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Fashion retailers questioned about sustainability

27 November 2018

The Environmental Audit Committee questions leading high street, luxury and online fashion retailers on Tuesday as part of its inquiry into the Sustainability of the Fashion Industry.

Witnesses

Tuesday, 27 November 2018, Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

At 10.15am: high street fashion retailers

  • Mike Barry, Director of Sustainable Business, Marks and Spencer
  • Paul Lister, Head of Ethical Trade & Environmental Sustainability Team, Primark
  • Jamie Beck, Head of Supplier Management, Arcadia Group
  • Leanne Wood, Chief People, Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer, Burberry

At 11.15: online fashion retailers

  • Carol Kane, Joint Chief Executive Officer, Boohoo
  • Nick Beighton, Chief Executive Officer, ASOS
  • Paul Smith, Head of Product Quality & Supply, Missguided

Minimum wage

CEOs of online retailers ASOS, Boohoo and Missguided were invited to attend after concerns were raised at the Committee's first hearing about UK garment workers not being paid the minimum wage.

However, Missguided CEO Nitin Passi has declined to attend. The Chair has written to Mr Passi to express disappointment that he has declined to appear alongside the CEOs of ASOS and Boohoo.

Reduce the environmental and social impact

Last month, Committee Chair Mary Creagh MP wrote to the chief executives of the UK's ten leading fashion retailers to find out what steps they are taking to reduce the environmental and social impact of the clothes and shoes they sell.

The Chair also asked the UK's leading online retailers to give evidence as part of the inquiry, following shocking evidence heard on 30 October about illegally low wages for garment workers and disposability of some fast fashion garments.

Further information

Image: iStockphoto