Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is when a company tries to be a good citizen by doing things that help people and the environment.
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For example, some companies might recycle their waste to help reduce pollution, or they might donate money to charities to help people in need.
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Basically, CSR means that companies don't just focus on making money, but also on being responsible and helping the world around them in a positive way.
Video
Puzzles
English
Take a Stance
Task 1: Write a post for your favourite fashion brand explaining who you think should be responsible for working conditions in the factories that produce their products - companies, consumers, government or local authorities?
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Task 2: Create a consumption journey which shows what you have bought and where it was sourced. Consider the wider implications of the behaviour in terms of corporate social responsibility, waste and sustainability.
Experiments and Challenges
Task 1
Using the 10 clothing items you wear most (excluding underwear!), look at where they were made. Can you find one item made in your home country or one of its close neighbours?
In 2021, China produced most of the world’s textile exports, then the European Union, followed by India, Turkiye and the United States of America. The pay and conditions for textile workers vary hugely across the world. But even in countries like the UK, there have been recent scandals about how textile workers are treated. Thinking about how the people who make our clothes are treated is an essential part of deciding what to buy – so always check the labels as a starting point and see what the brands say about the garment workers in their supply chain.
Task 2
Often, brands that offer inexpensive clothes buy from producers that pay the workers low wages. So, look for higher quality clothes that are more likely to support higher wages. But how can we assess the quality of clothing?
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6 tips:
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Look at the stitches in the seams. Check if the tread looks strong or if there are loose or missing stitches. Gently pull the seams to see if the garment holds together well.
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Gently pull the fabric to see if it retains its shape or if the material looks altered.
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Hold the garment to a bright light to see if the material is thick. Generally, the thicker the material, the higher the quality.
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Metal zippers are often stronger than plastic and are used in more expensive garments.
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If spare buttons are included, this is usually a sign of higher quality. Also, check how well the buttons are attached and if they fit the buttonholes well. If the buttons have four holes, ones stitched across the diagonals are usually better attached.
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Pattern fabric should usually match up at the seams. If they did not, there was often less care put into making the garment.
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See if your clothing meets at least four of these six tips. What is it, and why do you think that item has those qualities?
Also, if you buy clothes that are better made, they are more likely to last longer and can then be passed on or upcycled.
Weird and Wonderful Facts
When you buy clothes, only 1% of the price you pay goes to the people who make them.
H&M started a program to reward customers who buy eco-friendly clothes and recycle.
In 2018, the size of China's textile exports alone, which was worth $266.41 Bn, greater than Egypt's total economy (GDP)
