El lado oscuro de los perfumes de algunas de las grandes marcas de lujo | Investigación BBC

BBC News Mundo

7 Jun 202404:53

Summary

TLDRThe perfume industry, valued at around 50 billion dollars, heavily relies on jasmine, with half of the global supply coming from Egypt, particularly Al Gharbia. A BBC team uncovered in 2023 that child labor is part of the supply chain for luxury perfume brands. Jasmine is harvested at night, with workers like Heba and her children earning $1.50 for their efforts, a third of which goes to landowners. The jasmine is then sent to factories, processed, and sold to international perfume companies. A few conglomerates control the entire supply chain, claiming ethical sourcing practices, despite workers like Basmalla facing health issues.

Takeaways

💰 The perfume industry is estimated to be worth around 50 billion dollars.
🌺 Jasmine is used in hundreds of perfumes from leading industry brands.
🌍 Approximately half of the world's jasmine supply is produced in Egypt.
📍 Al Gharbia is the center of Egypt's jasmine trade.
🎥 BBC filmed in this region during the summer of 2023, revealing that child labor is part of the supply chain for some luxury perfume brands.
🌙 Jasmine flowers bloom after sunset and are picked during the night.
💰 Heba and her children earn fifty dollars for their night work.
💸 A third of the earnings goes to the owner of the land where the jasmine is grown.
🚚 Jasmine is transported to factories through collection points.
🌿 Jasmine oil is extracted and then sold to international perfume companies.
🏢 A few conglomerates control the entire supply chain and ensure their supply practices are ethical.
👓 A Basmalla's eyes have started to hurt, prompting a visit to an optometrist.

Q & A

What is the estimated value of the perfume industry?
-The perfume industry is estimated to be worth around 50 billion dollars.
What role does jasmine play in the perfume industry?
-Jasmine is used in hundreds of perfumes from major industry brands.
How much of the global jasmine supply is produced in Egypt?
-Approximately half of the world's jasmine supply is produced in Egypt.
What is the significance of Al Gharbia in the jasmine trade?
-Al Gharbia is the center of Egypt's jasmine trade.
What was revealed by the BBC team's filming in the summer of 2023?
-The BBC team's filming revealed that child labor is part of the supply chain for some luxury perfume brands.
When does jasmine bloom and when is it harvested?
-Jasmine blooms after sunset and is harvested during the night.
How much do Heba and her children earn for their night work?
-Heba and her children earn fifty dollars for their night work.
What portion of the earnings goes to the landowner where jasmine is cultivated?
-A third of the earnings is designated for the owner of the land where the jasmine is grown.
How is jasmine transported to factories?
-Jasmine is sent to factories through collection points.
What happens to the jasmine once it reaches the factories?
-The jasmine oil is extracted from the flowers and then sold to international perfume companies.
Who controls the entire supply chain of jasmine?
-A few conglomerates control the entire supply chain of jasmine.
What do these conglomerates claim about their supply practices?
-These conglomerates ensure that their supply practices are ethical.
Why did Basmalla visit an optometrist?
-Basmalla's eyes started to hurt, prompting a visit to an optometrist.

Outlines

00:00

🌺 Jasmine in the Perfume Industry

The perfume industry is valued at approximately 50 billion dollars, with jasmine playing a significant role in numerous perfumes from leading brands. Egypt is a major producer of jasmine, supplying about half of the world's supply, and Al Gharbia is the country's jasmine trade hub. In the summer of 2023, a BBC team filmed in this region, uncovering that child labor is part of the supply chain for some luxury perfume brands. Jasmine flowers bloom at night and are harvested under the cover of darkness. Workers like Heba and her children earn $1.50 for their night work, with one-third of their earnings going to the landowner. The harvested jasmine is sent to factories through collection points, where jasmine oil is extracted and sold to international perfume companies. A few conglomerates control the entire supply chain, ensuring their supply practices are ethical. Heba experiences eye pain and visits an optometrist.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Perfume industry

The perfume industry refers to the business sector involved in the production, marketing, and sale of perfumes. It is a significant global market, with an estimated value of around 50 billion dollars. The industry is highlighted in the video as it relies heavily on the supply of raw materials like jasmine, which is central to the video's narrative.

💡Jasmine

Jasmine is a type of flower highly valued in the perfume industry for its rich, sweet scent. It is used in hundreds of perfumes from leading brands. The video emphasizes the importance of jasmine by mentioning that approximately half of the world's jasmine supply comes from Egypt, making it a key element in the supply chain of luxury perfumes.

💡Supply chain

The supply chain in the context of the video refers to the process of growing, harvesting, and distributing jasmine flowers to be used in perfume production. It is a critical part of the perfume industry's operations, and the video reveals that child labor is unfortunately part of this chain, particularly in the harvesting process.

💡Child labor

Child labor is the employment of children in work that is inappropriate for their age. The video script reveals a shocking aspect of the perfume industry's supply chain, where children are involved in the collection of jasmine flowers. This practice is highlighted as a serious ethical concern within the industry.

💡Egypt

Egypt is mentioned as a major producer of jasmine, with Al Gharbia being the center of the jasmine trade in the country. The video connects the issue of child labor in the jasmine supply chain to this specific region, emphasizing the geographical significance of Egypt in the perfume industry.

💡Harvesting

Harvesting in this context refers to the process of collecting jasmine flowers after they bloom, which happens at night. The video script describes the labor-intensive work of harvesting jasmine, which is done at night and involves children, as illustrated by the story of Heba and her children.

💡Ethical supply

Ethical supply pertains to the practice of ensuring that the materials used in products are sourced in a way that adheres to ethical standards, such as fair labor practices and child labor prohibition. The video script mentions that a few conglomerates control the supply chain and claim to have ethical supply practices, raising questions about the reality of these claims.

💡Conglomerates

Conglomerates are large companies that consist of multiple businesses often operating in different industries. In the video, conglomerates are depicted as the entities controlling the jasmine supply chain and, by extension, having a significant influence on labor practices within the perfume industry.

💡Optometrist

An optometrist is a professional who specializes in the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of vision problems. In the video script, the character Basmalla visits an optometrist due to eye pain, which could be a consequence of the harsh conditions faced by those working in the jasmine fields.

💡Luxury brands

Luxury brands are companies that offer high-quality, prestigious products at a higher price point. The video script connects the issue of child labor in the jasmine supply chain to the production of perfumes for luxury brands, suggesting a disconnect between the ethical standards consumers expect and the reality of the industry's practices.

💡Jasmine oil extraction

Jasmine oil extraction is the process of obtaining the essential oil from jasmine flowers, which is a key ingredient in perfumes. The video script mentions that jasmine is sent to factories where the oil is extracted and then sold to international perfume companies, indicating a complex process that begins with the flowers' harvest.

Highlights

The perfume industry is estimated to be worth around 50 billion dollars.

Jasmine is used in hundreds of perfumes from leading industry brands.

Approximately half of the world's jasmine supply is produced in Egypt.

Al Gharbia is the center of Egypt's jasmine trade.

BBC team filmed in the region during the summer of 2023, revealing child labor as part of the luxury perfume supply chain.

Jasmine blooms after sunset and is picked at night.

Heba and her children earn one dollar and fifty cents for their night work.

A third of the earnings goes to the landowner where the jasmine is cultivated.

Jasmine is sent to factories through collection points.

Jasmine oil is extracted and then sold to international perfume companies.

A few conglomerates control the entire supply chain.

These conglomerates ensure their supply practices are ethical.

A Basmalla's eyes have started to hurt, prompting a visit to an optometrist.