ETHICS

ETHICAL ISSUES RESEARCH

• NL as a brand is rated high ethical by https://thegoodshoppingguide.com/fashion-retailers/

• "ETHICAL TRADING IS CENTRAL TO HOW WE WORK" - https://www.newlookgroup.com/sustainability/ethical-trading

- NL state that they have a role to play in upholding human rights, by ensuring workers in their supply chain are protected by policies etc 

- claim they put workers needs at the centre of their ethical sourcing strategy 

- understand many people in the garment marking industry face poor conditions 

- ensure all of their workers are treated fairly, safely and ethically no matter the country/ factory 

- they speak to workers around the world and listen to them, and visit the factories 

- all suppliers must commit to their 'ethical aims' set out to ensure fair and safe working conditions 

- the Aims align with the International Labour Organization’s conventions, and the Ethical Trade Initiative’s Base Code, to improve the labour standards of workers around the world

- 2005 they set up the Factory Improvement Programme 

- 2010 they let all suppliers know they're against the use of Uzbek raw cotton due to use of organised child labour and forced adult labour in cotton cultivation

- work with 7 other brands to improve pay, working hours and health and safety for workers 

- trained managers from Bangladesh factories in fire safety 

- this year; worked with 129 factories employing 82000 workers in India, Bangladesh and Cambodia to train factory management 

- regular factory inspections 

- ethically buy 

• modern slavery statement https://www.newlookgroup.com/sustainability/modern-slavery-statement

• WORKERS PAID £3 AN HOUR TO MAKE CLOTHES FOR NL - https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/uk-workers-paid-just-3-an-hour-to-make-clothes-for-river-island-and-new-look

- investigation found Leicester factories paid workers £3-£3.50 an hour to make clothes 

- also made clothes for river island

- investigation by channel 4 

- minimum wage is £7.20

- a Channel 4 reporter who was employed by Fashion Square to label clothes for River Island for £3 per hour, recorded one of the bosses saying competition with Asian exporters was the reason the company wasn't paying the minimum wage 

- "if we pay everyone £10 or £6 we will make a loss"

- NL said they terminated the relationship withe the company that owns the factories 

- the companies that own the factories deny the allegations 

• LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FACTORIES - https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Vehicles_at_Work/Work_Related_Vehicle_Safety/Legal_Requirements/

- Safety, health and welfare at work act 2005 requires; employers manage and conduct their work activities in such a manner as to ensure the safety, health and welfare of employees, a risk assessment to be carried out by the employer or person in control of the place of work, transport hazards that exist in the workplace must be assessed as part of this risk assessment and appropriate steps taken to eliminate or reduce any risks found

• NL'S ANIMAL WELFARE POLICY - https://www.newlookgroup.com/sustainability/animal-welfare

- claim they have excellent standards of animal welfare 

- "if animal products are used as part of their collections they must be sourced from farms with good animal husbandry"

- NL never use; animal fur, endangered species, leather from exotic/endangered animals, specific types of wool, cats/ dogs, angora, bone 

- but they still use; leather, wool, feather/ down, fish, certain types of animal hair 

- they never test on animals 

- animal protection; freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain/ injury/ disease, freedom from fear and distress

- follow recommendations set out by the World Organisation by Animal Health in their Animal Health Codes and the Farm Animal Welfare Committee and their Five Freedoms 

• TOP 5 ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY - https://ecowarriorprincess.net/2016/09/ethical-fashion-101-the-top-5-ethical-issues-in-the-fashion-industry/

- child labour 

- low wages 

- health and safety risks 

- environmental degradation 

- animal cruelty 

• CONSUMERS ATTITUDES TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FASHION - https://academic.mintel.com/display/972404/?highlight#hit1

- clearly, it is women and generation Z that care the most about a brands sustainable attitude, and deeply care for the environment and the effects the fashion industry is having on it, however this is a growing concern for more and more consumers 

• https://www-statista-com.hallam.idm.oclc.org/statistics/319487/ethical-retail-importance-in-the-united-kingdom-by-age/

- This is a graph to show the results a survey following the question 'to what extent are the ethical standards of retail companies and the products they sell an issue that matters to you?'
- Evidently, all of the percentages of responses are similar across all age groups which is not surprising as environmental issues are a current concern for everyone, following the detrimental impacts that it is having on the world, and how this affects everyone 
- However, the smallest percentage of people that agreed with the question, was the 16-24 year old demographic group, which is new looks biggest consumer group. This is not surprising given that this group is targeted by cheap garment, fast fashion companies which are detrimental for the planet as the cheap clothes are then worn a couple of times before being discarded. 16-24 year olds are targeted by them due to their stereotypical low disposable incomes and desire to wear the latest trends set out by celebrities and influencers, which change all the time