5 Exploring an everyday item

• Suggested duration: 25 mins
• Technique used: Research
• Materials required: Internet access or suitable reference material
• Aim of activity: To raise awareness of the impact of our shopping habits
• Underpinning components: UC1.1a; UC1.2a; UC1.2c; UC1.3a; UC1.3b
• Connection with other competences: Attentiveness; Transdisciplinarity

Short description

Group is divided into small groups and asked, as a pre session task, to research an everyday item such as a pair of trainers, or a mobile phone. They should investigate the following and prepare a presentation for the rest of the group:

• What’s it made of?
• Where do these things come from?
• What’s the production process and where does it take place?
• What type of companies/people are involved in the production of the item?
• Are sales of the item increasing/decreasing?
• How useful/necessary is the item?
• What happens to the item once it is no longer needed/used/broken?
• What is the impact of any of the above? (Social? Ecological? Economic? Political?)

After the presentations, the group leader should ask questions leading the group to reflect on the sustainability of this practice drawing attention to the fact that some of the items involved in manufacture are finite and thus running out, that increases/decreases in production might have environmental, economic and social impact and that the production is probably linear and resulting in waste.

This should lead to input on linear and circular economies.

Groups are then asked to either redesign their item according to circular economy principles, or to find an existing product that is already designed in that way and to present and discuss their findings.