I started buying only European and American-made products whenever possible a few years ago and it's worth the extra effort and money. Hell, it's actually cheaper if you buy better quality products that don't have to be replaced every few years!
Every company should be shamed into putting the country of origin for each product on their website. They can get around this with fake labeling but at least it would put some pressure on them.
With the case of electronics it really gets complex. Sometimes you'll get inside the Made in Wherever product and find chips made in the US, China, Korea etc. The great capacitor plague of about 10 years ago or so was because of stolen Japanese designs being made for cheap in China. Even now "Japanese made" is still a selling point for capacitors.
Absolutely it's difficult. However, I know from my own line of work that traceability of components and raw materials is possible. Maybe a negative certification system for consumer products would work rather than a positive one: Prove that your products are made outside of China or you can't put the sticker on your product.
We're talking consumer goods here where there is a lot more room for fuckery.
I started buying only European and American-made products whenever possible a few years ago and it's worth the extra effort and money. Hell, it's actually cheaper if you buy better quality products that don't have to be replaced every few years!
Every company should be shamed into putting the country of origin for each product on their website. They can get around this with fake labeling but at least it would put some pressure on them.
If only it were that simple. What about Apple products “made in USA” but all components made in China?
It should be specified in the product specifications "Assembled in USA using components made in USA and China".
Ideally, if the company does not inform the consumer of a product's origin on their website it should be considered made in China and disregarded.
With the case of electronics it really gets complex. Sometimes you'll get inside the Made in Wherever product and find chips made in the US, China, Korea etc. The great capacitor plague of about 10 years ago or so was because of stolen Japanese designs being made for cheap in China. Even now "Japanese made" is still a selling point for capacitors.
Absolutely it's difficult. However, I know from my own line of work that traceability of components and raw materials is possible. Maybe a negative certification system for consumer products would work rather than a positive one: Prove that your products are made outside of China or you can't put the sticker on your product.
We're talking consumer goods here where there is a lot more room for fuckery.
There are apple products that say "made in USA" ?
My european iPhone on its back has written, Designed in California, assembled in China.
I wouldn't know. I use Samsung which are made in Vietnam, which is still much better than made in china.
I was speaking generally what we would like to see in the future.