Is This Really Made in America?
By: Laura Mathews, Eco Promotional Products, Inc.
There’s a lot of talk about being “Made in America” these days. It’s ever present in car commercials, but
when you go beyond that there aren’t many industries that are known for American manufacturing. Sure,
you’ll occasionally spot a “Made in America” label while shopping but you’re probably taking notice of it
because of its rarity. It’s more likely that if you think of “Made in” labels, your mind first goes to every
trinket you have in your house from the past 20 years having “Made in China” imprinted on the bottom or
your wardrobe that ranges from Bangladesh - to Vietnamese-made. In fact, unless you are a pilot or
Secretary of State, your housewares are likely more well-traveled than you are. So while there’s a lot of
talk about products being made in America, what happened to that being a reality?
We arrive at this topic because American-made is an important focus at Eco Promotional Products, Inc.
(EPP). While not possible for all the products we offer, we always look to incorporate American made
products into our inventory. Throughout the course of our research and working with manufacturers,
we’ve learned that Made in America isn’t as black and white a term as you may expect. For example, we
recently learned that one of our products that is listed as Made in America comes with some fine print
that we find pretty significant. This particular product is made from recycled materials from the US.
However they are shipped to China, manufactured into the new product and sent back to the US to be
coated and imprinted. After some research we learned that labeling this product as “Made in America” is
perfectly legal. As the Federal Trade Commission defines it, a product can be called American made if “all
or substantially all” of the manufacturing costs come from the US. In this particular product’s case,
around 70% of the economic investment of the finished good comes from the US.
We arrive at this topic because American-made is an important focus at Eco Promotional Products, Inc.
(EPP). While not possible for all the products we offer, we always look to incorporate American made
products into our inventory. Throughout the course of our research and working with manufacturers,
we’ve learned that Made in America isn’t as black and white a term as you may expect. For example, we
recently learned that one of our products that is listed as Made in America comes with some fine print
that we find pretty significant. This particular product is made from recycled materials from the US.
However they are shipped to China, manufactured into the new product and sent back to the US to be
coated and imprinted. After some research we learned that labeling this product as “Made in America” is
perfectly legal. As the Federal Trade Commission defines it, a product can be called American made if “all
or substantially all” of the manufacturing costs come from the US. In this particular product’s case,
around 70% of the economic investment of the finished good comes from the US.
A 2004 Zogby International poll found that 71% of Americans feel that outsourcing jobs hurt our economy.
Unfortunately, in spite of this sentiment held by most Americans, over the past 50 years as company
executives saw the economy benefits of outsourcing, we have gotten farther away from being a country
that thrives on its manufacturing industry and more to a country that conceptualizes and sends its designs
abroad to be built. Taking jobs abroad accounts for over 11.6 million jobs lost since 1979. Instead of
going directly back into the US economy, money from our purchases go to poor working standards for
factory workers and less regulated materials going in to those products that we then bring into our homes
and expose to our loved ones. Consider Apple. Thought of as this great American success story, by a
quick view of their website you’ll see how they boast of how many jobs it has created in the US. Digging a
little deeper, you’ll find that manufacturing of all parts and nearly all assembly* is done abroad. Sears is
another example of a company that couldn’t resist the temptation of outsourcing. Long held as a company that prided itself on its American-made Craftsman tools, Sears recently began transitioning the production of its tools abroad and misleadingly continued using the “Made in America” label, narrowly escaping a class-action lawsuit last year on a technicality. The actions of large corporations are not the wishes of Americans but in spite of this fact, the manufacturing industry has continuously decreased since the 1970s.
Still, as we see more companies make this transition, the public’s outcry has become louder as awareness
and fear for the economy and environment increases. According to the Perception Research Services
International, 76% of shoppers would be more likely to buy a product because of the “Made in America”
label. As Made Movement’s David Schiff put it, “Buying American-made goods has become personal.” We
identify with this label; it elicits patriotism and pride to know that in our global marketplace, America is
still a manufacturing country that supports its citizens and can produce quality goods. There’s a clear
impetus from our citizens to reverse what has been done over the past 50 years; only time will tell if this is
enough to bring this industry back.
So we know the manufacturing industry is a fraction of what it used to be, we know that the sentiment of
Americans is one of wishing it would return and we’ve seen a small degree of that increasing in the US of
late. That brings us back to where we started - the issue of questionable labeling of Made in America
products. This article isn’t here with any great answer or solution to this issue. It’s poised to leave you as
the reader deciding what you think “Made in America” means. We know that we are no longer a country
that can produce everything we need. Entire industries have already shut down the last of their American
factories; you can no longer find American-made flatware, cell phones, steel rebar, laptops or
incandescent bulbs. But the statistics show that Americans want American-made? Are we headed in the
right direction? Even if deception has crept into the “Made in America” label, is it still a good sign to see
more of these labels popping up or does the deception indicate to us that the only way we’ll be involved
in manufacturing anymore is through investments? It seems like solid, American advice to still seek the
“Made in America” label but knowing what we know now will we ever recapture the true American
manufacturing that we’ve idealized in our minds?
*After some bad press about work conditions abroad, Apple has begun to assemble some of their
products in the US again but its worth noting that this is the third time they have initiated a US
manufacturing program; the first two attempts only lasting a few years each.
About Eco Promotional Products, Inc.:
Eco Promotional Products, Inc. (EPP) is a certified woman owned company providing a full-line of eco-friendly promotional products. EPP helps organizations promote their logo, brand, and message in a "green" way. All products are made from either recycled, organic, biodegradable, rapidly renewable resources, promote conservation, made in the USA or a combination of these qualities. Eco Promotional Products was born out of a passion for the environment, with goals of reducing landfill use, respecting our non-rapidly renewable resources, providing exceptional service at affordable prices and being an active advocate for human rights issues.
For more information on Eco Promotional Products, Inc., please visit: www.ecopromotionsonline.com
call local: 847.520.1771, toll free: 877.326.9467 or email us at info@ecopromotionsonline.com