At Gamechanger, we like to emphasize that our products are 100% Made in Germany, because for us, important regulations and guidelines are associated with production in Germany, which underpin our company philosophy. However, it's true that the designation isn't a registered seal of quality, and its interpretation is therefore quite open. But what does "Made in Germany" actually mean? We already explored this in the first part of our blog series. This week, we'll focus on its significance for product quality. What about employee protection? That's what we'll discuss now!
The key to quality assurance: transparency.
In the first part of our blog series, we already pointed out that the "Made in Germany" label doesn't require every single component to be manufactured in Germany. The question then arises: what incentive does a company have to locate 100% of its production in Germany? Because yes, you can also source high-quality goods made in China. History repeats itself here, and the quality of products from the Far East shouldn't be underestimated. But the question is: at what cost? When it comes to things like company values, ethics, and working conditions—or even human rights—it's crucial to carefully consider what a company or brand name should stand for. Ultimately, we at Gamechanger know that we can't dictate fair working conditions in a factory or workshop that we don't own.
For most German companies today, it's commonplace to source resources or components abroad or to relocate a significant portion of their production overseas. To emphasize that the country of origin isn't necessarily a guarantee of quality, many corporations now use terms like " designed in Germany " or " engineered in Germany ." They aim to demonstrate that development and research still take place locally in Germany and that the country of origin alone doesn't influence the quality of the goods. However, these are primarily marketing terms that, in our view at Gamechanger, conveniently obscure the outsourcing of labor to low-wage countries—and the associated ripple effects. Everyone knows of cases: cases involving well-known clothing chains, cases involving technology companies. They all promise that unannounced quality controls guarantee the safety and fair treatment of employees—in factories operated by external service providers they don't own, in countries where the fight for fundamental human rights is far from over. There is always a huge outcry when another factory collapses and buries its employees. This illustrates that there is no guarantee we can offer you in our position.
Made in Germany: A high guarantee for workplace safety
The plight of employees in factories in the Far East, for example, is now well-documented. Access to education, proper training, and the guarantee of fair working conditions and wages are often lacking. We are aware that there are exceptions. A well-known example is the shoe manufacturer Ethletics, which produces athletic shoes in the Far East and, through a strong partnership with its production partner, is able to directly support local workers. However, this requires personnel resources for quality assurance , which are extremely complex, costly, and travel-intensive. For small companies like Gamechanger, this all too often presents an obstacle they cannot overcome when they are still at the beginning of their journey. For us, Germany as a production location and suppliers who are, at most, from the EU, is therefore not only an indicator of quality assurance but also a conscious decision based on ethical considerations. Thanks to comprehensive employee protection laws, we have the guarantee that none of our production partners treat their employees in a manner contrary to our moral principles. Both Germany and partners from EU countries guarantee us:
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At the same time, we receive a high-quality product made from safe materials, manufactured in accordance with strict EU regulations. This also protects the health of the skilled workers at our partner factory, as they are not exposed to unnecessary toxins. This is a kind of ping-pong effect: Due to stringent occupational safety regulations in Germany, limits must be observed when it comes to contact with potentially harmful chemicals. Some are even completely prohibited. This, in turn, has a positive impact on the quality of the products you receive. Occupational safety regulations sometimes influence the permissible substances in materials – and vice versa. A win-win situation. You can see for yourself when your game-changer arrives. The familiar chemical smell of plastic products containing toxic plasticizers is completely absent.
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| Want to learn more about "Made in Germany" and its associated advantages and disadvantages? In our three-part blog series "Made in Germany - Advertising or Quality Mark?", we'll explain what this label means, the criteria it's based on, and what we at Gamechanger look for to ensure you truly benefit from the "Made in Germany" quality mark. |
