A Deeper Look: Lessons from Rana Plaza
In the weeks since the building collapse that killed more than 1,000 apparel workers in Bangladesh, BSR has expressed our view that this tragedy arose from a systemic failure.
Lasting solutions to prevent further calamities—and ensure fair treatment of workers—require that business, government, civil society, and consumers take action on many different fronts.
To help explain why this happened and offer our view of existing solutions, we have launched a series of articles, “Lessons from Rana Plaza,” by several BSR experts from around the world, with a range of backgrounds and perspectives.
BSR’s Work
- Supply Chain Management Practice
- Human Rights Working Group
- HERproject
- Center for Sustainable Procurement
BSR In the Media
- The Economist, "Avoiding the Fire Next Time"
- Time, "Bangladesh Factory Collapse Will Force Companies to Rethink Outsourced Manufacturing"
- Pacific Standard, "Should We Retire the Word ‘Sweatshop’?"
- The Current, "Solutions to Doing Business in Bangladesh"
- San Francisco Chronicle, “U.S. firms’ Dilemma on Foreign Factory Safety”
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Systems Change
Lessons from Rana Plaza: Shocked, But Not Surprised
BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer writes about the systemic nature of this challenge in Bangladesh, which dates back more than 20 years. Read more →
Investments in Women’s Empowerment
The Other Women’s Movement: Factory Workers in the Developing World
HERproject Director Racheal Meiers discusses how investments in women’s empowerment initiatives can help improve the lives of the very workers who were brought into the spotlight with the Bangladesh tragedy. Read more →
A Stronger Approach to Sustainable Procurement
Putting More Muscle, Brains, and Heart into Sustainable Procurement
Advisory Services Director Tara Norton offers her thoughts on the need for a stronger approach to sustainable procurement. Read more →
Changing Consumer Demands
Are Consumers Done with Fast Fashion?
Advisory Services Associate Director Elisa Niemtzow examines consumer attitudes about “sustainable fashion” versus the desire for “fast fashion.” Read more →
Responsible Buying in New Markets
From Bangladesh to Myanmar: Level-Set Responsible Sourcing
Asia-Pacific Vice President Jeremy Prepscius, Associate Director Chris Nolan, and Associate Rosa Kusbiantoro will explore how business can approach responsible buying in the newly open market of Myanmar, given the experiences of Cambodia, China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. Read more →
Learning from the Past
Labor Protection: What Can Bangladesh Learn from China?
Advisory Services Manager Jason Ho will look at the changes related to worker protection and rights in Chinese factories, and how that could (or could not) be a model for changes needed in Bangladesh. Read more →
Human Rights Fundamentals
In his forthcoming blog, Human Rights Director Faris Natour will discuss how Rana Plaza was born from a failure to protect fundamental human rights of workers.
