Textile and Apparel Industries

Increasing Student Understanding of Cotton and Polyester’s Environmental Impact: Assessment of Objective and Subjective Knowledge

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Abstract

This study is the first to measure both subjective and objective knowledge of the environmental impact of cotton and polyester apparel. As future professionals, the project allowed students to not only gain knowledge about the two major fibers used in apparel, but to evaluate this information critically and then apply it to make a business decision with the goal of minimizing the product’s environmental impact. The research results demonstrate that both subjective and objective knowledge can be significantly increased through learning experiences that are designed to reflect real-world business decision-making, as well as highlight the importance of including sustainability-related topics in the curriculum. The results of the study have practical implications for educators who want to increase student understanding of cotton and polyester apparel’s environmental impact. Moreover, the subjective and objective knowledge scales that were developed in this study can be used in future research on the topic.

Keywords: objective knowledge, subjective knowledge, environmental impact, cotton, polyester

How to Cite:

Karpova, E., Hodges, N. J., Haque, F. & Bayat, F., (2022) “Increasing Student Understanding of Cotton and Polyester’s Environmental Impact: Assessment of Objective and Subjective Knowledge”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 79(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.15873