A substantial portion of clothes and footwear, produced by innumerable factories in Cambodia to be sold by global fashion brands like Adidas, H&M, Walmart, Primark and The North Face, end up as fuel in brick kilns, an investigation by a British watchdog has found..
The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) stated, in a report released Tuesday, that the waste materials are frequently provided free of charge or at a low cost to brick kiln operators by factory management, who view it as a cost-effective way to get rid of the unsellable goods. However, this practice has resulted in the creation of mountains of waste, posing serious ecological and health concerns in numerous nations, including some of the world’s poorest, such as Cambodia..
The problem of waste in the fashion industry has been a source of concern for a considerable period of time, with studies indicating that the industry creates a significant amount of pollution and generates a substantial quantity of clothing that is never sold. Fashion industry giants like H&M and Burberry have recently garnered attention due to their extensive disposal of unsold items, sparking outrage and debate regarding the sustainability of the industry’s current practices..
In the case of Cambodia, the BHRRC’s investigation specifically implicates the widespread burning of waste from garment factories in open-air brick kilns. Among the brands that reportedly have been discovered to be involved in this practice are Adidas, H&M, Primark, Walmart, New Balance and The North Face..
The report highlights the environmental and health risks associated with this practice, emphasizing the release of hazardous toxins and harmful pollutants into the air when these materials are burned. Moreover, it highlights the contribution of this practice to the rapidly growing volumes of waste in Cambodia, with the country’s yearly output of clothing increasing by roughly 20 percent in recent times..
In light of these findings, the BHRRC issued an urgent call to all brands implicated in this report to acknowledge the situation and take immediate action to mitigate their contribution to the problem. The report stresses the necessity of addressing both the waste problem and the existing deficiencies in waste management systems in Cambodia, while simultaneously ensuring that the rights of the workers involved in this sector are upheld..
This situation serves as a stark reminder of the substantial impact that the fashion industry has on the environment and human well-being, particularly in nations with limited resources like Cambodia. It underscores the urgent need for a collective effort by brands, governments and advocacy organizations to address this issue comprehensively, promoting sustainable practices that prioritize the protection of both the environment and the rights of workers within the fashion industry..
