Blog 12:How Clean Are Your Clothes? Pollution from China's Textile Industry

 In China, apparel factories have been violating water regulations; more than 6000 violations have been cited. The violations include illegally dumping waste water into streams and rivers. Evidence shows there are likely many more violators out there and did not make the official record books.
The brands and retailers that get clothes can no longer hope that their facilities will remain quiet, many public officials would like for the curtain to rise on these problems.
The problem lies with the relationship between the business and the factory. The business usually has little or no contact with the factories further up and the supply chain before it gets to the finished product. The businesses don't see the damage to the environment only the profit. Businesses really need to step up their game to protect their brand reputations. Companies need to ensure that the factories that make their goods are not polluting the communities where they are operated. In fact companies need policies that give their suppliers business incentives to go beyond this compliance. Spend more time to make sure there are more efficient ways to make clothes with a smaller carbon footprint and use less toxic dyes and most importantly less water.


I see this article as a potential to change the environmental pollution with clothes. Businesses care about their reputation but most will not go above and beyond to make sure the people they buy from are taking care of the environment or even workers. Most of the businesses are just interested in getting the cheapest deal and do not care about what happens after the product is sold to them.


http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/skeane/how_clean_are_your_clothes_pol.html