abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

7 May 2013

Author:
Christine Bader for Guardian Sustainable Business Blog

The Bangladesh factory collapse: why CSR is more important than ever

As the death toll from the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh tops 700...it is time to ask whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) has achieved anything at all...CSR is about a company owning its impacts on individuals and communities...On some days...CSR leaders succeed. But like anyone who plays defence...the scoreboard counts not their saves but the ones that elude their grasp...They are making progress, but they would be the first to tell you that it's not big enough, it's not fast enough and it's not good enough...Human rights must be part of the criteria for how a company makes decisions and allocates resources, including choosing suppliers and whether contracts get extended or renewed...[CSR practitioners need] [g]overnment involvement which is smart and consistent; investors who reward company candour on supply chain challenges; consumers who put their money where their mouth is. Companies can't solve these problems alone. [Refers to Disney, Foxconn (part of Hon Hai), Nike]