BSR Insight Articles About Women & Sustainability

Making Factory-Based Programs Last: Observations from HERproject in India

Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services

During a recent visit to HERproject programs in Southern India, I saw firsthand the positive impact of workplace-based, peer health education. As discussed in last month's feature on Levi Strauss & Company's new supply chain management strategy, an increasing number of companies are working with their suppliers to implement programs focused on workers' well-being, which typically depend on local NGO support. When that support ends, factories who want to sustain their programs often struggle. Building on lessons from India, companies can take the following steps to ensure the successful continuation of workplace programs: Read more →

Posted: May 22, 2012 | Topics: Community Engagement & Development, Women & Sustainability

Levi Strauss’ Michael Kobori on Supply Chain Sustainability

Julia Robinson, Communications Associate

At last week's Ceres Conference, the "Great Expectations: Building a Sustainable Supply Chain" session examined how companies are improving workers' well-being in the supply chain. Michael Kobori, Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) vice president of social and environmental sustainability, called on industry leaders to adopt open-source, transparent policies to encourage other companies to make changes: "The bottom line is that we are working to improve workers' lives, and that demands collaboration. Compliance should not be a competitive issue, and companies should avoid branding their approach. Make it generic and put it out there in the public sphere for other companies to adopt." --Michael Kobori, Vice President, Social and Environmental Sustainability, Levi Strauss & Co. (April 25, 2012) For more details on how LS&Co. is working with BSR to improve worker well-being in its supply chain, read our recent feature article. Read more →

Posted: May 1, 2012 | Topics: Leadership, Supply Chain, Women & Sustainability

Improving Worker Well-Being: A Case Study of Levi Strauss & Co.‘s Supply Chain Approach

Jessica Davis Pluess, Manager, Research Racheal Meiers (née Yeager), Director, HERproject

Consider two stories that illuminate challenges in the typical approach to supply chain compliance today: Read more →

Posted: April 24, 2012 | Topics: Consumer Products, Supply Chain, Women & Sustainability

Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom

A new group of institutional investors, governance experts, and executives from U.S.-based companies including Campbell Soup and the Hopgood Group launched the 30% Coalition last week to promote the idea of securing a minimum of 30 percent women on Fortune 500 company boards by the end of 2015. Read more →

Posted: February 28, 2012 | Topics: Governance & Accountability, Women & Sustainability

Innovative Solutions to Improving Women and Children’s Health

Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services

A new UN report explores how to improve women and children’s health globally. The report details what’s needed for successful development programs, outlines critical health needs, and highlights 10 innovative business models (including BSR’s HERproject) for delivering health services and products. Read more →

Posted: September 20, 2011 | Topics: Civil & Political Rights, Community Engagement & Development, Economic Development, Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Human Rights, Women & Sustainability