More and more fashion retailers are now disclosing details of apparel supplier factories. Amazon has disclosed on its website the names, addresses, and other details of more than 1,000 facilities that produce Amazon-branded products. It follows similar moves in the past from Fast Retailing, Primark, Adidas and Gap.

Similarly, Fast Retailing has published a list of the core fabric mills used, while Walmart’s fashion brand, George, is to start publishing a list of second tier apparel factories – those typically dyeing, printing and finishing garments – on its website. However it’s doubtful if the information a tier one supplier list provides can truly empower end consumers to think and act more sustainably.

It’s a commendable first step to promoting better conditions for workers, but clothing supply chains are highly complex and can span several international markets, each with differing labor laws. The question is why all brands and retailers aren’t disclosing supplier lists for the product’s entire journey, particularly if they are taking steps to prevent labor abuses in their supply chains. This is the sort of information consumers need to enable them to make informed choices about their purchases and to influence how they use and take care of those products.