You cannot get clothes that cheap that are made in good working conditions and until we really know where our clothes are coming from, we can't source these problems".

She said: "Big brands say they check their suppliers but so much of this is farmed out to cheaper factories, meaning there is a widespread lack of transparency behind industry standards,

"The fashion industry is changing to a certain extent at the higher end level but this isn't happening for cheaper clothes brands".

The online-only fast fashion giant

£1.50 tops, £10 midi skirts - and even a £30 wedding dress.

Shein is winning over young shoppers in the US, UK, Europe and Australia by producing fast fashion even faster, and often at cheaper prices, than its rivals Boohoo or Asos.

It's been operating in its current form since 2013. The company relies on thousands of third-party suppliers in China to produce small batches of clothes, about 50-100 per item.

If the items do well with its trend-conscious customers? Shein orders more from its suppliers. If not, it's discontinued.

Shein has accelerated the "test and repeat" model, made famous by the likes of Zara owner Inditex and H&M. Just 6% of Shein's inventory remains in stock for more than 90 days.

Mr Hachfeld, who is also the director of the Clean Clothes Campaign in Switzerland, suggested that the long hours observed were "directly linked" to the piece-rate system, which is widespread in China.

"If you have that without implementing checks on limits... that automatically leads to high working hours because workers need to make their living."

He added: "It's striking to see that a company with such big influence and huge turnover is apparently not yet acting on its responsibility to ensure that pay rates are at a level where you can make a good living within normal working hours."

In a "good month" several workers said that they might make up to 10,000 Yuan (£1,186). In slow months, their pay could be two-thirds lower.

Some also claimed that they were working without a contract, the Public Eye report says, although workers generally said that they were paid on time.

Shein in numbers

6,000 new items added daily

£7.90 average item cost

250 million followers on social media

200 in-house designers of more than 7,000 employees

25 day turnaround time for a piece of clothing

The NGO also visited the 16 million square foot Shein warehouse on the outskirts of Guangzhou, where it ships its clothes from. About one dozen employees interviewed there said they worked similar, long, hours.

At one supplier site, researchers also found that there were no emergency exits and barred windows, which could prove fatal in the event of a fire.

The fast fashion firm outlines a code of conduct for suppliers on its US website.

It says that they must "provide a safe, hygienic and healthy workplace environment" and that working hours should comply with local laws and regulations.

As well as thousands of smaller suppliers along its supply chain, the e-retailer uses 200 contract manufacturers.

The BBC understands that the company performs quarterly assessments of its suppliers, sometimes involving external auditors.

But the business model has raised concerns among politicians in the UK.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat previously told the BBC "when the price is too good you have to ask who is really paying and how".

The production and promotion of its crop tops and bikinis on social media has raised questions among environmentalists too.

Shein insists that its method of producing clothes in small batches is more efficient and that little goes to waste. It also points out on its website that it wants to source more recycled fabrics and uses printing technology that is less polluting than traditional screen printing for graphics and patterns.

But Roberta Lee, a sustainable fashion stylist, has suggested that the company preys "on the fears of outfit repetition syndrome", with pieces likely to be discarded to landfill after a matter of weeks.

While Public Eye says that it would like to see stronger regulation of the fast fashion industry, "taking a slower approach to fashion consumption and making the next click count is a good place to start", according to Mr Hachfeld.

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Shein suppliers' workers doing 75-hour week, finds probe

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Workers for some suppliers of the Chinese fashion giant Shein are doing excessive overtime, a non-governmental organisation has suggested. A number of staff across six sites in Guangzhou were found to be working 75-hour weeks in a report by Swiss advocacy group Public Eye.

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Learning Outcomes:
1.7 and 1.9

Learning Intentions:
That consumers have responsibilities as well as rights.
Understand business ethics and corporate social responsibilities.

Material:
Case study:  https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/company-profile/amazoncom-inc

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Amazon is known for its shameless tax avoidance, workers' rights abuses, environmental impacts and much more. The company has been the subject of an Ethical Consumer global boycott call since 2012.

We've summarised the key ethical issues to consider when it comes to Amazon.

How ethical is Amazon?

Our research highlights many ethical issues for Amazon, including: climate change, environmental reporting, habitats & resources, pollutions and toxics, arms & military supply human rights, worker's rights, supply chain management, irresponsible marketing, animal rights, animal testing, factory farming, palm oil sourcing, cotton sourcing, timber sourcing, use of controversial technologies, political activities and anti-social finance.

Below we outline some of these issues. To see the full detailed stories, and Amazon's overall ethical rating, please sign in or subscribe.

Anti-social finance

Monumental tax avoidance

We launched a boycott of Amazon in 2012 over its tax avoidance. This was called because in 2011, as the world's biggest online retailer, Amazon generated UK sales of £2.9bn yet paid only £1.8m in corporation tax. The correct figure should have been over £8 million at the full rate of corporation tax at that time.

Things have become much worse since then.

In 2021, fuelled by the pandemic, Amazon reported a near 200-percent rise in profits, yet taxes paid by the company barely increased on the previous years.

Research by Ethical Consumer has calculated that, in 2021, up to half a billion pounds (£500,000,000) could have been lost to the UK public purse from the corporation tax avoidance of Amazon. It is likely that the same amount would have been lost in 2022.

To make matters even worse, it was reported in June 2023 that Amazon received a tax credit of £7.7m. This means that in 2022, Amazon's main UK division not only avoided paying taxes, it took from the pot that tax-payers filled.

Excessive director's pay

Amazon also lost a mark for excessive director's payment. According to its latest annual report, Amazon's CEO Andy Jassy received over $12 million in 2022.

An average warehouse worker in the UK earns just under £13 an hour.

People

Workers' rights

Amazon is renowned for its poor treatment of its workers.

On many occasions it has aggressively opposed unionisation and organising efforts at its warehouses. Trying to prevent collective bargaining within its workforce, the company has reportedly spent $14 million on anti-union consultants in 2022.

Amazon workers in Coventry, supported by labour union GMB, carried out strikes over pay in 2023 in both April and in July.

In October 2021, 1400 UK delivery drivers sued Amazon seeking employment rights, including minimum wage and holiday pay. In March 2023 Amazon tried to dismiss the lawsuit but a judge ruled that it could proceed.

Amazon suppliers don't receive better treatment either from the company. This year, for the first time Amazon was listed in the UK's Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) survey. The GCA is responsible for encouraging, monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Code and thus for regulating the relationships between the UK's largest grocery retailers and their direct suppliers. Perhaps unsurprisingly Amazon jumped straight to the last place of the list with almost four times as many accusations of code violations as the next company up.

Human rights

Amazon sources conflict minerals and cotton without adequately stringent policies for protecting human rights, which is concerning because these products are at risk of being sourced from places where human rights abuses occur, including Turkmenistan (in the cotton sector) and the Democratic Republic of Congo ( conflict minerals). Much more is needed than vague commitments to ensure the supply chain is free from violations.

Children's privacy violations

In June 2023 Amazon agreed to pay $25 million in fines to settle alleged privacy violations. These involved its voice assistant Alexa and doorbell camera Ring. US's Federal Trade Commission claims in one lawsuit that the tech company kept recordings of children's conversations with its voice assistant Alexa but failed to delete them - as it had promised it would - when parents asked it to do so.

Amazon agreed to pay another $5.8 million, because Ring had allowed employees and contractors to watch recordings of customers' private spaces, sometimes including bedrooms and bathrooms.

Environment

Timber

Although some of its furniture is Forest Stewardship Council certified, when we looked into this in April 2023 this wasn't true for all products. Amazon doesn't have an overarching timber policy which means that virgin forests may have been cut down for Amazon timber products.

Palm oil

The mass production of palm oil relies on the destruction of rainforests. This has wide ranging impacts including contributing to climate change, as well as loss of biodiversity and human rights.

Some of Amazon's products come from a physically certified supply chain but less than 50%, meaning that half of its palm is untraceable and could potentially be connected to abuses of rainforests and people.

Toxic chemicals

Amazon doesn't have any public policy covering the use of toxic chemicals in its electronics products. Substances, such as brominated flame retardants and polyvinyl chloride are widely used by electronics companies and have significant negative environmental impact when released after disposal.

In terms of cotton, Amazon has a commitment to "source all cotton for our Amazon Private Brands apparel products from more-sustainable sources by the end of 2022." It says that it intends to use cotton sourced for example from recycled materials, from farms certified as producing organic cotton, or through Better Cotton. But, it's 2023 now, and it doesn't look like that commitment has been fulfilled yet...

Cosmetics wise, it does prohibit the use of harmful chemicals triclosan and phthalates, and while it doesn't have a blanket ban on parabens it does prohibit use of a couple of the most commonly used parabens in cosmetics.

Animals

Amazon lost several marks for having no policy on animal testing, for selling products made of factory farmed animals and for selling live animals, such as lobsters on its website. Fur coats made of racoons, rabbits and chinchillas are also for sale on its website.

It prohibits listings relating to endangered species, but only in line with the law, so it's really doing the bare minimum when it comes to the wellbeing of other species.

More information on all these topics is on our Boycott Amazon page.

The text above was written on 21 July 2023.

Subscribe to see the full detailed stories about Amazon.

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Take the pledge and receive tips and support to keep you going during the month of avoiding Amazon. We give you alternatives and reasons why to avoid shopping with Amazon.

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How ethical is Amazon.com Inc? | Ethical Consumer

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Amazon is known for its shameless tax avoidance, workers' rights abuses, environmental impacts and much more. The company has been the subject of an Ethical Consumer global boycott call since 2012. We've summarised the key ethical issues to consider when it comes to Amazon.

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L.O 1.7 & 1.9

Learning Intentions:
Students will be able to...
- Understand the concept of climate change.
- Provide examples of causes of climate change
- Provide examples of ways individuals, business and government can help reduce the negative impacts on climate

Activities:
- Brainstorm climate change
- Watch 'Hot Air Ireland Climate Crisis' on RTE Player
- Students must record 8 pieces of information like statistics / causes / solutions shared on documentary
- Students provided with sample 'Letter to Local TD
- Computer class - find local TD and write email to them sharing information that they learned and asking local TD how are they promoting and supporting climate as part of their role in the local area.

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Learning outcomes:

To look at rights and responsibilities of both employers and employees from a legal, social, environmental and ethical point of view.

To understand the definition of employment

To define; Legal, environmental & ethical perspectives

Strand 2

2.3 Differentiate between employment, work and volunteerism,

Strand 2

2.4 Distinguish between the rights and responsibilities of employer and employee from a legal, social, environmental and ethical perspective

Resource 1  - three case studies from employer and employee perspectives

recap on definition of: Legal, environmental & ethical perspectives

Students read 3 case studies and review each perspective.

To link in 2.3 Students must also state the type of business in each case study

To link 2.4 Students must state if the employer is behaving responsible towards the employee / list the employees rights and state if they are being met.

Video on a Students rights and responsibilities

Reflection sheet on what their individual rights and responsibilities are.

Group discussion on what they believe their responsibilities are towards their employer

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Young workers: Your rights and responsibilities