“Legal” actions in low-cost line Eldorado’s, is it possible that laws or charters hinder big companies?

Since I started writing stories or so called “blogging”. During intense research about environmental topics in different fields, I had the feeling that most commonly the issues: petroleum products, plastic, fossil energy, even food is present. However not clothes. Although the clothing industry is on of the largest polluters.

Most consumers do not think of clothes as a source of environmental damage. Until media feels the “need” of catching up (negative) topics in the fashion industry as the factory collapsed in Bangladesh and end up in a catastrophe.

According to the WTO Report it can be seen that Bangladesh is 3rd biggest textile exporter. To become clear, I want to point out the biggest one H&M. The company has out of 500 officially listed factories 160 manufactories which produce for them. This fashion giant supplies millions of garments since more than 30 years. But in my view  it is so controversial and seems to be “llegal”  that, it is not just that question of which business the H&M has decided. It is also that they make their self a model of social responsibility.

Nevertheless, I am asking my self in this ethical paradise of H&M. Why they have chosen a country, where they have the highest population density in the world and sophisticating under one of the highest pollution levels? Do they wanted to be socially active and start a change?  I mean with an approximate yearly profit of 2€ billion euros, why not?

In this Eldorado of (low) cost fashion, where 40% of the people living above the poverty line, where out of 150 Mio. inhabitants 4 Million work in this industry. Which reason should they have to move or change anything?

In the ethical charter of H&Mit is clear that a worker has a 6 day week / 48h work, with regards to over time it must never exceed number of hours authorized by the law in the country concerned. According to the Bangladeshi legislation 60h a week are maximum allowed, or during exceptional periods.

So put it in a nutshell, which other “legal” paradox “laws” are out there, which are not going to hinder the Eldorado’s grow? Or how about rethinking our consumption or lifestyle?

Oh! Lifestyle here is another interesting article about how this issues was analyzed. Nevertheless here is another interesting chart which shows another example in which dimensions big textile companies are operating.