Fashion Brands that Destroy Unsold Goods Social Sciences Essay (Essay Sample)

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04 November 2019
Fashion Brands that Destroy Unsold Goods
1 The Problem
Why fashion brands destroy valuable merchandize is an issue that raises concern. According to an article in September 2018 by Chavie Leiber of Vox Media, the luxury brand Burberry received widespread criticism from social media for admitting that they destroyed unsold items.
2 The Facts
The British luxury brand had revenue of $3.6 billion in 2017, but its annual report indicated that it destroyed $36.8 million worth of its own merchandise. Shoppers were furious after receiving the news, #burnberry became a hashtag, and people vowed to boycott the company due to its wastefulness. The company responded by stating that it was to stop the destruction of excess products with immediate effect. Additionally, it would cease using real fur in making its products. Not only does destruction negatively impact the environment, but it is also wastefulness and unethical.
3 Destruction of Usable Merchandise is Unethical
The destruction of usable merchandise to maintain prestige not only taints the image of the fashion industry, but it is also unethical. The reason shoppers reacted harshly to the news of the destruction and the secrecy that surrounds the issue is because of it being an ethical dilemma. While companies do so to maintain prestige through scarcity and prevent the products from falling in the hands of counterfeiters, from the perspective of the public, it is morally wrong to destroy perfectly usable merchandise in a world where some people lack basic clothing items. The ethical option to handle unsold merchandise is to recycle cloth, leather, and precious metals. The statement of Burberry Chief Executive, “Modern luxury means being socially and environmentally responsible,” explains why luxury brands should consider recycling rather than destruction (Dalton 1).