All Articles About Supply Chain

Blog: During Tough Economic Times, Is It Time to Focus on the Fundamentals?

Ayesha Barenblat, Former Director, Stakeholder Collaboration

At the BSR Conference this year, I moderated a lively, insightful, and solutions-focused panel on “Child Labor, Culture, and Compliance.” Given the breadth of private, public, and civil society experience among our panelists and the audience, we were able to come up with some concrete solutions, including the sharing of effective monitoring tools and early-warning systems to pick up and respond swiftly to instances of child labor, and to outline what good remediation looks like—which, in this instance, is about giving a child laborer his or her life back. Read more →

Posted: November 17, 2011 | Topics: Consumer Products, Human Rights, Supply Chain

BSR Insight Article: Reflections From the BSR Conference 2011: We Have the Will—and the Power—to Act

Kara Hurst, Former Vice President

In his opening address at the BSR Conference 2011, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore talked about the “functional insanity” of CEOs and CFOs who choose short-term gains over long-term sustainability. He referenced a study in which these leaders were asked what they would do if they were given a chance to make an investment that would increase their company’s profitability and sustainability—with the catch being that they would miss their quarterly targets. Eighty percent said they would not make the investment.   Read more →

Posted: November 7, 2011 | Topics: Conflict Minerals, Consumer Products, Environment, Governance & Accountability, Health Care, Human Rights, Strategy & Integration, Supply Chain, Transportation, Travel & Tourism

BSR Insight Article: A Practical Guide to Social and Environmental Compliance in the Licensing Industry

Cody Sisco, Former Manager, Advisory Services

BSR’s new guide—created with the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association and BSR’s Licensing Working Group (which includes representatives from Hasbro, NBCUniversal, Time Warner, and the Walt Disney Company)—helps the licensing industry promote social and environmental standards among a complex network of licensors, licensees, agents, suppliers, factories, and retailers. Read more →

Posted: November 1, 2011 | Topics: Consumer Products, Environment, Reporting & Communications, Supply Chain

Report: Good Practices for Complying with Licensors’ Social and Environmental Requirements

This guide serves as a starting point for licensee executives and professionals to understand how they can meet licensors’ requirements related to social and environmental compliance. It also provides guidance on how licensees can improve working conditions within their direct and contract manufacturing operations and supply chains. Read more →

Posted: October 30, 2011 | Topics: Consumer Products, Environment, Human Rights, Reporting & Communications, Supply Chain | Download (PDF)

Blog: An Expert’s View on Labor Trends in China

Jason Ho, Manager, Advisory Services & CTI

I recently sat down with legal expert and Shenzhen University Professor Hou Lingling to discuss the implications of China’s 12th five-year plan. In particular, we focused on the new social insurance law, which guarantees five social insurances for workers, including: pension, unemployment, work injury, medical care, and maternity leave regardless of non-local residency. We also spoke about the collective bargaining mechanisms (CBM) that were developed in response to demands from a new generation of workers that is more conscious of their rights and frequently using collective action against their employers. Read more →

Posted: October 28, 2011 | Topics: Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Human Rights, Supply Chain