What does a T-shirt have to do with systems thinking?
A T-shirt may seem like a simple everyday product. But look a little closer.
Where was the cotton grown? How much water was needed? Where was the fabric produced? Under what working conditions? How far did the garment travel? How often will it be worn – and what happens when it is no longer wanted?
Suddenly, one T-shirt becomes part of a much bigger picture.
This is what systems thinking, one of the 12 GreenComp competences, is about: recognising connections and understanding that environmental, social and economic issues do not exist in isolation.
In GATE, we use concrete examples such as fast fashion to make these connections visible. Instead of looking only at one problem or one stage of a product’s life, learners are encouraged to explore interdependencies, causes and consequences, indirect effects and different levels of impact.
For sustainability education, this change of perspective is crucial. Sustainable solutions rarely result from looking at one element alone.
Sometimes, understanding the problem starts by asking:
What else is connected to this?
