The document discusses the journey of clothing from raw materials to consumers' homes. Natural fibers like cotton, silk and wool are extracted from plants and animals then spun into thread and woven into fabric. Synthetic fibers from oil are also commonly used. Clothes are then dyed, manufactured, and sold through retailers before reaching consumers. However, fast fashion produces large amounts of waste and pollution due to low-quality clothes being discarded quickly, while also exploiting workers and the environment.

1. COURSE:- BTech in Computer
Science Engineering (CORE)
Semester:- 1st

3. ACTIVITY-1
TAKE ANY ARTICLE THAT YOU USE IN DAILY
CLOTHES
Trace its components journey backwards from your home to their origins as natural resources in our
environment :-
The drop in garment prices over the last 20 years has allowed us to buy more and more clothes. We
now have 5 times more clothes than our grandparents had. It felt great until we found out what was
hiding behind this trend. The journey of cloth from farm to our hands can also be stated as its
journey from to fibre to fabric. The journey of any cloth initially starts as a raw material. For
instance, cotton comes from the cotton plants, silk from silkworms and wool from sheep/yak. These
raw materials are allowed to grow and develop. Then they are extracted from their sources. Cotton
is grown from cotton seeds. It is harvested in the appropriate time, and the cotton fibre is separated
from the seeds. The process is called ginning. In the case of silk, it is produced by the silkworms by
feasting on the mulberry leaves. They weave a cocoon covering them which is boiled to separate silk
from it. The process is called reeling of silk. Wool is extracted from the fur of sheep, goat or yak. Its
fur is removed from the skin for the production of wool. This process is called shearing. The
subsequent steps involved in the processing of the fibre is similar for all kinds of fabrics. The fibres
are spun together to form cloth threads. It can be done either manually or with machines. After
spinning the clothes are dyed with the required colours. The threads are then knitted together to
form cloth fabrics. This process is called weaving. This step converts the thread to fabric. Then the
fabric is processed according to the requirements of the industries to different types of clothes. After
the production is completed, they are sold to the wholesale and retail shops. From the shops, the

4. Sales in the textile industry are growing rapidly as world incomes rise,
and as people expand their wardrobes and wear each fewer times. Large
amounts of nonrenewable resources are extracted to produce clothes
that are often used for only a short period,4 after which the materials
are largely lost to landfill or incineration. It is estimated that more than
half of fast fashion produced is disposed of in under a year. Less than 1%
of material used to produce clothing is recycled into new clothing, representing a
loss of more than USD 100 billion worth of materials each year. As well as
significant value losses, high costs are associated with disposal: for example, the
estimated cost to the UK economy of landfilling
clothing and household textiles each year is approximately GBP 82 million (USD
108 million). Across the industry, only 13% of the total material input is in some
way recycled after clothing use .The textiles industry relies mostly on non-
renewable resources – 98 million tonnes in total per year – including oil to
produce synthetic fibres, fertilisers to grow cotton, and chemicals to produce,
dye, and finish fibres and textiles. Textiles production (including cotton farming)
also uses around 93 billion cubic metres of water annually, contributing to
problems in some water-scarce regions. ... [I]t is recognised that textile
production discharges high volumes of water containing hazardous chemicals
into the environment. As an example, 20% of industrial water pollution globally
is attributable to the dyeing and treatment of textiles.

5. Clothes today are made from a wide range of different materials.
Traditional materials such as cotton, linen and leather are still
sourced from plants and animals. But most clothes are more
likely to be made of materials and chemicals derived from fossil
fuel-based crude oil.
There are nine major types of raw materials commonly used in
clothing today:-
1.) Synthetic materials:-The source of synthetic fibres and fabrics
is the fossil fuel crude oil. It is estimated that 62% of all
fibres used in the fashion industry are made from a synthetic
material – mainly polyester, but also nylon, acrylic,
polypropylene and elastane. The global synthetic fibres market
is predicted to grow 7.39% CAGR over the period of 2021-2025.
2.) Cotton:-One of the oldest used fibres and the most important
non-food crop in the world is cotton. Currently, cotton makes up
around 24% of all fibre use globally – about 26.2 million tonnes –
but its share of the market is declining due to competition from
synthetic alternatives. Cotton production is particularly
important for farmers in lower-income countries, where
approximately 350 million people are involved in its cultivation
and processing.

6. 3.) Cellulosic fibres/viscose:- These materials begin as
cellulose extracted from a natural resource (such as
bamboo or trees) that is then crushed, pulped and
transformed into fibres using a similar process to the
one for making polyester. The most common cellulosic
fabric is viscose, prized for its silk-like qualities (rayon,
the first type of viscose fabric invented, was created to
mimic silk). Around 6.5 million tonnes of man-made
cellulosic fibres are produced each year for the textile
market with a share of six percent of the total fibre
production volume. This share is expected to grow by
around 8.1% per year to 2025. Major processing centres
for cellulose are China, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan,
Taiwan and Indonesia.
4.) Wool:-A traditional fibre, particularly in colder
climates, wool has a tiny, and decreasing, share of the
world market (around 1%). About 1.155 million
kilograms (kg) of clean raw wool raw wool per year are
produced from a global herd of around 1.177 billion
sheep. This roughly equates to just under one wool
sweater per person per year for everyone on the
planet. These figures include wool textiles used for
items other than garments – such as furniture or

7. 5.) Silk:-
An ancient, highly prized fabric, silk is mostly derived
from the thread produced by the domesticated
silkworm species Bombyx Mori. Around 0.11 million
tonnes of silk were produced in 2020 (about 0.10% of
total fibre)2 in more than 60 countries, but the bulk of
production is concentrated in a handful: China, India,
Uzbekistan, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Thailand and
Vietnam3. Compared to other natural fibres, silk is
incredibly valuable and commands a price of around
$15 per kilo, making the value of production around
$3.03 billion per year.
6.) Leather:-
This is one of the oldest forms of material used by
humans as clothing and it remains an important fabric
particularly for footwear and accessories. Around 3.8
billion cows and other bovine animals, sheep and goats
are used in the leather production industry each year –
around one animal for every two people on the planet.
More than half the world’s supply of leather raw
material comes from developing countries, with China
being the dominant buyer and processor. The global
trade in raw leather is around $30 billion per year.

8. 7.) Bast fibres:-Bast fibres like flax (for linen), hemp and nettle are a
traditional source that has been used by humans for thousands of
years, although they presently make up only a small proportion of
total fabric use. These fibres are found in the inner bark layer
(phloem), of the plant that sit between the woody core (xylem), and
the outer-most layer (epidermis). The long phloem cells must be
separated from the xylem and epidermis before being further
treated to make them ready to weave or knit into fabrics4, either as
a pure fibre or in a mix with other fibres such as cotton. Most bast
fibres are used for other products such as paper, ropes and carpets.
8.) Experimental fabrics:-This is a broad category of fibres and
materials that are diverse but make up only a tiny fraction of the
entire amount of fabrics used. Many of these are experimental in
nature – for example, they may be made from materials originally
derived from mushrooms, pineapple or milk.
9.)Notions and hardware:-Metals, plastics, wood and other assorted
materials go into making the ‘hardware’ that is intrinsic to many
clothes (zip fastenings, buttons, buckles, clasps and so on). These
items may be small but their production is far from small-scale –
the zip market alone is worth $13 billion in sales per year.5

9. Fashion is a growing industry and fast fashion is the major contributor to its
growth. Using the Internet, social media, and technological innovation, many fast
fashion brands such as Forever 21, H&M, Primark, Zara, Fashion Nova grew into
large global corporations. The global apparel industry is expanding at a 6.16%
compound annual growth rate, valued at about USD 1.5 trillion in 2020!
The clothing category with the highest growth is sportswear with an 8% yearly rate.
In the United-States, 88% of consumers prefer shopping for fast fashion, followed by
consumers in Europe (46%), India (25%) and China (21%).The most popular fast-
fashion retailers in the world are Uniqlo (21%), H&M (18%) and Zara (18%).But fast
fashion has an enormous social and environmental cost. It does no good for the
planet, the people, and the animals living on it.The global apparel and footwear
industry is responsible for 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.Every year
the fashion industry accounts for 1.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions
worldwide. This represents more than all air and sea travel combined. The fashion
industry's greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise by 50% by 2030 at the
current pace.

10. Climate change has already cost the United States more than USD 350 billion. And that number
is expected to rise to USD 35 billion each year by 2050!Americans alone generated more than
16 million tons of textile waste in 2017. This amount of waste is close to 10 times bigger than in
1960 and doubled over the last 20 years.All textile production worldwide including cotton farming
uses almost 100 billion cubic meters of water annually.Almost 20% of the world's wastewater
is produced by the fashion industry.Cotton farming consumes 4% of worldwide of nitrogen
and phosphorous fertilizers, 16% of all insecticides, and 7% of all herbicides.Before the
industrial revolution and globalization, consumers used to invest in high-quality and durable clothes
from reputable fashion brands. Buying new clothing was a rare event.Today's consumers
want affordable and new trendy clothing inspired by runway shows. Many are influenced by
celebrities and social media personalities.Consumers are willing to buy imitations and pieces with
very low standards. To answer consumers' demand, fast fashion brands and retailers keep pushing for
lower labor and raw material costs.
Despite all of its issues, here are the top 10 reasons why fast fashion is so popular:-
1.) Fast fashion drives economic growth:-
Purchasing new cheaply-made and fashionable clothing in high-street stores every week is what
consumers tend to do nowadays. Fast fashion has a tremendous impact on the economy.Can you
imagine a world without any textiles? The apparel and footwear industry plays a massive role in the
global economy.The very large majority of fast fashion production takes place in overseas countries.
It eAmploys more than 300 million people in the whole world. Many farmers and garment factory
workers live in low-income countries, where labor is shockingly cheap.By reading my other article,
you can learn more about the influence of fast fashion on the economy.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

11. 2.) Fast fashion brands and retailers make huge profits:-
Profit increase is part of the recent fast fashion success. The concept has changed the clothing
industry fundamentally. Design, manufacturing, and distribution occur at very high
speeds.Consumers buy more clothes now than ever before from fast fashion brands and retailers
such as H&M, Zara, Forever 21, and others because they are everywhere.Fast fashion is a
worldwide phenomenon where brands and retailers use all possible means to acquire more
customers and make more profits.There are no more traditional 2 to 4 seasons for new
collections. 52 seasons replace them every year.
3.) Fast fashion is very affordable and accessible:-
Today's fast fashion sensation is highly successful because of its inherent qualities and advantages
for modern consumers.Fast fashion is focusing more and more on simplicity, efficacity, convenience,
affordability, and accessibility.Consumers can now buy the latest fashion trends presented on the
catwalk in Paris, Milan, and New York for a fraction of the price.However, poor quality
manufacturing and cheap materials mean that fast fashion garments have a low-lifespan and are
disposable. This causes massive amounts of waste to pile up.
4.) So many styles to choose from:-
Zara is one of the most well-known and highly popular fast-fashion giants. There are 2259 Zara
stores in 96 countries. Zara also sells its designs and styles inspired by the latest trends.The large
variety of choices and product availability is very appealing to consumers. Because design and
production time have decreased dramatically, it's now possible for fast-fashion retailers like Zara to
deliver new styles every week.This increases the number of unique customers that frequents high-

12. 5.) The influence of the Internet and social media:-
Fashion models and celebrities aren't the only ones who can now influence consumers on fashion choices. The rise of
new technologies, communication innovations, and social media has pushed fast fashion in front of many indecisive
customers. Brands and retailers will often partner with social media personalities to promote their products in front
of new audiences. And only very few people like to appear on the Internet in the same outfit twice.
6.) Fast fashion wants to appear sustainable:-
With such a negative social and environmental cost, conscious consumers are moving away from fast fashion. Some key
players of the clothing industry are now making real efforts to meet consumers' demand for more ethical and
sustainable products. Unfortunately, there is a lot of greenwashing going on in the fast fashion industry. Many brands
and retailers now adopt new marketing strategies to appear more green, fair, eco-friendly than they are in reality.
Designers and brands come up with eco-friendly lines. They design and produce clothing made from sustainable
materials and ethical production methods. But the large majority of the business remains highly polluting.
7.) Fast fashion started with a simple model of supply and demand:-
The excessive production of trendy and cheap garments at lightning speed is only the result of consumers' need for
affordable and fashionable clothing. It's fun to hunt for stylish discoveries and acquire new stuff. Some people even go
out shopping for new clothes daily. Some fashion garments cost even less than a cup of coffee for the end consumer.
How is this even possible? The overconsumption of low-cost clothing has pushed the fast fashion industry to innovate
to become faster and cheaper. The production model wouldn't be so extreme if the demand wasn't there. Luckily, this
means that consumers have the power to drive change. We choose which clothes we buy and who we support with our
money.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

13. 8.) Sustainability isn't the determining factor to buy fashion:-
The green movement is booming. People are starting to care more about how their clothes are being made.
Consumers are ready to pay more for environmentally friendly products. Nearly half of consumers (48%) in the
United States say they would change their consumption habits to reduce their impact on the environment.
Unfortunately, sustainability is still a secondary concern when buying new fashion. First and foremost,
customers care about the ease-of-purchase, price, and style of their clothes.
9.) Ethical fashion isn't appealing enough:-
Sustainable and ethical fashion isn't popular and produced enough to stay in front of customers
constantly. Materials and manufacturing costs are still very high. It's a lot more expensive to pay workers in
the supply chain a living wage and offer them decent working conditions. Ethical fashion also encourages
people to invest in classic timeless pieces and wear them for a long time. The variety of styles is more limited
and doesn't inspire every consumer to buy.
10.) Lack of awareness and unseen problems in fashion:-
Not enough people are aware of the issues occurring in the fashion industry daily. Unpaid factory workers,
physical abuse, destruction of ecosystems, greenhouse gas emissions, textile waste, energy consumption,
water, land, and air pollution
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

14. Fast Fashion provides today’s consumers with a broad variety of
fashionable clothes at a low price point. The means in which these
companies provide such prices has been a topic of heated debate, as
fast fashion companies are responsible for a tenth of the world’s carbon
emissions. Most of their stock produced ends up in landfills, and
laborers work in intolerable conditions and are not paid livable wages.
Some argue that consumers should be blamed for purchasing fast
fashion, while others argue that the blame should be placed on the
companies and their practices.
The issue of fast fashion can be traced back to the unethical business
practices of corporations and companies.
The preceding reason as to why companies are primarily responsible
for fast fashion is because not every consumer can avoid it. Many
consumers cannot afford to buy ethically produced fashion. To combat
this, fashion activists have been pushing consumers to thrift. Although
this may seem like a viable option, it excludes some other groups of
consumers. Thrifting is not size inclusive, requires excessive leisurely
time, which many working consumers do not have, and is often not
accessible to disabled individuals

15.  Choose natural or semi-synthetic fibers
 Wash clothes only when you need to
 Wash clothes at a lower temperature (30ºC)
 Choose natural or semi-synthetic fibers
 Buy less, buy better quality and recycle
 Choose organic fibers
 Choose sustainable brands
 Always wash new clothes before using them for the first time
 Look for garments with certification label controlling chemical
content such as OEKO-TEX®, GOTS, or BLUESIGN®
 Buy clothes made in countries powered by more renewable energy
 Choose fibers friendly to the soil
 Choose Lyocell/Tencel® instead of rayon, modal or viscose
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-ND.

16. THINK TWICE BEFORE THROWING OUT YOUR CLOTHES:-Don’t throw your clothes in the normal bins! Most
of them consist of synthetic, non-biodegradable fiber and will just pile up in the landfill. There are other options:
Try to repair them-Sometimes with a bit of imagination, you can repair or even redesign a torn garment.
Donate your clothes-to your friends, family, neighbors, or to charity.
Sell them on second-hand apps- like Vinted.
Some clothes shops take back used clothes-from their own brand or even from other brands.
Put them in the textile recycling bin- Textiles can be recycled to make new clothing.

17. BUY SECOND HAND, SWAP, & RENT
CLOTHING-Instead of buying new
clothing, have a look at alternative options:
Second-hand shop:-It's not a new
concept! You can find second-hand shops
everywhere in the world. Many websites
and apps also offer all kinds of second-
hand options ranging from the cheapest to
brand-name clothes.
Swap clothes:- These types of initiatives
are popping up all over the world.
Participants bring clothes that are
no loanger wear and exchange them for
clothes they will use. This is an
economic and eco-friendly way to refill
your wardrobe. You can also organize it
among your friends.
Rent clothes:- Clothes rentals is also a
growing industry. This is a great option,
especially for clothes that you will not wear
for a long time or often (baby or pregnancy
clothes, party
dresses...). Some companies also offer a
monthly fee, allowing customers to
constantly renew their wardrobe.
The organization of second hand,
swapping and renting clothes usually takes
place on a local level. Find out what is
available in your neighborhood.
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR WASHING-
Washing our clothes has a significant
environmental impact. The average
household in Europe does almost 200
loads of laundry every year, consuming
about 15,000 liters of water. It also takes a
lot of energy to heat the washing water
and run the drying cycle. So here
are some tips for reducing this impact

18. ACTIVITY-
2
ARE YOU
USING
THAT
RESOURC
E
UNSUSTAI
NABLY?
Yes, I do matter of fact every fucking person in this world is using it
as an unsustainable resource. As consumers worldwide buy more
clothes, the growing market for cheap items and new styles is taking
a toll on the environment. On average, people bought 60% more
garments in 2014 than they did in 2000. Fashion production makes
up 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and
pollutes rivers and streams. What’s more, 85% of all textiles go to
the dump each year. And washing some types of clothes sends
thousands of bits of plastic into the ocean. Here are the most
significant impacts fast fashion has on the planet. Clothing
production has roughly doubled since 2000. While people bought
60% more garments in 2014 than in 2000, they only kept the clothes
for half as long. In Europe, fashion companies went from an average
offering of two collections per year in 2000 to five in 2011. Some
brands offer even more. Zara puts out 24 collections per year, while
H&M offers between 12 and 16. A lot of this clothing ends up in the
dump. The equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned
or dumped in a landfill every second. In total, up to 85% of textiles
go into landfills each year. That’s enough to fill the Sydney harbor
annually. Washing clothes, meanwhile, releases 500,000 tons of
microfibers into the ocean each year — the equivalent of 50 billion
plastic bottles. Many of those fibers are polyester, a plastic found in
an estimated 60% of garments. Producing polyester releases two to
three times more carbon emissions than cotton, and polyester does
not break down in the ocean.

19. A 2017 report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimated that 35% of all
microplastics — very small pieces of plastic that never biodegrade — in the ocean came from the laundering of
synthetic textiles like polyester. 35% of all microplastics come from the laundering of synthetic textiles like
polyester. Overall, microplastics are estimated to compose up to 31% of plastic pollution in the
ocean. Microplastic pollution accounts for nearly a third of all ocean plastics. The fashion industry is
responsible for 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions. The fashion industry is responsible for 1/10 of
carbon emissions. That’s more emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. If the
fashion sector continues on its current trajectory, that share of the carbon budget could jump to 26% by
2050, according to a 2017 report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The fashion industry is also the
second-largest consumer of water worldwide. The fashion industry uses vast quantities of water. It takes about
700 gallons of water to produce one cotton shirt. That’s enough water for one person to drink at least eight
cups per day for three-and-a-half years. It takes about 2,000 gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans. That’s
more than enough for one person to drink eight cups per day for 10 years. That’s because both the jeans and
the shirt are made from a highly water-intensive plant: cotton. Cotton is highly water intensive.
In Uzbekistan, for example, cotton farming used up so much water from the Aral Sea that it dried up after about
50 years. Once one of the world’s four largest lakes, the Aral Sea is now little more than desert and a few small
ponds. Cotton farming used up so much water from the Aral Sea that it dried up after about 50 years. Fashion
causes water-pollution problems, too. Textile dyeing is the world’s second-largest polluter of water, since the
water leftover from the dyeing process is often dumped into ditches, streams, or rivers. Dying textiles causes
lots of water pollution. The dyeing process uses enough water to fill 2 million Olympic-sized swimming pools
each year. The dying process. All in all, the fashion industry is responsible for 20% of all industrial water
pollution worldwide. A fifth of water pollution comes from the fashion industry. Some apparel companies are
starting to buck these trends by joining initiatives to cut back on textile pollution and grow cotton more
sustainably. In March, the UN launched the Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, which will coordinate
efforts across agencies to make the industry less harmful.

20. REUSE:-
1) Increase the number of times you wear your clothes:- Studies have shown that the most impactful action you
can take to reduce your environmental footprint in the fashion world is to wear your clothes until they are
worn out. Researchers found that an item of clothing usually lasts between 100-200 wears, however only a
small amount of clothing gets that amount of use. On average, people buy 50 new pieces of clothing each year,
yet some pieces will only be worn a handful of times. We need to curb our desire to spend and get the most use
out of the existing clothes we have.
2) Repair your existing clothes:- If you’re time poor, take your clothes to a tailor for alterations and repairs and a
good old fashioned cobbler can work magic on your shoes! Some retailers also offer repair services.
REDUCE
3) Look after your clothes:- Reduce the amount of clothes you buy by looking after your existing clothes to get
more use out of them. Reduce washing, wash clothes on a colder wash (30° max) and where possible use the
trusty old air dry method so they last longer.
4) Buy quality over quantity:- You can research top ethical brands using the Good On You app which is a great
resource that rates brands according to their environmental impact and treatment of workers and animals.
Purchase from brands rated ‘Good’ or ‘Great!’ Avoid buying into ‘trends’ - resist the urge to buy an endless
amount of clothes and instead build a sustainable wardrobe , including a small number of high quality, classic
pieces that you love and will wear again and again.

21. 5) Buy clothes made out of eco-friendly materials:- Buy clothes made out of sustainable fabrics including
recycled or certified GOTS organic cotton, organic linen and hemp, recycled wool and low impact materials
such as tencel.
6) Rent:- Have a special occasion coming up and need that one-time-only fabulous outfit? Look no further than
rental services. These companies allow you to hire clothes, minimising your environmental impact whilst not
compromising your inner fashionista. Some of our favourites include GlamCorner , Your Closet , All the
Dresses and The Volte .
RECYCLE
7) Shop preloved:- Buying vintage means you can get really creative with your individual style and think
outside the box when planning outfits. It enables you to build your be spoke wardrobe, at a fraction of the cost,
and fill it with items, that are unique and interesting, and which can't be found in a shopping mall, high
street, or online.
8) Donate:- Many retailers are now offering donation services. The Iconic has teamed up with the Salvos and
Australia Post to allow you to donate your clothes . All you need to do is pack your donation in a satchel or
box
9) Upcycle:- Another amazing way to be more sustainable with your clothing is to upcycle. Upcycling (or
‘creative reuse’) means the process of transforming items or things you already have into new ones, whether
that’s by patching up or mending broken bits, or turning them into something completely different.
10) Sell your clothes online:- Make some extra cash and revamp your old clothes and put them up for sale.
Facebook Marketplace, Depop and eBay are good places to start. Make sure you give your clothes a good wash
and iron before putting them up for grabs.

22. During the month of May, we’ve been exploring the topic of ‘Greed & Growth’ at Fashion Revolution. It’s an
incredibly complicated and systemic issue, and when we zoom into more granular industry problems, they’re
often rooted in these larger forces. Looking into so many of the problems in the industry, like environmental
degradation, low wages, gender inequality, lack of diversity or overconsumption, we can trace them back to
greed. By its definition, greed is the pursuit of excess. Be it money or material possession, greed is about
taking more than is needed. From a historical perspective, it’s an incredibly human characteristic. There is no
other species on Earth that will proactively take more than is needed. Sure, squirrels stockpile their nuts for
the winter, but the biologically-motivated pursuit of food for survival is distinct from the wealth and status
motivations that drive greed. Morally, greed has been understood in a negative light. It casts itself within the 7
deadly sins of Christianity and the 3 poisons of Buddhism. In 1714, Bernard Mandeville challenged the notion
that greed and other frowned upon behaviours should be bad for social progress. He wrote,
“T’ enjoy the World’s Conveniences,
Be fam’d in War, yet live in Ease,
Without great Vices, is a vain
Eutopia seated in the Brain.”

23. In simple terms, he was saying that in order to enjoy a life beyond the simplicity of obtaining food
and shelter, people in society need to pursue greed, vanity, status, gluttony and other vices in order
to drive the economy.
This thinking was closely followed by Adam Smith, often described as the father of modern
economics, who expanded upon Mandeville’s thinking to suggest that these vices that drive self-
interest shouldn’t be thought of in a negative light at all. Instead of greed, let’s call it being driven.
Instead of vanity, let’s call it taking pride in one’s appearance.
Another of Smith’s lasting tenets was the vision of a world of dependence. One of
my favourite examples of this idea, applied to our modern world, is a work called the Toaster
Project. In a book synonymous to the design project, Thomas Thwaites narrates his journey around
the United Kingdom to create his very own made-from-scratch toaster without the help of modern
tools. Thwaites writes,
“It took nine months, involved travelling nineteen hundred miles to some of the remotest places in
the United Kingdom, and cost me £1187.54… I really made it from the ground up; starting by
digging up the raw materials and ending with an object that Argos sells for only £3.94.”
The purpose of his project was not simply to toast bread, but to demonstrate the preposterousness of
a society where everyday activities (such as bread toasting) can’t be carried out in full by a single
individual. Instead, our necessities have come to rely on a complex web of global and fragmented
supply chains.

24.  Natural Resource Types- Natural resources come in two types: renewable and nonrenewable. Renewable resources such as
water and trees can be replenished as they are used. This can occur at about the rate at which you use them. Nonrenewable
resources run out faster than they can be replenished. Over time, a nonrenewable resource may run out completely and vanish
forever or at least for a very long time. For instance, if people mine all of a certain type of mineral ore, it could take millions of
years for it to regenerate.
 Fossil Fuels: They're Everywhere- If you drive a vehicle or run a machine that uses gasoline or natural gas, you've consumed a
nonrenewable petroleum-based resource that cannot be replaced. You also consume petroleum when you use a gas water heater
or fly in a plane that uses jet fuel. Plastic cups made from petroleum products could be part of your daily life. The U.S. Energy
Information Administration reports that in 2010, 2.7 percent of all U.S. petroleum consumption went into making plastic
products.
 Resources From the Forests- Trees may be renewable resources, but as the U.S. National Park Service notes, "these treasured
resources may disappear fast" if people use them up too quickly. Trees not only provide materials for newspapers, medicines
and furniture, they create oxygen through photosynthesis. Your body uses that gas every second that you breathe. Paint,
detergents and chewing gum, things you might use daily, are byproducts of the processes companies use to turn pulp into paper.
 High-Tech Hidden Resources- If you have a computer, television or cell phone, you're using a device that contains a variety of
valuable resources such as copper and precious metals. Peek inside a cell phone and you'll find zinc, platinum, silver and gold.
Many electronic devices contain microprocessors, so you use sand as well because chipmakers use silicon to manufacture
microprocessors. Some electronics contain mercury, lead and other harmful natural resources. The U.S. Environmental

25. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO
PREVENT WASTE, REUSE
ARTICLES THAT YOU
NORMALLY THROW AWAY,
WHAT RECYCLED MATERIALS
CAN YOU USE?
Some tips to reduce, reuse and recycle are:
 Choose products with minimal packaging.
 Keep plastic containers from products like yogurt and
butter for future use.
 Take reusable shopping bags to the store.
 Bring your own cutlery and dishware to work.
 Use thermal mugs for your coffee and tea.
 Return your beverage containers to a Green Depot
and receive a refund.
 Recycle household hazardous waste appropriately,
such as tires, oil, paint CFLs and batteries.
 Recycle items curbside, if the service is available.
 Try composting to reduce organic material.

26.  . Ease up on the AC.
 2. Hang dry laundry
 3. Wash clothes in cold water, and install
efficient shower heads.
 4. Use cloth napkins and rags instead of paper
towels.
 5. Gradually switch to LED light bulbs
 6. Go reusable
 7. Add insulation.
 8. Plant some trees—in the right spots
 9. Consider going solar.
 10. Grow some of your own herbs, spices, or
vegetables

27. The END
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.