Garment Brands’ Waste Burnt in Cambodian Brick Factories; Few Commit to Act

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International brands’ garment waste is contributing to human rights and environmental harms in Cambodia’s brick factories. As detailed in a new report, LICADHO found pre-consumer garment waste at five operational and two permanently closed brick factories from April to September 2023. These factories in Phnom Penh and Kandal province burnt pre-consumer garment waste to fuel brick kilns. LICADHO found waste marked with 19 international brands as evidenced by the photographs below.

Burning garment waste exposes brick factory workers, their children and nearby communities to harmful emissions, which are associated with negative health and environmental impacts. Debt-bonded workers interviewed by LICADHO who were exposed to smoke from burnt garment waste reported respiratory problems, headaches and feelings of increased illness during pregnancy.

On 24 October 2023, LICADHO wrote to brands or their parent companies to inform them of the findings; provide them with an opportunity to respond; and request that they end, prevent and remedy the harm caused by their waste. As of June 2024, seven companies have replied as detailed in the table below. Meaningful, systemic action by garment brands and Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment is urgently needed. We urge all brands to immediately investigate the improper disposal of their waste and take action to end and remedy the harms caused.

These findings are part of LICADHO’s broader research into human rights abuses in Cambodia’s brick factories. For more information, read LICADHO’s report “Bound by Bricks: An Opportunity to End Debt Bondage and Child Labour in Cambodia’s Brick Factories”.

• Topics
• Children's Rights Environment Forced Labour Labour Rights