NARRATOR:
You will hear two textile students discussing research for a project on ethical and sustainable fashion.
NARRATOR:
First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 24.
NARRATOR:
Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 24.
STUDENT 1:
Shall we review the research for our sustainable fashion project?
STUDENT 2:
I think I've read enough material now.
STUDENT 1:
And I understand the idea of sustainability much better than I did before.
STUDENT 2:
My reading focused more on ethical fashion.
STUDENT 2:
Before this project, I hadn't clearly recognized how that differed from sustainable fashion.
STUDENT 1:
That confusion is very common.
STUDENT 1:
People regularly treat the two expressions as if they mean the same thing, although their main concerns are different.
STUDENT 1:
Sustainable fashion mainly deals with environmental effects, whereas ethical fashion focuses more on how workers and animals are treated.
STUDENT 2:
It's understandable that people mix them up because the industry uses so many related expressions.
STUDENT 2:
For example, sounds positive but tells consumers almost nothing specific.
STUDENT 1:
Companies make the problem worse when they describe products with broad claims but give very little detail about the production process.
STUDENT 1:
The language is often vague enough to create a misleading impression.
STUDENT 1:
The debate over wool was especially interesting.
STUDENT 1:
Wool is widely presented as sustainable because it is a natural material.
STUDENT 2:
It is certainly durable, and the fiber can be recycled which are genuine advantages.
STUDENT 2:
But I don't accept the claim that producing wool requires hardly any chemicals.
STUDENT 2:
Sheep farming uses fungicides and insecticides, among other treatments.
STUDENT 1:
I also search for evidence that sheep cause less environmental harm than cattle, but I couldn't find anything convincing.
STUDENT 2:
Neither species has a good environmental record.
STUDENT 2:
I found conflicting views about shearing, too.
STUDENT 2:
Some reports call it cruel, but provided sheep are healthy and properly cared for, I don't see shearing itself as unethical.
NARRATOR:
Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 25 to 30.
NARRATOR:
Now listen and answer questions 25 to 30.
STUDENT 2:
Let's move on to the newer semi-synthetic materials.
STUDENT 2:
First, lyocell, which is made from eucalyptus pulp.
STUDENT 2:
Its manufacturing system is impressive because more than 99% of the dissolving chemicals are recovered and reused rather than discarded.
STUDENT 1:
Kupro was new to me.
STUDENT 1:
It uses waste from cotton production to create a material similar to silk but suitable for vegans.
STUDENT 2:
Unfortunately, its environmental performance is poor.
STUDENT 2:
Reports repeatedly link the manufacturing process with serious pollution.
STUDENT 1:
Compared with the other alternative fabrics we studied, Kupro appears to be the least sustainable.
STUDENT 2:
Bamboo is much more familiar, but the label alone can be misleading.
STUDENT 2:
Only bamboo processed organically can genuinely be regarded as sustainable.
STUDENT 1:
A large proportion is manufactured through chemical-intensive methods that can cause considerable environmental damage.
STUDENT 2:
Ecoverro is another semi-synthetic fabric, and demand for it is rising quickly.
STUDENT 1:
That may be because producing it creates about 50% fewer emissions and consumes only half the energy required for conventional material.
STUDENT 1:
Lower energy use also reduces manufacturing costs.
STUDENT 2:
Cork should become more popular, too.
STUDENT 2:
It works particularly well for vegan footwear and bags.
STUDENT 1:
Cork is unusual because the source is completely sustainable.
STUDENT 1:
Cork trees are renewable while the finished material is both recyclable and biodegradable.
STUDENT 2:
Harvesting the bark can even benefit the trees, so the source has no significant environmental disadvantage.
STUDENT 1:
Hemp is another promising fabric derived from a natural plant.
STUDENT 2:
It also offers benefits to the person wearing it.
STUDENT 2:
Hemp clothing provides some protection from sunlight and has antibacterial properties.
STUDENT 1:
I hadn't known that.
STUDENT 1:
I did learn that the plant can be difficult to cultivate, which may explain why the fabric is not yet more widespread.
STUDENT 2:
That could change as interest in these alternative materials continues to grow.
