Burberry is facing criticism after it was revealed the high-end fashion label destroyed £28m of left over fashion and cosmetic products to “guard against counterfeits”.
“Burberry has careful processes in place to minimise the amount of excess stock we produce. On the occasions when disposal of products is necessary, we do so in a responsible manner and we continue to seek ways to reduce and revalue our waste,” said a spokesperson for Burberry.
This is a very common practice in the luxury industry (and in fact the entire fashion sector). Burberry is far from alone. https://t.co/z6S4EM8BQL
— Elizabeth Paton (@LizziePaton) July 19, 2018
As well as being criticised by environmentalists such as Greenpeace campaigner Kirsten Brodde, who said Burberry “shows no respect for its own products and the hard work and natural resources that are used to make them”, people have also voiced their opinions on Twitter, saying the brand should have sent the clothes to those in need in the third world. Shareholders have also questioned why the products weren’t offered to private investors first, before being destroyed.
Gross. And this isn’t new, isn’t only #Burberry. Modern fashion is an enormously wasteful industry, and needs to get with the times – recycle, reuse and work sustainably and ethically. No excuses. https://t.co/zaGIJBTcxk
— Tara Moss (@Tara_Moss) July 19, 2018
According to The Times, more than £90m worth of Burberry products have been destroyed in the past five years, a practice the fashion brand claims is “widespread in retail”.