Trolley Talk
A study of supermarkets
and sustainable
shopping
Sustainable
“Meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs”
What can you see?
• Look at the picture of a
typical aisle in a
supermarket. Describe
to your teacher what
you can see.
• Then, read the starter
story and discuss it
with your teacher
All wrapped up
• Watch the video at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_5
090000/newsid_5097300/5097358.stm?b
w=bb&mp=wm&news=1
• Then, make a list of as many items that
you buy regularly which have excess
packaging
But…
It’s not just about
packaging…
What else makes a supermarket less or
more sustainable?
Fieldwork aims
1. To investigate and compare the
sustainability of local supermarkets
2. To conduct questionnaires to investigate
consumer awareness
3. To use the data collected to evaluate the
demand for, and choose the most
suitable location for an ‘Eco-store’.
Supermarket sustainability
• You will be investigating
and comparing different
supermarkets and stores in
your area
• Read the fieldwork booklet
carefully and complete the
data collection tables for
each supermarket or store
you go to.
Consumer awareness
• How aware are the general
public about sustainable
shopping?
• You will be conducting
questionnaires to find out!
• Read the instructions
carefully in the ‘Questionnaire
resource’ and carry out
questionnaires at each
supermarket or store you go
to
Follow -up
• You will use your data
about each supermarket
to compare them and
decide which is the most
‘sustainable’
• Use the ‘follow-up
resource’ to help you to do
this
A new eco store!
You will use the data you
have collected in your
questionnaires to decide…
a)Whether there is a
‘demand’ for an Eco-store in
your local area
b)Where the most suitable
location for it would be
Use the ‘eco-store’
resource to help you!
Extension Activity
Sustainable shopping
debate
Have you ever thought…
What should we do
about packaging –
what is the solution?
Is it better to buy
Fairtrade sugar
from abroad, or
sugar produced in
the UK?
Is it better to buy
flowers grown in
Holland or
Kenya?
Should we all only
buy fruit and
vegetables which
are in season, and
grown in the UK?
Are supermarkets
part of ‘modern life’
or are there more
‘ethical’ ways to
shop?
The debate
• Your teacher will organise you into groups
• You will be given a topic and a viewpoint
• You must research and prepare your
‘argument’
• Write a short speech outlining your main
views
• Prepare yourself to answer questions from
the ‘opposition’