Sustainability Consumer Campaign: Overview

Textiles and clothing are a fundamental part of everyday life and an important sector in the global economy. This learning path explores how the principles of the circular economy can be applied to the fashion industry, beginning by covering why the fashion industry of today is not fit for purpose.

From the Catholic Education Office:
Many products we buy come from producers who use child labour and forced labour, often involving trafficked children and adults. If these workers are not slaves, they live and work in slavery-like conditions, often unsanitary and dangerous conditions, for less than the minimum wage.

We know this is particularly rife in the production of coffee, cocoa and tea.

At the beginning of this century there was a call for external certification as a way to improve the production and supply chains of these and other products.

From the Catholic Education Office:
To support you in becoming a slavery-free school, below is a list of suppliers where you can purchase delicious slavery-free-certified tea, coffee and drinking chocolate for your staffroom.

A circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

With the global population predicted to approach 9 billion people by 2030, we are using more resources than the planet can provide. Our future depends on reusing what we have in a sustainable way. Fortunately one resource that is unlimited is innovation, and many companies are developing ingenious ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.