Who are today’s heroes of social responsibility? While corporate irresponsibility and social problems grab the headlines, examples of goodness, courage, and selflessness exist quietly all around us. Help tip the scales toward optimism and set the bar for social responsibility by sharing inspiring stories of doing good...
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July 18, 2008 at 11:38am by Mary Lemmer
At this point I think that certain companies in each industry stand out as leaders of social responsibility. For instance, in the apparel industry Maggie's Organics has done several things to differentiate its model from traditional apparel practices. I have been interning at Maggie's this summer and am proud to work at such a responsible company.
At Maggie's Organics our mission is to produce and provide comfortable, durable, affordable and beautiful articles of apparel and accessories made from materials that restore, sustain and enhance the resources, including human, from which they are made. After learning about the harsh facts of conventional cotton cultivation and garment manufacturing back in 1992, Maggie’s began to make socks, and then added tee shirts, tights, lounge pants, and other garments out of certified Organic fibers. Since organic farming requires less energy, water, and waste, Maggie’s clothes are a clean, chemical-free alternative to conventional clothing. Not only does Maggie’s strive to convert as many acres of land as possible from conventional to organic farming methods, but we are passionate about creating an alternative to traditional apparel sweatshops and are proud that every pair of Maggie’s socks have always been made in the U.S.A. Additionally, we were instrumental in the creation of The Fair Trade Zone, a 100% worker-owned Sewing Co-Operative in Nicaragua that has helped hurricane refugees create a new life for themselves and their families (see our video on http://www.maggiesorganics.com/socialaspects.php). We are now joining forces with a group of displaced apparel workers in rural North Carolina, who will use our contracts to start their own worker-owned sewing facility. Together we are creating new products out of our organic scraps.
When it comes to other industries such as food, cleaning products, outdoor gear, etc, others stand out, like Patagonia, Stonyfield Farm, Seventh Generative. I cannot give an insiders perspective for these companies though. Their intentions seem genuine and I only hope they are as true to their mission as Maggie's!