News about our consumer behavior is rarely positive.

Criticism usually follows consumption.

We buy too much, too often ethically and ecologically questionable.

Our consumption swallows up too many resources.

The biggest of all consumer festivals was just seven days ago.

There could be a hangover when shopping if there weren't some good news: our consumption is becoming more correct!

Jennifer Wiebking

Editor in the "Life" department of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper.

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At least that is the promise of a law that has “supply chain due diligence” in its name and will come into force on January 1, 2023.

Clothing is particularly affected, because there are still many work steps in a piece of fashion that can be carried out more cheaply and competently all over the world - sometimes here, sometimes there.

For example, the wool for a sweater could come from Australia;

It is cleaned and combed in the Czech Republic.

Spun in Poland, dyed in Italy and sewn in Morocco.

It goes without saying that one and the same manufacturer is not responsible for this, but that various suppliers are involved on the way to the finished sweater.

And it's even more confusing.

Who does the new supply chain law apply to?

Under the new law, companies that are based in Germany and have more than 3000 employees are now obliged to comply with human rights and environmental protection rules throughout their supply chain.

A product must therefore not contain any child labor.

It must also not have been caused by exploitation or be linked to illegal logging, water or air pollution.

From 2024 onwards, this also applies to companies with more than 1000 employees.

Thekla Wilkening is an expert in sustainable consumption and advises companies on how to improve their production conditions.

She says: "Many are unsure of what responsibility the law actually brings to them." It's a bit like the police officer you happen to meet on the street: "Even if you behave properly, you still have a moment Fear of not doing everything right,” says Wilkening.

In addition, the law only applies to German companies, who feared competitive disadvantages as a result.

What does "Made in China" mean today?

But it is also like this: “Companies cannot assume the responsibility that we as civil society would like.” That is why the law makes sense and is overdue.

We consumers also have an unofficial duty of care, and this is where things get confusing for us too.

"Made in Bangladesh" and "Made in China" were considered more questionable, "Made in the EU" as relatively more correct.

But, according to Wilkening: "Today there are fantastic factories in China, and we also have bad conditions in Europe." Only in the next case it could be the other way around.

"You can really only trust the seals," says Wilkening, who recently wrote a book on the subject called The Organic Pizza Dilemma.

The GOTS label is an example of clean production.

This – and all other important ones – can also be found on the Siegelklarheit.de website in an easy-to-understand overview.

Nevertheless, shopping often follows different rules.

Brand fetishism can be an issue.

This does not have to contradict one's own sense of responsibility.

For example, most brands can be found in the Good On You app.

Their annual reports are evaluated here and sorted according to criteria such as working conditions, environmental impact and animal welfare.

"As long as apps are independent, you can be confident that there is a grain of truth in these results," says Wilkening.