Ma Jun, Environmentalist & Director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE), was shocked to find some chemical giants don’t even know the names of their textile intermediate suppliers and says the NGO will continue to call out irresponsible companies.
Ecotextile News: "Do you think there’s a link between the deadly explosion at Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Co. and the continued drive for low-cost fashion?
Ma Jun: "The drive for low-cost fashion puts great pressure on sourcing teams to seek the cheapest materials, which in turn, puts pressure on their chemical suppliers to minimise costs. This culture, however, incentivises cutting corners and multiplies environmental and safety risks in a very dangerous industrial sector with a large environmental footprint.
