I remember that about McDonald's burgers back in the day - they could say it was British or American beef as long as it something (slaughtering? Butchering?) happened in the right country. But they could still lay waste to vast areas of rainforest first, to grow the animals.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
I am trying very hard not to buy anything made in China but sometimes its difficult to avoid. All the clothes in M&S are either made in India or China and seem to be in man-made fibres. Fortunately I probably have enough clothes to last a lifetime (except possibly underwear and socks). I bought Hotter shoes last time but they're not all made in Britain so the information has to be checked. It's very frustrating having to check the small print on everything.Â
Especially irritating when companies donât provide the information we want. John Lewis have taken to put the country of manufacture on their own brand products. M and S are very poor. OHs trainers were made in Vietnam, but others of the same brand are made in China, no way to tell which without looking inside. I emailed Cotton Traders to ask them where their clothing was produced, and they didnât bother to reply. In the âold daysâ, I would buy stuff in store, and examine the labels. Now Iâm more comfortable to order on line, I really want access to the same information printed on the labels. Why is that too much to ask?
Soap, shampoo bars, socks, a funnel, a tea cosy, moisturiser, fabric. Iâm on a mission to buy British, and make things last. Failing that, I try to buy European. Â I sometimes use the âMake it Britishâ website to find British manufacturers because Google searches donât work very well.Â
Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.
I buy a lot of British made stuff from crafters - pottery, art, paint, ink, wood items. I have a Dyson vaccum, but that is manufactered elsewhere. Most household stuff I buy second hand or get from swaps. I admire the China boycott but am not doing it myself. A fair bit of Covid protection goods were manufactered here - face shields, hand gels, masks.... for a while, at least.
I don't know that it's strange that the UK doesn't make electronic goods much. It has a high standard of living, cost of living, minimum wage, work weekends and work regulations which mean the cost of producing goods is high. Countries like China and India often don't have those things - their workers are barely on subsistence wages, there is no regulation. The UK also has low industry emmissions and waste because we have now shunted those to other countries: People dying on our behalf.
Especially irritating when companies donât provide the information we want. John Lewis have taken to put the country of manufacture on their own brand products. M and S are very poor. OHs trainers were made in Vietnam, but others of the same brand are made in China, no way to tell which without looking inside. I emailed Cotton Traders to ask them where their clothing was produced, and they didnât bother to reply. In the âold daysâ, I would buy stuff in store, and examine the labels. Now Iâm more comfortable to order on line, I really want access to the same information printed on the labels. Why is that too much to ask?
I suspect they didnât answer because they were going to have to give you the wrong answer, and it would therefore not gain them a sale. If itâs not expensive, it isnât British or European.Â
Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.
Someone once told me, ( no idea if it's true ) If it says "Made in Britain" , it's made in Scotland, England or Wales. If it says " made in UK " it's made in N Ireland
Hello @pansyface, can I ask which Grubbs boots youâve got? I made a mistake and bought some âunisexâ work boots online, which obviously means they are actually menâs but they would like flog a few to some unsuspecting women as well. They are far too big on the heel, and consequently very uncomfortable. Iâm going to have to give up on them and would be prepared to spend more on a pair that I can leave in my will as well đ. I had a look on Grubbâs website and they donât seem to differentiate between mens and womenâs either. But hopefully they are better shaped. My unisex farmers wellies ( canât recall the maker), are fine, and they were more expensive than I would usually go for. Iâm hoping itâs a quality issue, which you have to pay for sometimes.Â
Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.
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It's very frustrating having to check the small print on everything.Â
I emailed Cotton Traders to ask them where their clothing was produced, and they didnât bother to reply.Â
In the âold daysâ, I would buy stuff in store, and examine the labels. Now Iâm more comfortable to order on line, I really want access to the same information printed on the labels. Why is that too much to ask?