What's the Bugaboo with China: Part 2

China is top of mind. The Olympics, Tibet, earthquakes, dog food, lead laced toys, smog spitting chimney stacks and a Chinese Milli Vanilli scandel stemming deep from the heart of the politburo make us all wonder  the suitability of China's membership to the global community. These issues are serious and they have sparked a vocal and valid concern from some Members. Here's a sampling of what they're saying: 

China - No Regard for the Planet or Human Life & the Antithesis of of Freedom

I am looking for products that are NOT made in China. Any other country is fine, but to contribute to the wealth of a country that has no regard for the planet or human life goes against my convictions. I'm sorry to see so many undoubtedly fine products being sourced in China.  (MEC Member)

I am fully aware that there are gray areas but the behaviour of the Chinese government before and during the Olympics (let's not even think of the reprisals coming down the pike after the Olympics) is clearly antithetical to the core value of freedom. Surely you can find products of equal value manufactured in Canada, the U.S., India, or western countries. (MEC Member)

Not Made in China - Make it Elsewhere

This spring, there was increased international attention on the Tibetan cause during the Olympic torch relay. Many were calling for an outright boycott of the Olympics. However, I feel that such a boycott would only hurt the athletes who have trained long and hard for this event without affecting the Chinese government at all. To truly get the attention of the Chinese government, a boycott of Chinese products is necessary. As a consumer, I have begun to avoid Made in China products. However, I believe that retailers and manufacturers will need to stop doing business with China to effect any change. (MEC Member)

I used to be - still am but less so - an advocate of MEC. One of the most important reasons was that I could generally find good quality products that were made in Canada, at least assembled in Canada if clothing. Recently it seems to be more often the case that the products are made in China. I find this regrettable. I for one go to great lengths to NOT buy anything made in China for a number of reasons. I prefer not to outsource jobs there for one, their inexcusable human rights record another, and the inappropriate maintenance of the Yen at what central bankers believe to be a 30% discount, among others mean that buying their stuff is simply a bad idea. Not to mention the fact that a lot of it is crap.

I have been looking for high quality cycling gear and find mounds of stuff - you guessed it - Made in China. Sorry won't buy it. I am retired, and slightly pre-boomer, very fortunately have enough money to choose a more expensive product when appropriate, and so choose not to buy this junk. No doubt an ever increasing number of older folks with cash to burn and looking for healthy activities are one of you target markets. If many are like me and prefer to buy Canadian, North American, European and NOT China, it will not bode well for your store. And of course there is always the internet. (MEC Member)

I'm a member of MEC and I'm so glad to buy my equipment for "bike to work/school" at a coop I co-own instead of a corporation only wanting to make profit. However, I'm also committed to buy local products since 1) Canadian environmental laws are often more strict than emerging emerging country ones, 2) buying locally do not only sustain local economy but is also more ecological since it require less transportation and 3) working laws (and mechanisms to enforce those laws) are often more respectful of the human rights in Canada than emerging countries. I read on MEC site and on BLOG.MEC site about ethics and I can see that the people of my coop is sensible to my concerns. I just wanted to tell you in person that, the more North American products MEC will make, the more I will buy. I am ready to pay more money and to have less choice.

Last year, I wanted to buy mittens at MEC, but couldn't find any "homegrown" one. But winter in Montréal is cold for the hands, especially on a bike. So I cut 2 old sweaters I couldn't wear anymore and made mittens out of it.

Keep up the good work 'cause I'm ready to take the change,  (MEC Member)

I'm quite shocked to see more and more products in your store that are made in China. Yes, you could plea it's to stay competitive, we know the charade. But the truth is you promote responsibility. I took a look at the audit and was appalled to see that the vast majority of abuses occurred in China.

This is "normal"? We all know conditions faced there by workers and citizens are out of the ordinary, in a tyrannical kind of way. So from this standpoint,why even bother to give contracts to those factories?

I would be quite interested to know more details about the abused Chinese workers suffered while making your stylish MEC wear.  I would be quite interested to know the exact name of those factories where those abused occurred.

Should I be less worried about clothes made in India? Yes, but my heart is still uneasy when I buy your MEC gear made in India, as I doubt they were really ethically made.

Anyways, I'm an MEC member since a long way and I will keep buying MEC, but will avoid forever anything that's made in China. Even if it's a thick pullover, it still makes me shiver.

I deeply encourage you to keep straightening your path and wish to see no unethical clothes in your stores in the near future. (MEC Member)

Paying to Play

I am finding it ever harder to find Canadian or USA made clothing.  Why is this?  I for one do not mind paying a little extra for homemade product.I will not buy made in china and other far eastern countries.I have to say that more and more of your gear is now the latter. (MEC Member)

I recently bought one of the top-line Gore Tex jackets (Aegis). In addition to being pleased with the quality I was equally pleased that it is made in Canada.

Too often companies make their prices competitive by buying products from countries with questionable human rights or environmental records. (One example is China, which fails miserably on both counts.)

Some governments believe that human rights are a nation's internal matter (especially when profitable trade with that country is at stake). As well, some governments (including ours) do not wish to follow the Kyoto accord as developing countries (like China and India), which already have much cheaper labour costs, do not. (I must admit, there may be some economic merit to this argument.) One way that these issues can be addressed is by statements made by consumers, and by companies (like yours.)

Personally, I would prefer to pay more for articles made in countries that demonstrate social and environmental responsibility. (I quite frankly would have hesitated to buy the jacket if it had been made in China, even if it had been cheaper.)  Douglas Eyolfson (Winnipeg)

I hope that you will work with the board of directors in pulling MEC out of China in consideration of environmental and human rights issues. A country that has no respect for human life or the health of the planet should not be endorsed by continuing business relationships. As a consumer I'll gladly pay more for products made elsewhere.(MEC Member)

Keep-up the Good Work

I would also like to thank you for watching out for me and others like me. Consumers like me, are looking for the best product at the best price, but we don't always have the time to investigate how these products are being made and who is producing them. Your Ethical Sourcing Policy, and your care for our environment (i.e. buying your energy from wind power producers, using biodegradable bags among many others) are big reasons why I am more than happy to shop at your store. Not only do I get great gear at great prices, but every time I shop at MEC, I feel am also helping out the planet and those that live on it. If we could all look at MEC as an example, what a difference we could make! (MEC Member)

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Thank you for your valid comments.  They present serious matters and have been carefully weighed.  It's important that consumers shop with conviction even if that means boycotting MEC.  If we can truly align our consumerism with our commitment to stop global warming or free humankind from political tyranny or crushing poverty, we would be in a better place.   

About 1/3 of everything we sell in our stores is made in China.  As we continue to grow, as we have in the past four years, more and more of goods will come from China.  But it's not just the products on the retail floor.  It's nearly every computer, cash register and electronic device that keep our stores and back office operations humming.   They all have at least one chip or component originating from China (including Taiwan).   

The financial strength of MEC is tightly influenced by the Canadian economy.  Our economy grew by 3.4% in the laster quarter, in part driven by consumer spending at MEC and other retailers.  Our economy is strong and more Canadians have jobs than ten years ago partly because of a strong US and global economy.  A vibrant American market (until recently) is made possible by China's gigantic appetite for US debt.  China holds over $1 trillion (1,000,000,000,000) of US T-bills, bonds and etc., and by doing so has prevented the US economy from worsening and sending ours in a tailspin.  MEC is tied to China because of product.  Canadians are tied to China because it has kept the US economy afloat and ours buzzing. 

China's ability to make over 1/3 of everything we sell or to be one of the largest lenders in the global market reflects both its integration and importance to the world economy.  This success back at home has allowed China to lift 400 million of its citizens from poverty within a 25 year period.  Impressive and regrettable.  Impressive in that 400 million people are moving to a middle class lifestyle like ours.  Regrettable, in terms of there being another 400 million who don't have access to adequate health care, schools and jobs and who suffer from crippling poverty.  To fight this serious social malaise, China is banking on further industrialization (produce more cheap goods) augmented with 21st century high value added industries (biotech, telecommunications and etc.,) 

Fixing the massive social problems of China or feeding the insatiable appetite of Western consumerism have had enormous environmental consequences for the Chinese.  The Chinese live in some of the most polluted cities in the world and will face significant water security issues in the immediate future.  These and other ecological disasters are the direct result of the 100,000 + factories dotting the landscape, the 1000's of coal fed energy plants powering those factories and the soon to be millions of cars driven by the county's middle class.  The total emissions from all of these sources have catapulted China to second place (after the US) in terms of pumping out global warming gases.  However, on a per capita basis every employee of MEC, every Member and every Canadian produces 5 times more carbon than the average Chinese.  Who is responsible for destroying our planet?  Everyone of us.      

China is governed by a dictatorship that won't disappear soon.  It's factories and industrious 1.3 billion people have become a significant factor to our middle class life style.  To understand the economic realities of why we buy from China and the interconnectedness of humanity read our position on sourcing.  To probe why everyone must "be their brother's keeper", especially in helping 400 million people escape poverty, hop on a ride with the man with the cart.  To grasp a different picture on China's morality or lack of follow Jesus as he freaks at the money changers. To glimpse at why we ought to be equally peeved with China's monstrous environmental practices and with our own complicity to global warming, download The Rights of Man & Global Warming and the Tragedy of the Commons.  Finally, if you've done all of this, what's the bugaboo with China?   You tell me!

Comments

[Tommy]

HC,

I wonder why you have chosen to characterize the CDN sewn products industry as an industry dominated by Asian immigrant woman.

Obviously you have never been in factory settings in Quebec or in many parts of Toronto. Perhaps local Vancouver factories are populated by Asian woman, but I suggest you get out and see operations in other provinces.

You might also pick up a book on supply chain management and see what producing locally does for a community.

I'd love to have a one on one with you pal.You're a pretty tough guy from behind the keyboard.

[HC]

Tommy

Actually, I'm a pretty tough guy in front of the keyboard as well.

Happy blogging.

[Tommy]

Harvey,

You're an idiot. I'll bet you have never been in a factory outside of Vancouver.

You write as if you are Captain Supply Chain, but dude it's obvious you don't know much other than what you have learned in your limited capacity at MEC.

Were laughing at you now pal. You don't make sense. You tripped up yourself and went jackass many posts ago.
I hope Starbucks will take you on.

[HC]

Hey Tommy

Sourcing from outside Canada can be highly emotional. It makes some angry, frustrated and even teary eyed. Your emotions in this context are understood.

It's ironic, the Federal government recently flipped when it found out much of the olympic program is made off-shore yet when Congress recently wanted to promote "buy US" only, Ottawa went into double flip mode.

Ottawa's flip flop mentality kind of reflects Canadians. We want the best of the world with very little sacrifice on our side. It's easy to be so insular when we've been well fed and the only challenge we've had is turning on X-box in dad's cold basement.

Starbucks doing some novel things with fair trade and coffee, and with fighting poverty in African communities. It would be an interesting place to work. Do you have any contacts?

Keep the faith and happy blogging.