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Deadly pet food, poisonous toothpaste, carcinogenic shrimp, and toxic Thomas the Tank Engine toys aren’t the only dangerous exports coming out of China. According to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, a trusted source amongst academics and UN environmental envoys, The People’s Republic of China is now the largest producer of greenhouse gases. As China continues to pollute at an alarming and exponential rate, arguments are surfacing amongst environmentalists that Western companies, manufacturing in China, are to blame. Some are accusing American multinational corporations (MNCs) of practicing “eco-colonialism” by exporting pollution-intensive industries to China.
I’m not ready to point an accusatory finger at Western corporations just yet — according to Council on Foreign Relations Asia expert, Elizabeth Economy, “billions in environmental assistance have flowed to China from [MNCs]” and the majority of China’s pollution comes from state owned enterprises. On the other hand, Western corporations manufacturing in China are still contributors. Rather than sitting back and reaping the benefits of China’s cheap wage, Western corps should be monitoring their production pollution with the same intensity as their production labor.
After uproars from the National Labor Committee in the mid-90s, many Western apparel companies employed independent “watchdog” organizations, such as Social Accountability International, to curb child labor. When I worked in the corporate offices of a large international retailer, I must admit to being struck by the company’s substantial in-house Human Rights Compliance team. Fearing a PR scandal, big retail groups pour cash into third party auditors while some retail conglomerates even partner with competitors to survey and strategize contracted factories.
Now that China is the largest greenhouse gas producer in the world where are the corporate Environmental Compliance teams? Where are the third party auditors and spies checking emissions, transportation standards, and waste management? If “made in China” corporations could use the same strategy for pollution as they do child labor then perhaps we could make some progress to fix a very large and urgent problem.
It’s amazing how much is made in China. Being a new mother of twins, it is almost impossible to avoid things produced there. An organic stuffed monkey toy, every nightmarish piece of plastic that has been given to us, and even G Diapers (supposedly more enviro-friendly than any disposable variety) are made in China. It is incredible.
I would be very curious to hear more about the affect MNC’s are having, in contrast to the enviro impact of domestic companies.
Great piece Olivia.
You know, you always hear about how much cheaper stuff is made for in China, and while I’m sure it’s true, I wonder how much cheaper? I just read that fair-trade organic jeans cost the consumer about $2 more per pair to make than regular jeans, which really doesn’t seem like much to me. I wonder what kind of markup you’d really see if products were made in the US rather than China. Would it really be that extreme?
Thanks for an interesting piece – as an environmentalist and entrepreneur who has just made my first import from China, may I add my 2 cents? There was a question above about how much cheaper can a product from China really be. One question that was not asked was, how much is actually made in the US? The product I was buying (eco yoga mats for kids) is simply not made in the US. Nothing is made here if you want to get to the heart of it. Yes, there are companies in Europe that manufacture eco yoga mat material, but as a (very) small business owner, importing consumer goods such as mine would be prohibitive.
I heard a news piece on NPR a few months ago about one factory that had just opened in the states. One factory! THAT was news! I find this to be frightening since we are completely at the mercy of China for not only our economy, but for the goods which we use without thinking every day.
don’t worry…we still lead China in per capita carbon consumption. Yeah, USA!
Katy, you know what would be awesome? If you opened up a factory, in like Detroit. Someplace where people know how to work in factories and are desperate for jobs. Pittsburgh would also work, as would parts of Chicago.
I am completely and totally serious, btw.
Also, I would be cautious about trusting the Council on Foreign Relations. Some of their research is suspect, and they, on occasion tweak numbers.