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🔹 Core concepts 

•       ethical shopping — етичне споживання

•       consumer choice — вибір споживача

•       responsible consumption — відповідальне споживання

•       sustainable products — сталий продукт

•       environmental impact — вплив на довкілля

•       social responsibility — соціальна відповідальність

•       fair treatment of workers — справедливе ставлення до працівників

•       supply chain — ланцюг постачання

•       production process — процес виробництва

🔹 Products & materials

•       eco-friendly — екологічний

•       biodegradable — біорозкладний

•       recyclable / recycled — придатний до переробки / перероблений

•       organic — органічний

•       locally produced — виготовлений локально

•       mass-produced — масового виробництва

•       fast fashion — швидка мода

•       durable goods — довговічні товари

🔹 Business ethics & labour

•       fair trade — справедлива торгівля

•       ethical brands — етичні бренди

•       working conditions — умови праці

•       child labour — дитяча праця

•       low-paid workers — низькооплачувані працівники

•       exploitation — експлуатація

•       minimum wage — мінімальна зарплата

•       workers’ rights — права працівників

🔹 Consumer behaviour

•       buy responsibly — купувати відповідально

•       make informed choices — робити усвідомлений вибір

•       overconsumption — надмірне споживання

•       impulse buying — імпульсивні покупки

•       second-hand / thrift shopping — покупки з рук / секонд-хенд

•       reduce waste — зменшувати відходи

•       reuse and recycle — повторно використовувати й переробляти

🔹 Money & value 

•       value for money — співвідношення ціни та якості

•       afford — дозволити собі

•       cheap vs expensive — дешевий vs дорогий

•       hidden costs — приховані витрати

•       long-term benefits — довгострокова користь

🔹Greenwashing

•       greenwashing — псевдоекологічність

•       misleading advertising — оманлива реклама

•       eco-label — екомаркування

•       marketing strategy — маркетингова стратегія

•       make false claims — робити неправдиві заяви

🔹 Opinion & discussion language

•       In my opinion…

•       I strongly believe that…

•       From a global perspective…

•       It is often argued that…

•       The main advantage / drawback is…

•       This raises the question of…

•       Consumers should be aware of…

⭐COLLOCATIONS                                                                                            

•       ethical consumer behaviour

•       environmentally responsible choice

•       support ethical brands

•       reduce carbon footprint

•       protect natural resources

•       raise awareness

•       take responsibility for one’s actions

 

 

 

 

 

 

TASK 1.Match each word/phrase to its correct definition. Some answers may be tricky, think carefully!

1.      overconsumption

2.      greenwashing

3.      biodegradable

4.      supply chain

5.      ethical brands

6.      second-hand

7.      social responsibility

8.      fast fashion

9.      eco-label

10.  impulse buying

Definitions:

A)   Buying products without planning, influenced by emotions

B)    A label that shows a product meets environmental standards

C)   Brands that follow ethical business and labour practices

D)   The process of producing, transporting, and selling a product

E)    Consumption that is excessive and unsustainable

F)     Making false environmental claims to appear eco-friendly

G)   Products that decompose naturally without harming the environment

H)  Social and moral obligations of businesses and individuals

I)      Mass-produced, quickly made clothing

J)      Buying used goods instead of new ones

TASK 2. MULTIPLE CHOICE (Choose the correct answer)

1.What is a durable good?

A)  A product made of recycled materials

B)    A product designed to last a long time

C)   A product from fast fashion

D)  A biodegradable product 2. What does fair trade guarantee?

A)  Cheap prices for consumers

B)    Ethical treatment and fair wages for workers

C)   Local production only

D)  Organic certification

4.      Which is an example of responsible consumption?

A)  Throwing away old clothes

B)    Buying products without checking labels

C)   Choosing locally produced organic apples

D)  Impulse buying during a sale

5.      Hidden costs refer to:

A)  Extra expenses not obvious at first

B)    The price of durable goods

C)   Only shipping fees D) Discounts on eco-products

6.      Recycle and reuse helps to: A) Increase overconsumption

B)  Reduce waste

C)Make false claims D) Support fast fashion

7.      A low-paid worker is:

A)  Someone who earns below minimum wage

B)    Someone working voluntarily

C)   A manager of ethical brands D) A consumer making informed choices

8.      Organic products are:

A)  Made without harmful chemicals

B)    Made from recycled materials

C)   Cheap fashion items D) Products from greenwashing

9.      Value for money means: A) A product is cheap only

B)    A product has a good balance of price and quality

C)   A product is sustainable

D)  It has no hidden costs

TASK 3. Complete the sentences with the correct word/phrase from the list (one word or short phrase):

List: ethical shopping, overconsumption, make informed choices, eco-friendly, fast fashion, child labour, reduce carbon footprint, fair treatment of workers, biodegradable, greenwashing

1.      Many consumers are now practising __________ to consider the impact of their purchases.

2.      Cheap clothing companies sometimes rely on __________ in developing countries.

3.      Buying __________ products helps the environment.

4.      __________ can encourage wasteful behaviour because items are made and replaced quickly.

5.      Companies that pretend to be sustainable without real action are using __________.

6.      Students should always try to __________ before buying anything.

7.      Packaging that naturally decomposes is called __________.

8.      Supporting brands that provide __________ is part of ethical consumer behaviour.

9.      Excessive buying of unnecessary goods is called __________.

10.  Choosing local and organic foods can help __________.

 

TASK 4. TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN

1.      All fast fashion brands are unethical.

2.      Second-hand shopping reduces waste.

3.      Biodegradable products are harmful to the environment.

4.      Greenwashing is an honest marketing strategy.

5.      Ethical shopping only benefits the environment, not workers.

6.      Consumers can support ethical brands even if products are more expensive.

7.      Social responsibility includes making informed choices as a consumer.

8.      Impulse buying is part of responsible consumption.

TASK 5. Match the first part of the phrase with the correct ending:

1.      ethical consumer …

2.      environmentally responsible …

3.      support ethical …

4.      reduce …

5.      protect …

6.      raise …

7.      take responsibility …

Endings:

A)  for one’s actions

B)    brands

C)   carbon footprint

D)  natural resources

E)    behaviour

F)    awareness G) choice

In today’s globalised world, ethical shopping is becoming an important part of consumer choice. More and more people are starting to think about responsible consumption and the environmental impact of the products they buy. Shopping is no longer only about price or style, but also about values and social responsibility.

One of the key ideas behind ethical shopping is supporting sustainable products that are eco-friendly, recyclable, or biodegradable. Many consumers prefer locally produced goods because they reduce transport pollution and help local communities. In contrast, mass-produced items, especially in fast fashion, often lead to overconsumption, increased waste, and damage to the environment.

Ethical shopping is also closely connected to fair treatment of workers. Some ethical brands follow fair trade principles and respect workers’ rights, offering safe working conditions and a minimum wage. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, production still depends on low-paid workers, exploitation, or even child labour. Understanding the supply chain and the production process helps consumers make informed choices.

Another important issue is greenwashing. Some companies use misleading advertising and marketing strategies to appear environmentally responsible, while in reality they make false claims. That is why consumers should pay attention to eco-labels and think critically about what companies promise.

Although ethical products are sometimes more expensive, they often offer better value for money in the long term. Buying durable goods, choosing second-hand items, and trying to reduce waste, reuse and recycle can bring long-term benefits not only for individuals but also for society as a whole.

In my opinion, ethical shopping is not about being perfect, but about being aware. From a global perspective, every purchase is a decision that can either harm or protect the planet. If consumers buy responsibly and take responsibility for their actions, they can help raise awareness, protect natural resources, and support a more sustainable future.

Reading Comprehension Tasks

TASK 1. Read the text and decide if the statements are True (T), False (F) or Not Given (NG).

1.      Ethical shopping is mainly about buying fashionable products.

2.      Many consumers choose locally produced goods to reduce pollution.

3.      Fast fashion encourages overconsumption and creates more waste.

4.      All ethical brands follow fair trade rules.

5.      Some production processes still involve child labour.

6.      Greenwashing is a form of honest marketing.

7.      Eco-labels can help consumers recognise ethical products.

8.      Ethical shopping requires people to be perfect consumers.

TASK 2. Choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.

1.      What has changed in modern consumer choice?

A)  People only care about low prices

B)    Shopping decisions include ethical values

C)   Style is no longer important

D)  Advertising has disappeared

2.      Why do people prefer locally produced goods?

A)  They are always cheaper

B)    They last longer

C)   They reduce environmental impact

D)  They require less marketing

3.      What problem is connected with fast fashion?

A)  Lack of eco-labels

B)    High production costs

C)   Overconsumption and waste

D)  Limited choice

4.      What helps consumers make informed choices?

A)  Impulse buying

B)    Understanding the supply chain

C)   Ignoring working conditions D) Choosing mass-produced goods

5.      What is greenwashing?

A)  Recycling products

B)    Supporting ethical brands

C)   Making false environmental claims

D)  Reducing carbon footprint

6.      Why should consumers be careful about advertising?

A)  It is always expensive

B)    It often shows real production

C)   It may be misleading

D)  It reduces competition

7.      Why can ethical products offer value for money?

A)  They are cheaper at first

B)    They look more attractive

C)   They bring long-term benefits

D)  They are mass-produced

8.      What is the author’s main message?

A)  Ethical shopping is impossible

B)    Only governments can change consumption

C)   Consumers should take responsibility

D)  Shopping should be avoided

TASK 3. Match statements 1–8 with ideas A–J. Two ideas do NOT match.

1.  Choosing products made close to home

2.  Buying too many unnecessary items

3.  Respecting workers’ rights

4.  Using advertising to appear eco-friendly

5.  Checking labels and information

6.  Buying goods that last longer

7.  Helping society through consumer choices

8.  Thinking critically about marketing messages

A   greenwashing

B   ethical brands

C   overconsumption

D  eco-labels

E    locally produced goods

F    durable goods vvbvbggbvgg

G  social responsibility

H  impulse buying

I      fair trade

J      fast fashion

TASK 4. Complete the text with ONE word only.

Ethical shopping encourages consumers to (1) ________ responsibly and think about the (2) ________ impact of their choices. Many people try to avoid (3) ________ fashion and prefer (4) ________ goods that last longer. However, misleading advertising, known as (5) ________, can make it difficult to recognise truly ethical brands. That is why consumers should (6) ________ informed choices, support fair (7) ________, and take (8) ________ for their actions.

✍️ TASK 5. MEDIATION / WRITING

Situation

Your class is preparing a project about sustainable lifestyles for an international school website.

Task

Using the information from the text, write 90–120 words explaining:

•       what ethical shopping means,

•       why fast fashion is a problem,

•       how consumers can shop more responsibly.

Do not copy sentences from the text. Use your own words.