THEME: FASHION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

THE NEED FOR CIRCULAR FASHION TEACHER’S NOTES

LESSON OVERVIEW
Theme: Fashion and the Environment
Functional language: using “but” and “that said” to express concession. Using compound adjectives
Overall Aims:
1. develop an awareness of the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
2. understand and learn vocabulary associated with recycling textile.
3. be able to find main ideas and supporting details in texts.

SPEAKING
1. With a partner, discuss the following questions.

a. What do you understand by recycling clothes?

b. What do you think would be the advantages of recycling our clothes?

c. What are the potential uses of these recycled materials?

KEY WORDS
NOTES ABOUT DEFINITIONS AND KEYWORDS SELECTION: This lesson includes a list of Keywords,
collocations and expressions based on the relevant CEFR level. While not extensive, they are theme-related and
are essential to understand, speak or write about the topic. Although there may be multiple definition of a word,
the definition given is based on the context it was used in the text or video. You may encourage students to
review these words and expressions on their own outside class times.

Read the following sentences and match the words and phrases in bold with their definitions a–J, in the
box provided. Then in pairs / groups, compare your answers.

TEACHER NOTE: The aim is to lead in to the lesson by activating students’ previous knowledge/experience.
Ask students to discuss the questions with a partner. If you are on an online platform, you can use the breakout
rooms. Give them around 5-7 minutes for this activity. Afterwards, hold a whole class discussion based on
students’ responses.

1. Resources are being redirected to this important new project. :e

to use something, in a different way or for a different purpose.

2. The quality of clothes is getting worst and worst! I tore a hole in my new jeans this morning. : j

1
Technical English worksheet (CEFR B2) © sweetlingua.com
 THEME: FASHION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

to damage something by pulling it apart or into pieces or by cutting it on something sharp; to become
damaged in this way.

3. Many farmers avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, that are not good for the environment. :g

artificial; made by combining chemical substances rather than being produced naturally by plants or
animals

4. She was born with brown hair but she dyed her hair blonde. :a

to change the colour of something, especially by using a special liquid or substance.

5. Animal fats are a by-product of meat production and cooking. :i

something that is produced indirectly from something else

6. A cotton blend is another way of referring to a shirt that's made from 80% cotton and 20% polyester.
:b

to produce something by mixing different types together.

7. Her singing career took off after her TV appearance. : h

to become successful or popular very quickly or suddenly

8. I love denim jackets! You can wear them no matter the season. :d

a type of strong cotton cloth that is usually blue and is used for making clothes, especially jeans

9. Scientists are worried about the carcinogenic effects of some pesticides used on our fruit and vegetables
:c

Something that is likely to cause cancer

10. Many people lost their jobs when the steel mill shut down last fall. : f
to stop a factory etc. from opening for business; to stop a machine from working

READING

2
Technical English worksheet (CEFR B2) © sweetlingua.com
 THEME: FASHION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

2. PREDICTING: Look at the headline of the article, then read the first and second paragraph. What type
of information do you think you will find in the article? After reading, check if your prediction was
correct.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------

3. Read the article, then answer the comprehension questions.

Circular fashion: turning old clothes into everything from new cotton to fake knees
[ adapted from The Conversation ( Science and technology), May 27, 2019

TIP: If you see a word you are not familiar with, attempt to understand the meaning based on the context in which the word is used.

1. Australia has a fashion problem. More than 500,000
tonnes of clothing waste is sent to landfill each year. But
a new way of recycling could redirect some of our
unwanted textiles from polluting the environment, by
repurposing cotton waste into anything from new
clothes to prosthetic knees.
2. Developed by our team at Deakin University, where we
work on designing materials and processes for a circular
economy, this solution for recycling textiles involves
dissolving cotton and regenerating it into brand-new
cellulose – a complex, strong carbohydrate with many
industrial uses.
3. With the textile industry generating so much waste,
the only way to keep up with the demands set by fashion
trends and the wear and tear of our clothes is to make
the industry sustainable.
The cost of clothes
4.Textile waste consumes nearly 5% of all landfill space,
and 20% of all freshwater pollution is a result of textile
treatment and dyeing. Growing cotton requires harmful
pesticides and fertilisers, and textile-manufacturing
plants release hazardous waste into the nearby land.
5. Synthetic dyes also
come at a cost to the environment.
The dyeing process involves a lot of water, and not all of
it is efficiently cleaned before re-entering our
environment. Waste water from textile dyeing can affect
the entire water ecosystem. This is because some dyes
don’t ever degrade in water. Those that do degrade
produce harmful by-products – sometimes carcinogenic.
6.Importantly, despite the energy and resources used in
the production process, not all cotton produced makes it
into our clothes. Around 23.6 million tonnes of cotton is
produced each year, but the weight of stems, leaves and
Technical English worksheet (CEFR B2) © sweetlingua.com
lint from the plant amounts to 18-65% of each bale of
cotton.
7. From what is left, even more cotton fibre is lost in the
process of spinning cotton buds into yarn because some
fibres break during spinning. Some of this raw material
waste can be used to make products such as soaps,
animal feed or cotton seed oil, but the rest is thrown
away.
8.Wasted raw cotton material aside, it can take nearly
2,700 litres of water to produce a single cotton T-shirt
and more than 7,600 litres to make a pair of jeans. It’s no
wonder that we want greener clothes!
How we’re closing the cotton circle
9. To counter the fast-fashion industry, circular fashion is
taking off. Textile waste can now be recycled into usable
products. Cotton fibres are almost purely comprised of
cellulose and can therefore be turned into other
cellulose-based products.
10. At Deakin University’s Institute for Frontier Materials
we have developed a chemical-based recycling process
to produce high-quality, regenerated cellulose from
cotton. The regenerated cellulose can be used in many
ways. It can be used in textile manufacturing again, in the
production of cellophane and paper, insulation and
filtration, or in biomedical applications such as drug
delivery and tissue engineering.
11.Cotton waste has traditionally been recycled through
a mechanical process that produces poorer-quality
recycled cotton. Only a small fraction of recycled cotton
could be incorporated into new garments.
12. But our recycling process dissolves the cotton waste
and regenerates it as cellulose. Even cotton-blended
fabrics, such as cotton-polyester blends, can be recycled
in this process, so nothing goes to waste.
3
 THEME: FASHION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

13. This regenerated cellulose has many different Rescuing dyes

possible uses. It can be spun into a textile fibre similar to
native cotton or used to make aerogels – synthetic,
ultralight materials comprised of a network of micron-
sized pores and nanoscale tunnels.
14. The aerogels produced from our recycling process can
be moulded into a structure almost identical to cartilage
in the joints of the body. We manipulate the size and
distribution of tunnels to mould the aerogel within into
synthetic cartilage with an ideal shape to replace
damaged knee cartilage in arthritic patients.
15. While we haven’t used them in patients yet, we’ve
found that the aerogels have a remarkable similarity to
cartilage tissues when tested. They can replicate the type
of lubrication mechanism used by cartilage in joints to
protect against wear and damage.
16.We can also shred cotton fabrics and mill them into
coloured powders to dye new clothes. Since 2017, many
Chinese factories that produced synthetic dyes for
textiles were shut down following environmental
inspections, highlighting the need for change in dyeing
practices. We need new textile dyeing methods that save
water, reduce pollutants, save energy and protect
human health.
17. Our recycling process offers an environmentally
friendly alternative. This process not only gives purpose
to old clothing, but also eliminates much of the energy
and water involved in the normal dyeing process.
18. We are rescuing denim and other cotton-based
clothes from landfill to create cellulose fibres, aerogels
and dyes from 100% of the waste.

COMPREHENSION
4. Answer the following questions in your own words, using full sentences. Then compare your answers with
a partner.

1. What are some of the environmental problems associated with the fabrication of clothes?

[ freshwater pollution is a result of textile treatment and dyeing. Growing cotton requires harmful
pesticides and fertilisers, and textile-manufacturing plants release hazardous waste into the nearby land.
Waste water from textile dyeing can affect the entire water ecosystem.]

2. How is the team at Deakin University’s Institute for Frontier Materials making the clothing industry circular?

[ They have developed a process to recycle textiles]

3. How is Deakin University’s cotton recycling process different from the traditional recycling process?

[ Cotton waste has traditionally been recycled through a mechanical process that produces poorer-quality
recycled cotton. Only a small fraction of recycled cotton could be incorporated into new garments. But
their recycling process dissolves the cotton waste and regenerates it as cellulose. Even cotton-blended
fabrics, such as cotton-polyester blends, can be recycled in this process, so nothing goes to waste. ]

CRITICAL THINKING
5. With a partner discuss the following questions then share your views with the rest of the class.

TEACHER NOTE: Put students in small groups and ask them to discuss the questions and to briefly note
their ideas down. Give them around five minutes for this first stage. Afterwards, hold a whole class discussion
based on students’ responses.

4
Technical English worksheet (CEFR B2) © sweetlingua.com
 THEME: FASHION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

1. How do you feel are the possible application of the new materials recycled from cotton?
2. What are the environmental advantages of using this new recycling process? How do you know?

LANGUAGE FOCUS

TEACHER NOTE: If you have shorter time with your students than envisioned here, you may also choose to
flip your classroom (e.g.by encouraging students to do the exercises before class).

7. GRAMMAR: EXPRESSING CONCESSION USING “BUT” AND “THAT SAID”

“But” and “That said”, is used to add an opinion that appears contradictory to what was stated before.
For example:
Many clothing companies have now put in place recycling programmes. That said, it will take more than recycling
programmes to reverse the current state of the environment.

7b. Add a concession to the following sentences using “But” and “That said” .

a. Recycling old clothes is a good initiative. That said, ………………………………………………………………………

b. There has been greater awareness of the impact of the clothing industry in recent years. But, ……
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

8. VERB PHRASES: Choose the most suitable verb to go with the word in bold. Change the form of the
verb as needed.

To pollute | To generate | To keep up with | To spin | release | to consume

a. Textile manufacturing plants [ release ] d. Textile waste [consume] nearly 5% of all

hazardous waste into the nearby land. landfill space.
b. Most of the chemicals that [ pollute ] the e. Retailers try [ to keep up with ] demands of
environment are man-made. trendy styles, by cutting cost that increases
their carbon footprint.
c. A regular spinning wheel can be used [to spin
] cotton buds into yarn . f. We all [ generate ] waste and this waste has
an impact on our environment.

9. IDIOMS AND EXPRESSIONS: Tick the definition that is closest in meaning to the following
expressions, based on the context in which it was used in the text.

1. After just 3 months, my new shoes are already b. signs that something is of good quality
showing signs of wear and tear. c. signs that something is of bad quality
a. damage that is the result of normal use

5
Technical English worksheet (CEFR B2) © sweetlingua.com
 THEME: FASHION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

2. Our dream holiday to Miami turned into a b. an expensive price to buy something
nightmare. c. having enough money for the environment.
a .to have a bad dream
b. to become a bad experience 4. For many teens, it is important to keep up with
c. to wake up after your holiday fashion trends.
a. To be different from current trends.
b. To be behind the current trends.
3. The use of synthetic dyes come at a cost to the c. To be on the same level as current trends.
environment.
a. negative consequence due to some action.

10. ADJECTIVE + NOUN COLLOCATION: combine one word from list A with one word from list B to
make suitable noun phrases. Then use a word from list A to complete the sentences below.

LIST A LIST B
1. Fashion a. waste 1. harmful a. dyes
2. Cotton b. pollution 2. Synthetic b. cotton
3. production c. trends 3. hazardous c. pesticides
4. freshwater d. process 4. recycled d. by-products
5. textile e. manufacturing 5. harmful e. waste

i. Research has shown that 17 to 20% of [ freshwater ] pollution is from textile dyeing and treatment.
ii. Industries produce [ hazardous ] waste due to one or more of its characteristics, presents a risk for people
and the environment.
iii. If we learn how to properly process harmful [ pesticides ]. and hazardous waste in our cities and towns, we
ensure human health and the environment is not.
iv. Take a look at this new [ fashion ] trend which is taking over the fashion industry right now.
v. Some are used in the dye and fabric production [ process ] is very toxic to the environment.
vi. In the clothing and food industry, there are many more [ synthetic] dyes than natural ones.
vii. One T-shirt made with recovered yarns, contains 52 percent recycled [ cotton ], and saves up to 2,700 litres
of water.
viii. One of the most important consumers of cotton [ waste ] is the spinning and manufacturing industry.
ix. Textile [ manufacturing ] is a huge industry that entails the conversion of fibre into yarn, and that yarn into
fabric.

6
Technical English worksheet (CEFR B2) © sweetlingua.com
 THEME: FASHION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

x. [ Harmful ] pesticides may have acute and/or chronic toxic effects, posing particular risk to children, and
are recognized as an issue of global concern.

11. COMPOUND ADJECTIVES: A compound adjective is when two or more words are combined to
describe the same noun. Look at the following compound adjectives found in the article. What do you
think they mean?

1. cellulose-based : based: core material consisting of

2. chemical-based : to consist of
3. cotton-based : to consist of
4. high-quality : to have a quality that is high
5. cotton-blended : blended: to mixed with something else
6. cotton-polyester : to have a mix of cotton and polyester
7. poorer-quality : -to have a quality that is poor

TRANSFER ACTIVITY
12. WRITING SKILLS

After reading the article you saw the following comment:

Do you agree or disagree with this comment? Write a comment in response to this.

7
Technical English worksheet (CEFR B2) © sweetlingua.com
 THEME: FASHION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

13. PRESENTATION SKILLS

Environment First is an environmental organisation that would like to start an awareness

programme on the impact of the clothing industry. You have been asked to create a poster or
explainer video to show the impact that fashion has on the environment and the benefits of
recycling our clothes. Present your final project to the class. ( tips : you can use Canva and
Powtoons)

8
Technical English worksheet (CEFR B2) © sweetlingua.com