Did anyone read that this bag, which sold for a fiver and sold out very quickly, is being criticised because it was manufactured in China where those who make them are paid 20-30p an hour, also because of the carbon used to fly the bags over.
This concerns me if true. Stores such as Primark are also promoting organic clothes but what about the conditions of the workers who are being employed to make them?
I logged into a site yesterday called [link= http://www.cleanupfashion.co.uk ]www.cleanupfashion.co.uk[/link] and the results made very interesting reading.
So, something might be "green" but be very unethical. Its a sad world we live in where people are exploited and their health potentially put at risk so that we can buy a cheap top from Primark for a fiver, organic or not.
RE: I am not a plastic bag
it keeps someone in employment!
RE: I am not a plastic bag
Have you read some of the conditions that these people work under?
RE: I am not a plastic bag
this is a thorny one, because people do need to work in these countries, but we need to send a clear message that we don't want people exploited for our benefit.
We can do this by writing to the supermarkets and by buying existing fair traded products. These big stores will only change if they know we want them to change, and they see shops that sell fair-traded stuff taking their market share.
When you go into these chains if you see a manager ask if they have any plans to stock/increase their range of fair traded/organic stuff. If enough people do this, the message will get passed to head office.
I used to do this with free range eggs before they became common place in supermarkets and look how that succeeded 😉
And - one more point! - we should all be asking ourselves if we really need all this stuff before we buy it.
RE: I am not a plastic bag
As an alternative, for £2, you can get a large hessian bag from TK Maxx which opens up squarly and is excellent for shopping, holding about 2-3 times what you would get in a plastic bag, and much stronger. We use these when we shop, and Tescos gives us 2 or 3 green points per bag (depending on the cashier) because of their size.
That's my tip for the day.
😉
RE: I am not a plastic bag
If you look at the clean up fashion site, TK Maxx came out poorly in the survey as well, however, they werent the only ones.
New Look and Tescoseemed to fair a bit better but there was much room for improvement there as well.
The fact is, most of the high street chains treat overseas workers very shoddily indeed.
Look at asda, a great recycle drive on at the moment, they are selling a jute bag with a great big fairtrade stamp on it, choose to reuse and they are one of the worst offenders when it comes to overseas conditions.
I had mentioned on another post, a lot of the large supermarkets are jumping on the recycle and fairtrade bandwagon but their own clothes ranges are made in sweatshops.
I do think its a case of writing to stores asking for more fairtrade stuff but there are links on that site also to send messages to the factory owners to improve conditions and also email the stores such as Asda, Primark and others asking what they are going to do to improve overseas workers conditions.
I used to eat free range eggs as well before I discovered that the hens are still gassed to death when they are 12 months old, but I appreciate your point, its only when we get motivated about stuff like this changes happen.
I buy a lot of ethical stuff online but I am going to start campaigning to get supermarkets to sit up and take notice on the clothing issue and I am sure a few friends and family will also do the same.
Its very easy to buy clothes and then wonder whether someone is being exploited when you read about it later but for me, Im going to try my best to change where I shop until conditions improve.
RE: I am not a plastic bag
I think the bags from TK Maxx were labelled as fair trade when we bought them. It might even say it on the side of them, I'll have to go and look. If I remember I'll come back and post later the results....
😉
RE: I am not a plastic bag
Thats good, but the thing is and I'm sure you'll agree, these large supermarkets, the range of fairtrade goods is mininal at the moment and especially places like asda, who are trying to expand their fairtrade goods, but their own clothes ranges are made in sweatshops.
They could be doing so much more and that just shows it.
If you get the chance to look at the link above, do so, it makes very interesting reading.
RE: I am not a plastic bag
Thanks a lot for this link chrystaltherapy.
I clickt strait H&M and the Bangladesh article because thats whats on most of the lables in my tops[&:]
I defenately want to change that!!!!
Thank you for bringing awarenes to this.
And - one more point! - we should all be asking ourselves if we really need all this stuff before we buy it
I think you are totally right janewriting. I needed (meaning material stuff) less and less over the years..what a liberation!! When I look around me shopping seems to be the new religion.
it keeps someone in employment!
Tendarah, probably thats what many people think, sadly....or they are like I was just thinking ..ahhh thats nice and cheap..leaving no place for other thoughts like..why is it so cheap...[:-]
x
RE: I am not a plastic bag
If anyone reads the pdf file regarding the questions that all large clothing producers should be asked, its on the link I gave, I found it very thought provoking and interesting.
I have probably posted this link before but [link= http://www.naturalcollection.com ]www.naturalcollection.com[/link], they sell organic clothes, fairtrade and veggie and vegan beauty products, they always have a sale on, they deliver really quickly and for every purchase made a donation goes to charity.
That site has gone a long way to showing me that ethical shopping can be funky, cheap and fun.
People also get a fair wage for a fair days work.
RE: I am not a plastic bag
If people read the article and feel motivated to do so I really hope that you give 5 mins to support some of the links and email the factory employers.
If you read that large pdf on the site, there are stories of workers who are employed to make products for very large supermarkets being forced to work 24 hour shifts and being denied rights such as going to the toilet.
Trade unionists in countries who are trying to change conditions are being intimidated and even murdered in some cases.
I am really having a large rethink about what clothes and shoes I wear in order that what is on my back, hasnt meant someone being treated cruelly and threatened with the sack or sacked if they complain.
Some of these shops when asked were quite open about the fact that they did not believe in a minimum living wage for their employees.
When the head of Primark was offered a garment that would cost 5 pounds to make and sell for ten pounds, he said he wanted it to cost 3 quid to make and sell for 7 and he didnt care how those costs were reduced.
Until Primark goes fairtrade or hell freezes over, I wont be shopping there again, no matter if you can get copies of catwalk clothes dirt cheap, its not worth it.
RE: I am not a plastic bag
There was an article in yesterdays paper stating that some people are now buying these "I am not a plastic bag" bags off Ebay for up to £200 simply because theyare limited edition designer bags [:@]I am pleased that some Supermarkets are following the example set by the Co-op and increasing Fair trade goods however we have an uphill battle dealing with consumers who have this mentality...
RE: I am not a plastic bag
ORIGINAL: solas
...however we have an uphill battle dealing with consumers who have this mentality...
Similar to the mentality of all those women who were lining up to buy their (limited to) 5 items from the new Kate Moss collection of fashion. For gawds sake, their just ordinary clothes; pairs of jeans etc.; nothing special about them.
Love and Reiki Hugs
RE: I am not a plastic bag
Well I was in Top Shop yesterday and I can assure you, the Kate Moss range is nothing special. A plain vest top, 12 quid, a kaftan, 60 quid, the range certainly didnt sell out north of the border.
Kate Moss got 3 million quid for helping put this together, I wonder how much the people in the sweatshops who made the range got paid?
I like the co-op, its always been an ethical shop, Im just sorry I dont have one near me any longer. TU at Sainsburys are also doing a fairtrade range.
We all have responsibilty and choice when it comes to making ethical shopping purchses, agreed the choice is limited but I for one, wont be buying sweatshop made goods, now or any time in the future.
RE: I am not a plastic bag
[link= http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org ]www.labourbehindthelabel.org[/link]
Another useful link