Moral issues Ethical design

Moral issues influence design and manufacture As consumers become more aware of the moral issues that affect how a product is designed and manufactured, so too are designers and manufacturers aware of the need to design and manufacture with this consideration. The following slides feature some of these concerning issues, and the principles followed to ensure a moral and ethical approach is taken into account when introducing new products.

Poor Wages Poor wages Workers (often in developing or poorer countries) are taken advantage of and are paid poor wages. Manufacturers can then produce products in high volume, enabling products to be sold cheaply in richer wealthier countries. I work long hours for little money, but I have to feed my family.

Fair Trade Fair trade Ensure that workers and producers are paid a fair price or wage. We are Mali cotton producers. With Fair trade, we are guaranteed a fair price for our cotton.

Poor working conditions Fair Trade Poor working conditions Workers (often in developing or poorer countries) are taken advantage of and are forced to work in unhealthy and unsafe environments. Children are also used as a form of cheap labour. Workers often inhale toxic chemicals and work with dangerous tools and machinery, with little training of safety precautions. I just get the job done whichever way I can; no one cares if I hurt myself.

Fair Trade Fair trade Ensure that children are not forced to work and employees are working in a healthy and safe environment. Fair trade ensures that I am not breathing in poisonous pesticides, as the cotton we grow is now organic.

Fair Trade Short-term work Often, workers in developing countries are not offered long-term contracts. They are being exploited as it means there are no contractual obligations or guarantees between the producers and the buyers. The manufacturers are under no obligation to give continued orders to the producers.

Fair Trade Fair trade Ensure that long-term trading relationships are established, so that producers and workers have a sustained income.

Lack of benefits for workers Fair Trade Lack of benefits for workers Workers (often in developing or poorer countries) are not given any sort of benefits. The most valuable benefits they could be offered are those of health and education to improve their quality of life. Help with school fees and health benefits would secure my family’s future.

Fair Trade Fair trade Ensure that workers are provided with much-needed benefits, such as health and education. Fair trade can lead to benefits, such as healthcare plans, education, transport, hospital treatment, and funeral costs.

Other issues to consider Animal rights Other issues to consider Animal rights Animal rights’ supporters strongly believe that it is no longer necessary to use real fur when there are so many good synthetic imitations. Vegans also believe that no product should be made from animal products; including leather shoes. These views are widely supported, but sometimes suitable alternatives need to be found before the majority will fully support these views.

Children Children's modesty The Primark Bikini Playboy Branding Not only is it important to ensure that children are not exploited by using them in textile manufacture, it is strongly supported that children's products and garments should not be body-revealing or bare sexual implications. Children’s garments should not use inappropriate slogans or imagery. The Primark Bikini This padded bikini for 7 year old girls caused controversy because it was padded, and people felt that this was sexualising young girls. Primark stopped selling these after a public outcry. Playboy Branding Playboy is a pornographic magazine. There has been a lot of controversy on branding little girls’ clothes bags and stationary with this logo which is associated with pornography.