Play Sherlock with Shopping

The Problem

Many big brands divert our attention from their horrible deeds with incredible deals and convenience, but what do we sacrifice every day when we buy from these places? H&M and Zara 'greenwash' their brands or makes themselves seem sustainable when they do more harm than good for the environment (check out Hasan Minhaj's investigation into fast fashion here and John Oliver exposing some of the biggest fashion industry brands). 

The Solutioin

It's up to us to build our consumer awareness. Your questions could inform the world of what popular brands are covering up. Are you up to the challenge?

The Method

• Go through your closet and find out what brand you buy from most. You can also pick a non-clothing brand and check out the other brands you buy products from. Now you have a target.
• Research keywords like '[brand name] controversy', 'greenwashing', 'labour practices', 'sweatshops', 'ethical, 'sustainable' and whatever else you can think of. Put yourself in Sherlock's shoes and investigate.
• If and when you find something, always be sure to check your sources for credibility before informing the general public. It's not a good idea to post this stuff randomly on social media, but you can contact NGOs and organisations working against these practices.
• If you don't feel like reading long, boring reports, check out the research that has already been done on the brand you're investigating and be sure to boycott it if you find out something's fishy. Let your friends and family know what the brand is doing and why you should stray away from it.
• Once your research is complete, you can present it in your school (if you're still in school) or create a petition against it.

Disclaimer: This challenge is purely research-based to encourage consumer awareness and does not advise anyone to accuse companies that do not participate in such practices online or offline. 

Good luck to your investigation!