The same people who don’t have access to PPE or sanitation are forced to sit shoulder-to-shoulder, tirelessly creating face masks to protect everyone else and curb the spread of the virus.
It’s less natural — uncomfortable even — to think of the social and environmental impacts of our new protection methods. But the truth is, these impacts will far outlast the viral outbreak.
With many countries reopening while the virus is still running rampant, face masks have become an everyday essential. With that in mind, can you actually answer these questions about your face mask?
- Who made it?
- Where was it made?
- What materials were used?
- What’s the overall environmental impact from production?
And if you can, are you proud of your answers?
These are the questions we should be asking before choosing to purchase any garment or accessory, but they’re particularly relevant when it comes to the new mass-produced, everyday essential that became the “norm” just months ago.
It’s time we all face the facts about face masks.
Sweatshop conditions are worsening.
Memories of Rana Plaza haunt our minds, but sweatshops remain astonishingly abundant — in Bangladesh, Los Angeles, and far beyond and between.
Although public awareness of unethical labor practices in the fashion industry has increased overall and some progress has been made to eliminate sweatshops, many retail companies and consumers continue to turn a blind eye to the full breadth of human rights violations for the sake of fulfilling their own needs — especially in these uncertain times.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken these devastating labor practices to an entirely new level. In parallel with retail companies that continue to neglect their ethical responsibility, hospitals are actually capitalizing on the availability to use sweatshops for mask production.
In Los Angeles alone, impacts are devastating. COVID-19 cases are rapidly approaching the 200,000-mark, and hospitals are so desperate for personal protection equipment (PPE) that they’ve turned to the LA garment district as a supplier.
In many other countries — Poland, Romania, Turkey, and Serbia for example — the pandemic halted traditional sweatshop work as retail businesses suffered. But much like LA, these sweatshops quickly switched to mask production when the demand became abundantly clear.
Production changed, but conditions worsened. In addition to the horrible existing sweatshop labor conditions like unethical wages, 16-hour workdays, limited bathroom breaks, inadequate ventilation, child labor, and more, the pandemic has added new dangers.
Sweatshops outwardly neglect safety advice from health organizations. Workers are strenuously producing masks day after day under the preexisting conditions, yet still don’t have adequate access to masks themselves.
Many garment workers have reported bathrooms without soap and some without running water. Not to mention, no access to fast, convenient cleaning products like hand sanitizer.
The same people who don’t have access to PPE or sanitation are forced to sit shoulder-to-shoulder, tirelessly creating face masks to protect everyone else and curb the spread of the virus.
Yet garment workers feel they have nowhere to turn.
In the US, the underground, off-the-books nature of the conventional garment industry eliminates the possibility for these workers to receive relief, unemployment, or better opportunities.
Across the world, garment workers are being laid off and new job opportunities are scarce due to the pandemic’s impact on the global economy. Reports in Bangladesh and Thailand reveal that tens of thousands of garment workers have been laid off and struggle to find jobs. The workers who remain “employed” report feeling that they have no choice but to stay for the sake of job, food, and shelter security — despite alarming conditions.
The very least we can do as consumers is acknowledge these exploitations, spread awareness, and adjust our behaviors accordingly.
The environment is suffering.
When face masks were first introduced to the public as a suggested (or required) precaution, many people turned to surgical masks. It’s recommended that surgical masks be discarded after just one day’s use, and they’re typically made of non-biodegradable materials like polypropylene.
Think plastic-based, single-use necessity — just when single-use plastics were gaining the negative attention they deserve. Not to mention, these masks end up living a long life, roughly 450 years, in landfills and oceans.
In France alone, authorities have ordered over two billion disposable face masks. Based on that number, French conservationists predict that soon, there may be more face masks than jellyfish in the Mediterranean.
As of late May, 50 countries have made it compulsory to wear a face mask, and the WHO estimates a demand of 89 million medical masks per month while the pandemic persists.
Consider the waste from plastic hand sanitizer bottles and disposable gloves — and all other disposable products that give us a sense of security during this time (think take-out containers, disposable coffee cups, and plastic grocery store bags, that have seen an exponential uptick in use).
The impacts on our already-vulnerable planet are colossal, and many won’t even realize it.
Your help is essential.
As humans, we have an infamous track record for creating massive issues for the simple sake of comfort and satisfaction. And there’s no question that a pandemic has the power to bring out anxiety and behaviors that we’ve never experienced before.
The good news is, the COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled our ability to come together like never before.
With that, we have the opportunity to bring attention to the environmental, ethical, and social issues that come from disposable fashion. And at the very least, we can do our part to unite and explore new initiatives and resolve this new problem as fast as possible.
One of the biggest, most important ways to do this is spreading awareness and using knowledge to power our decisions.
With more people working from home and spending way more time on social media, we have a unique opportunity to put a bigger spotlight on issues plaguing our world, from social justice and pollution in the fashion industry to all corners of society.
Here are some things to keep in mind and preach to your friends — now and always.
DIY.
Throughout our lives, society has programmed us to be consumers. Conscious consumerism is a step in the right direction, but we have the opportunity to take it a step further by shifting our mindset towards the maker movement.
We come from all walks of life with different interests and talents, but we have one thing in common: we all have the potential to be makers, and we often forget it.
A surefire way to avoid unethical production and minimize your environmental impact is to upcycle materials you already have to make your own mask.
You, just like any garment worker, are both a consumer and a creator. And we all have the lifelong responsibility of treating each other — and Mother Nature — with respect and compassion.
Know where your products come from.
To circle back to my opening questions, do you know where your mask came from? Even more, do you know where and how your favorite brand produces all of its products?
There’s immense power in knowledge. When you know where your products come from, you know what type of labor you’re supporting.
Knowledge allows you to decide:
Will your purchase support a sweatshop that puts workers shoulder-to-shoulder in the middle of a pandemic without even paying them a living wage?
Or will your purchase fund a business that protests unethical labor conditions, allows artisans to break free from the cycle of poverty, and introduces impoverished communities to the global economy?
Choose to support local, ethical producers.
Small, local businesses have taken a massive hit from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A survey conducted by the International Trade Centre reveals:
- Worldwide, small businesses make up more than 95% of all formal and informal businesses and account for 65% of total employment. A widespread crash would impose devastating impacts on national and global economies.
- 25% of small businesses in developing countries will permanently close as a result of the pandemic.
- 75% of surveyed African small businesses admit that the pandemic has imposed severe impacts that they may never bounce back from.
With openings across the globe, regenerating money into your local economy is more important than ever. You may be surprised by all the opportunities that your local businesses provide. Local, ethical producers not only have your comfort essentials, but they have the ability to act as distribution networks to provide relief and support to your neighborhood — from PPE to food.
Don’t make the same mistake that LA hospitals made by turning to the garment district sweatshops. Instead, turn to ethical designers like Homework 4 Health that donates all face mask profits to the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund for LA Garment Workers.
Roopa Pemmaraju is another luxury and consciously slow fashion brand that is producing PPE with a purpose. Designed in New York and handcrafted by artisans in India, all face mask profits go straight back to the artisans and their families during this time.
At the base of slow fashion, you’ll find efforts to relentlessly promote ethical working conditions, minimize environmental impacts, and advocate for sustainability in all aspects. Turn to your favorite slow fashion brand (extra props if they’re local) for your reusable face mask. A dollar towards slow fashion is a dollar towards ethical production and artisan love.
With a little bit of consciousness, compassion, and willingness, you have the power to drive change and promote social and environmental justice — use it!
About the Author
Jordan Horwat is a professional copywriter and conscious consumer passionate about exposing the lack of ethics and sustainability in the conventional fashion industry. In her own experience, learning about these topics alone has made it nearly impossible to consciously support companies that only care about turning a profit. Jordan uses her writing as a tool to empower consumers to use these injustices as motivation to endorse mission-driven, ethical brands — brands that risk fortune and popularity for the sake of the environment and humanity. Check out more about her work and services on her website Copy by Jordan.
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