The ethics of using Indian paving has raised its head again after Chris Harrop, a director of Marshall's Landscape products, warned that child labour is being exploited, for as little as .80p per day, to supply the British landscaping industry.
An article, published in today's Telegraph, claims that only one third of the 200,000 tonnes, which is imported into the UK each year, is of a reputable source.
The Industry is being urged to clean up its act and move to certify imported stone that has been used at legitimate quarries with proper safety, working conditions and child labour policies.
The Telegraph quotes Denise Ewbank of the British Association of Landscaping Industries (Bali) about the ethics issue within their membership - "Using ethically certified stone is not a condition of Bali membership," she said, "but this is an issue of intense debate and is already slated for discussion at a board meeting in January."
My view, and it is a complicated argument, is the issue of self regulation or government legislation, at the Indian end. All of the time there is a demand for the cheap stone then there will be an exploitation and safety issue in the quarries.
A ham fisted attempt at the UK end to impose restrictions on Indian imports - playing the 'unless it is ethically sourced' card - could created a false market, leading to importers and landscape material chains inflating the price just because the product displays an 'ethically sourced' sticker.
Lobby the customer and we will be in danger of creating a vacuum and the whole process could drive the 'black market' into desperate measures.
I feel that the key to the process lies at the door of the 'ethical' importers. Not by forcing the 'ethical' quarries to certify their products but by pressuring or forcing the less than ethical suppliers to conform. The Indian stone market needs all of the suppliers to be in the game in order for the market be fair.
The British Indian stone importers must lobby the Indian government to impose strict controls at the beginning of the supply chain. If the quarries can be forced to comply with legislation then the whole industry will settle at a fair 'market price'
Further reading:Ethical Landscaping
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