The report Built on Repression: PVC Building Materials’ Reliance on Labour and Environmental Abuses in the Uyghur Region, examines the PVC (polyvinyl chloride) industry in China’s Uyghur region, focusing on its dependence on forced labour and environmental damage. The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) has emerged as a major PVC producer, with state-owned enterprises leading the market. These companies exploit local resources and labour through state-sponsored programs, resulting in severe pollution and human rights violations. The research, conducted by Sheffield Hallam University in collaboration with the Freedom Fund, underscores that the low production costs gained through these practices come at significant human and environmental costs.
Internationally, PVC from XUAR is often shipped to factories throughout China, where it is processed into various products, typically without clear labelling of its origin. This lack of transparency hides the link between consumer goods and the exploitative practices in the Uyghur region. To address the human rights abuses and environmental harm tied to XUAR PVC, governments, corporations, and consumers need greater accountability. Moreover, stakeholders must acknowledge the ethical consequences of their supply chains and take action against the systemic exploitation sustaining the PVC industry.
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