Fashion companies - Greenwashing?

From Rana Plaza Collapse in 2013 in Bangladesh
To a recent cotton farmer project by CottonConnect funded by Primark
To the World Recycle Week of H&H.
These two fashion retailers were involved into the collapse. (Bangladesh fashion factory safety work severely behind schedule)
Much concern about greenwashing in fashion industry.

 

Many companies in fashion industry are getting profits from selling cheap fashion in developed markets by outsourcing in developing countries where they can easily go through the loose laws in labor practices and environment. The collapse of Rana Plaza happened in 2013 is a typical example to see that such exploitation has been going on. (Rana Plaza articles) 1,135 factory workers died in the Rana Plaza collapse. H&H and Primark are involved in the incident where they failed to keep track on their supply chain. Their factories or suppliers had not installed basic fire-safety measures before Rana Plaza and even two years after the incident. “13% of those suppliers have failed to take the basic step of removing locks from doors which could impede workers escaping a fire.” According to theguardian (Bangladesh fashion factory safety work severely behind schedule), the renovation of the site is still in very slow pace.

Meanwhile, these fashion companies have implemented some side project, event such World Recycle Week of H&H and Cotton Farmer Project by CottonConnect financially funded by Primark. According to theguardian (Am I a fool to expect more than corporate greenwashing?) (Primark tackles fast fashion critics with cotton farmer project in India), such event looks like a kind of greenwashing.

In case of Primark,  “The company argues that buying Fairtrade cotton or paying farmers more is not a suitable strategy for them – although a statement on its website refers to a plan to sell Fairtrade in the future “depending on market demand”.”

In case of H&H, “it would take 12 years for H&M to use up 1,000 tons of fashion waste.” and “if 1,000 tons is recycled, that roughly equates to the same amount of clothes a brand of this size pumps out into the world in 48 hours. Then there are the voucher schemes, which often fuel more purchasing.” Besides, “H&M’s Recycle Week clashes exactly with the grassroots Fashion Revolution campaign.” “Last April’s Fashion Revolution got huge traction on social media (124 million impressions of the hashtag alone).” “H&M will now use the same idea for World Recycle Week.”

The question is whether they have started looking at their supply chain seriously or they are just finding out ways to build their “reputation” to hide real problems behind?!

Reference:

Am I a fool to expect more than corporate greenwashing? <ttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/03/rana-plaza-campaign-handm-recycling>

Bangladesh fashion factory safety work severely behind schedule
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/28/bangladesh-factory-safety-scheme-stalls>

Primark tackles fast fashion critics with cotton farmer project in India <https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/sep/30/primark-tackles-fast-fashion-critics-cotton-farmer-project-india-gujarat-cottonconnect>

Rana Plaza <https://www.theguardian.com/world/rana-plaza>