tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31938102069571242202024-03-05T11:55:00.080-08:00The Good, the Bad and the TackyHow Socially Responsible is Your Favorite Apparel Brand? Find Out Here.Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-61340117731028411572009-03-13T08:36:00.000-07:002009-03-13T08:44:26.747-07:00Looking for Blog Writers!Interested in CSR and sustainability in the apparel sector? Interested in possibly writing for this blog? I do not have time to keep this going on my own, so would like to find volunteer writers to do research of branded apparel companies and evaluate them along the lines of the <a href="http://goodbadtacky.blogspot.com/2008/05/issues-template.html">issues template</a>. I think this is a good opportunity for graduate students who are studying CSR, sustainability in business, stakeholder management, community relations, or who are interested in the social and environmental impacts of the apparel sector.<br /><br />If you are interested, please send me a note at mfyodorova . . . at . . . hotmail.com. Please include a writing sample.Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-27300594934757722672008-06-24T08:40:00.000-07:002008-06-24T10:30:22.590-07:00Abercrombie & Fitch - Recommendation: Bad and Tacky<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnx3TvcsDFEyN4P1O4rintIQzTkMXeiIa10yqMQCEVNXhhQ44RemMQZMLQpGHBb0txXfPkt-QLNj-_J2tuoU-6QYXJlSmQsrB_ZC_0yag3TNxAFWdZvTDCct1wOfPfFTPTKCFLdgkVjuu4/s1600-h/thumbs+down.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnx3TvcsDFEyN4P1O4rintIQzTkMXeiIa10yqMQCEVNXhhQ44RemMQZMLQpGHBb0txXfPkt-QLNj-_J2tuoU-6QYXJlSmQsrB_ZC_0yag3TNxAFWdZvTDCct1wOfPfFTPTKCFLdgkVjuu4/s200/thumbs+down.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215500817048068274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">"In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids. Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don't belong [in our clothes], and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely. Those companies that are in trouble are trying to target everybody: young, old, fat, skinny. But then you become totally vanilla. You don't alienate anybody, but you don't excite anybody, either."</span> <p class="MsoNormal">- Mike Jeffries, CEO, Abercrombie & Fitch.<span style=""> </span>As quoted in <a href="http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/01/24/jeffries/index.html">“The Man Behind Abercrombie & Fitch”</a>. (2006)<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">How should we judge A&F’s marketing and advertising approach?<span style=""> </span>Should we judge it <i style="">at all </i>within the parameters of corporate social responsibility?<span style=""> </span>Many brands use an aspirational marketing approach to sell their products (have you ever seen an “average” looking model in any fashion campaign?).<span style=""> </span>Companies try to sell a “lifestyle”, not a shirt or car or frying pan.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>A&F says that what it sells is “cool” – not a particular racial prototype.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>But, their main advertising does not reflect the diversity it has recently committed to – and, probably, does not reflect the diversity of who actually shops in its stores.<span style=""> </span>Is that hypocritical?<span style=""> </span>Of course.<span style=""> </span>But, really, their sexualized, white–bread advertising is not that bad if compared to all the other CSR issues they do not address AT ALL like human rights, child labor, fair wages and the environment to name just a few. (See the full issues template <a href="http://goodbadtacky.blogspot.com/2008/06/abercrombie-fitch-template.html">here</a>.)<span style=""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps if A&F balanced out some of their more provocative advertising approaches with a commitment to human rights and fair labor, their actions would be more tolerable (look at <a href="http://store.americanapparel.net/women-summernight.html">American Apparel</a>, after all).<span style=""> </span>But, A&F seems to show no social responsibility at all except in the arena of diversity, which was forced upon them by a court order.<span style=""> </span>Call it “diversity-washing.” Granted, there has been some progress on diversity within the company’s operations.<span style=""> </span>The number of people of color enrolled in the retailer’s managers-in-training program has grown by more than 50%.<span style=""> </span>They have partnered with many minority-focused organizations on diversity training and scholarship opportunities.<span style=""> </span>But, in the end, making their advertising more inclusive would probably do more overall for minority teenagers then a few million (if that much) in scholarships.<span style=""> </span>Perhaps it will be a gradual shift.<span style=""> </span>As the company’s staff becomes more diverse (because of the court order), there will be more of an internal push for inclusive advertising.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We will see. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">But even if their diversity score increases, their complete inaction on almost all of the other priority issues in our template will not win a “Good” from us.<span style=""> </span>So, in summary, we feel that <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">avoiding Abercrombie & Fitch is probably the best course of action</span>.<span style=""> </span><b style="">Score: 1.33.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><b style="">And the Tacky:</b><span style=""> </span>Honestly, we think its just so TACKY to wear a <a href="http://www.snopes.com/racial/business/tshirts.asp">t-shirt with an ethnic slur</a> (and to make a t-shirt with an ethnic slur is even worse!)<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Besides, wearing three shirts all on top of each other?<span style=""> </span>There is very little true style that comes out of A&F.<span style=""> </span>(At least J. Crew, even with its dismal score, cared enough to put some creativity in their designs.)</p>And not to get personal, but the CEO of A&F is just sort of scary - he is almost over 60, but has invested much money into his <a href="http://images.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/01/24/jeffries/story.jpg">artificial appearance</a> (think no wrinkles and lip plumper). Maybe he needs to obsess a little less about the superficial and a little more about the substance.Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-17089178711241432092008-06-24T08:35:00.000-07:002008-06-24T08:39:27.979-07:00Abercrombie & Fitch - Template<table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border: medium none ; margin-left: 5.4pt; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(179, 179, 179) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 117pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Indicator<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(179, 179, 179) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 5.5in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Commitments/Comments<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(179, 179, 179) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 0.5in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">SOI Rank<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 549pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="732"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Environment – Operations<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">GHG Emissions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Energy Efficiency<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Air & Water Pollution<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Promoting Employee Enviro. Awareness<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Waste Reduction (Haz & Non)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 549pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="732"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Environment – Materials<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Use of Toxics in Products<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Use and Promotion Of Sustainable Materials (i.e. organic cotton)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 549pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="732"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Social<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Workplace Diversity<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Fine $40M for discriminatory practices in its stores.<span style=""> </span><a href="http://www.afjustice.com/">Settlement</a> created diversity ensuring structure for internal ops.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">6<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Unions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Workplace Safety<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Community Relations<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement, but website says that information is “Coming Soon”.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">2<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Strategic Partnerships with NGOs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Partnered with the Anti-Defamation League on campus program to teach diversity-training. Set Up Diversity <a href="http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/2005/4/20/united_negro_college_fund_receives_major.htm">scholarships</a> with several partner orgs. like UNCF. <b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Animal Welfare<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No stated policy, but <a href="http://www.savethesheep.com/">in 2005 joined PETA's Wool Campaign</a>, setting a new standard for clothing companies by pledging not to use Australian wool in any of its garments until both <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">2<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 549pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="732"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Human Rights<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Operating in Countries of Conflict<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Child Labor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Forced Overtime<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Indentured Servitude<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Compliance with ILO Standards?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">UN Global Compact?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 549pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="732"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Supplier Management Issues<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Code of Conduct<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Fair Wages<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Training<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No visible involvement.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 549pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="732"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">External Verification<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Member of <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">FLA</st1:State></st1:place>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">CSR Reporting Standard?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No CSR report.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Other <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 5.5in;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(204, 204, 204) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 5.5in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Demonstrated CSR Leadership Among Peers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Um, No. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-91754252826020406842008-06-20T12:29:00.000-07:002008-06-24T08:32:45.176-07:00Abercrombie & Fitch - Summary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SBCTF0i0YFlgBD8BPvKb89IQqFPiFyqxRIg1y5Ig-cayNBSIvG_KxRXrc_f7XJfjk3KMEFzrevdjQ0PRVTQr-Si6zkyAKoTjIrAW8ParDblbx2a4nroPFE0P3FGdP-EWrVj4Xlq-hevM/s1600-h/abercrombie-and-fitch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SBCTF0i0YFlgBD8BPvKb89IQqFPiFyqxRIg1y5Ig-cayNBSIvG_KxRXrc_f7XJfjk3KMEFzrevdjQ0PRVTQr-Si6zkyAKoTjIrAW8ParDblbx2a4nroPFE0P3FGdP-EWrVj4Xlq-hevM/s200/abercrombie-and-fitch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214082031845118674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary: </span> Although most people now associate the <a href="http://www.abercrombie.com/anf/index.html">Abercrombie & Fitch</a> (A&F) name with sexually-provocative young models, A&F actually started out in the late 1800s as a store for outdoor/hunting enthusiasts. It was also the company that supposedly brought the game <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahjong">Mahjong</a> to American and outfitted famous people of the early 20th Century like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lindbergh">Charles Lindbergh</a> (for his historic flight across the Atlantic). The company has changed hands several times: bought by Oshman Sports in 1978, then by the Limited Ltd. in 1988, finally becoming totally independent in 1998 and going public that same year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some Key Facts:</span> Valued at $5 billion, the company now has revenues approaching $2 billion a year rolling in from 944 stores across four brands: Abercrombie & Fitch, abercrombie, Hollister and Ruehl. A&F sources from vendors in 37 countries and the US. The <a href="http://sec.edgar-online.com/2007/03/30/0000950152-07-002885/Section3.asp">company sources its merchandise</a> from approximately 258 factories and suppliers, primarily in Southeast Asia, and Central and South America.<br /><br />A&F has been in the news for a number of issues:<br /><br /><ul><li>In 2005, a class action suit was filed against A&F on behalf of employees who alleged that they were wrongfully refused jobs or terminated based on their race, ethnicity, or national origin because they did not promote the "A&F Look." A&F <a href="http://www.afjustice.com/">settled </a>with the employees for $40M and was forced to create an Office and Vice President of Diversity (other provisions of the settlement <a href="http://www.afjustice.com/">here</a>.)<br /></li><li>In 2006, the <a href="http://www.sec.gov/">Securities and Exchange Commission</a> issued a formal order of investigation of the clothing retailer, and the trading in the company’s Class A shares.</li><li>In 2002, <a href="http://www.cleanclothes.org/legal/04-01-08.htm">A&F was one of 26 retailers to settle</a> lawsuits filed by Sweatshop Watch, Global Exchange, Asian Law Caucus, Unite, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saipan">Saipan</a> garment workers that alleged violations of U.S. labor laws and international human rights standards.</li><li>A&F has been the target of boycotts and criticism for selling t-shirts with <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/04/18/MN109646.DTL">racist</a> and <a href="http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/index.html?blog=/mwt/broadsheet/2005/11/03/girlcott/index.html">sexist</a> slogans.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationwide_Children%27s_Hospital_%28Columbus%29" title="Nationwide Children's Hospital (Columbus)">Nationwide Children’s Hospital</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus%2C_Ohio" title="Columbus, Ohio">Columbus, Ohio</a> has stated that it plans to rename its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_room" class="mw-redirect" title="Emergency room">emergency room</a> the "Abercrombie & Fitch Emergency Department and Trauma Center" in exchange for a $10 million donation. A letter written by the <a href="http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/">Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood</a>, and signed by over 100 doctors and children’s advocacy groups, urged the hospital not to go ahead with the renaming, arguing that, "Given this company's appalling history of targeting children with sexualized marketing and clothing, no public health institution should be advertising Abercrombie & Fitch."</li></ul>Ohhhh . . . that is quite an assortment of controversy for one brand. But, maybe these are just the kind of stories that help sell newspapers or attract private donations or build credibility for the organizations on the attack? Maybe A&F is doing a lot of other good things that we don't know about? Well,they are doing . . . something. Read more about it on the Template post and the Recommendation post.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Personally Speaking</span>: I always got a kick of the MadTV A&F spoofs. Check some out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3-WzqfbVHU">here</a> on YouTube, if you like that sort of thing. (Warning: like much of MadTV, they are often politically incorrect.)Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-32447436192621031882008-06-16T16:28:00.001-07:002008-06-20T14:52:18.518-07:00H&M - Recommendation: Good<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFscAO3lBZ_Y9pkGMBHEg24uJZqmZ1ZplFiPUfXw49_a58LPwEWsyje2zUUvHsH-IOZN8FYB8hnJvQorv-kpOUfZQPDqefYpBYk8KW4lw4Dndy8oHGvraGjOm5_0JSYjTadI7BECellR-d/s1600-h/thumbs+up.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFscAO3lBZ_Y9pkGMBHEg24uJZqmZ1ZplFiPUfXw49_a58LPwEWsyje2zUUvHsH-IOZN8FYB8hnJvQorv-kpOUfZQPDqefYpBYk8KW4lw4Dndy8oHGvraGjOm5_0JSYjTadI7BECellR-d/s200/thumbs+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212632040553689410" border="0" /></a>This analysis was difficult. According to the scorecard, H&M ranked a 4.9. With an extra point because we consider them an industry leader in the branded fashion apparel category, the final score was 5.9. This is still not as high as we would have guessed just from reading their CSR reports.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this is either the strength of the scorecard approach - in that it is able to cut through the company's PR hoopla about certain achievements . . . or, it is the weakness of the scorecard approach - in that most companies, even if they excel in certain areas, will receive a lower score overall because being socially responsible as a large international apparel retailer is hard.<br /><br />In the end, we feel that, overall, H&M has shown a commitment to doing business in a socially responsibly manner. We were swayed by H&M's efforts on:<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Environment:</span> We liked that H&M monitors key <a href="http://www.hm.com/us/corporateresponsibility/csrreporting/csrreport2007__csr_report_2007.nhtml">environmental impacts</a>. Many apparel companies focus their CSR efforts primarily on human rights and labor issues. But, environmental impacts on the local communities where H&M's products are manufactured and the larger, global impacts of energy and water use, are becoming increasingly more important.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Transparency: </span> H&M is a member of the <a href="http://www.fairlabor.org/participants/companies#A">Fair Labor Association</a>. In joining the FLA, H&M commits to a rigorous labor compliance program that includes implementing the <a href="http://www.fairlabor.org/conduct">FLA Workplace Code of Conduct</a> and conducting monitoring to ensure that any violations are identified and corrected. Member companies also agree to publicly disclose the results of FLA monitoring.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Performance Targets:</span> We liked H&M's <a href="http://www.hm.com/nl/corporateresponsibility/csrreporting/csrreport2007__csr_report_2007.nhtml">publicly available "Global Targets" </a>(with employee names attached to each action).</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Integration:</span> H&M is one of the few apparel companies that recognize that the way the design and procurement process is handled with suppliers is very much connected to various CSR issues (such as forced overtime). CSR can not be an effort that exists in a departmental vacuum, but must be an initiative that is integrated throughout a company's operations. From the CSR report: "Fashion today works in short seasons or cycles. Without responsible buying practices this can result in time and financial pressures on suppliers that can prevent them from safeguarding their employees’ rights. So we must address product development and buying practices in different ways."<br /></li></ul>So, if that little black dress in the H&M window beckons you, go ahead and buy it (especially if it is made from <a href="http://www.sprig.com/fashion/hm-spring-2008-organic-cotton-pieces/">organic cotton</a> or <a href="http://www.trashbagaesthetics.com/2008/06/05/hm-recycled-wool-autumn-08-collection/">recycled wool</a>!!)Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-16196933148193031202008-06-16T16:13:00.000-07:002008-06-16T16:24:10.098-07:00H&M - Scorecard<table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border: medium none ; margin-left: 5.4pt; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(179, 179, 179) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 117pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Indicator<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(179, 179, 179) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 333pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Commitments/Comments<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(179, 179, 179) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 0.5in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">SOI Rank<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Environment – Operations<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">GHG Emissions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Tracks emissions from Energy Use, Goods Transport, Business Travel and Company Cars<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">6<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Energy Efficiency<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">H&M monitors energy use.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">5<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Air & Water Pollution<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Use a requirement for the quality of discharged water using guidelines developed by a <a href="http://www.bsr.org/membership/working-groups.cfm#awqwg">Business for Social Responsibility task force</a>.<span style=""> </span>Monitor waste water by asking suppliers to submit test results.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">7<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Promoting Employee Enviro. Awareness<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Training for employees is part of environmental policy.<span style=""> </span>Nominated as one of “Top 10 Companies with The Most Innovative Internal Sustainability Initiatives” by <a href="http://www.ethicalcorp.com/">Ethical Corporation Magazine</a>.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">8<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Waste Reduction (Haz & Non)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">H&M monitor toxics use and wastewater in production.<span style=""> </span>Trains store employees on proper disposal of waste and hazardous materials.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">6<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="background: silver none repeat scroll 0% 50%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB"; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Environment – Materials<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Use of Toxics in Products<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Chemical restrictions policy, last updated 2005. 170 chemicals or categories of chem. are restricted. Examples: cadmium, lead and mercury, certain dyes, PVC, formaldehyde and brominated flame retardants. Regular testing is carried out at external laboratories to ensure that suppliers comply with the chemical restrictions.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Use and Promotion Of Sustainable Materials (i.e. organic cotton)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Uses and promotes the use of organic cotton; works to reduce impact of conventional cotton. The goal for 2007 is to use at least 100 tons of organic cotton.<span style=""> </span>Member of <a href="http://www.organicexchange.org/">Organic Exchange</a> and <span style=""> </span><a href="http://www.bettercotton.org/site.php">Better Cotton Initiative.</a><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">6<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Social<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Workplace Diversity<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">H&M currently formulating policies on diversity and equality. Statement on website: “We aim to be a responsible employer in all countries even where the laws and regulations do not match our own requirements.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">3<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Unions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No official statement on Unions.<span style=""> </span>The company has been <a href="http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=113477">accused of anti-union actions by the AFL-CIO</a>.<span style=""> </span> but has also been <a href="http://unionreview.com/hats-h%2526amp%3">praised by labor leaders </a>for its handling of a unionization effort by employees in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Manhattan</st1:place></st1:City><span style="color: blue;">.<span style=""> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">3<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Workplace Safety<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Included in Supplier Code of Conduct.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Community Relations<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Very active locally and internationally.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">7<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Strategic Partnerships with NGOs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Many training initiatives with local NGOS; Also partners with large organizations like UNICEF, Make a Wish Foundation.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">7<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Animal Welfare<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No specific policy;<span style=""> </span>However, recently committed to stop buying merino wool taken from sheep in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> that had been subjected to what it considered the unacceptable process of "<a href="http://www.savethesheep.com/animals.asp">mulesing</a>."</span><span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">3<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Human Rights<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Operating in Countries of Conflict<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Do not source or operate in countries of conflict.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Child Labor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Strong policy for dealing with infractions (but one that does not immediately abandon the factor/children in question).<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">5<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Forced Overtime<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Not allowed under Code of Conduct.<span style=""> </span>H&M is very cognizant of the impact is has on manufacturer’s with its ordering cycles,<span style=""> </span>Works not to submit last-minute orders or changes to orders.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Indentured Servitude<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Not allowed under Code of Conduct.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Compliance with ILO Standards?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">H&M’s Code of Conduct for Suppliers is based on the <a href="http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/InternationalLabourStandards/lang--en/index.htm">ILO Conventions</a> (and is based on the <a href="http://www.unicef.org/crc/">UN Convention on the Rights of the Child).</a><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">UN Global Compact?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Yes, supports the<a href="http://www.unglobalcompact.org/"> Compact</a>.<span style=""> </span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Supplier Management Issues<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Code of Conduct<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Yes; Enforced; H&M provides limited training to suppliers.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">5<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Fair Wages<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No policy stated specifically.<span style=""> </span>Works with suppliers to make sure an appropriate wage is paid.<span style=""> </span>Has been criticized for allowing suppliers to pay very low wages.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">3<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Training<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Focuses on Training to improve working conditions and livelihoods for employees.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Environmental management targets are included in Supplied Code of Conduct; require wastewater testing from suppliers; work with suppliers that work with dyes to reduce impacts on the environment.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">5<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">External Verification<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Member of <a href="http://www.fairlabor.org/participants/companies#A"><st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">FLA</st1:State></st1:place></a>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Yes, as of 2005.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">CSR Reporting Standard?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Yes.<span style=""> </span>Starting with the 2007 CSR report, will be reported in accordance with the G<a href="http://www.globalreporting.org/Home">lobal Reporting Initiative’s</a> updated guidelines for sustainability reporting.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Other <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Included in a no. of sustainability indices, including the <a href="http://www.sustainability-index.com/">Dow Jones Sustainability World</a> (DJSE World), <a href="http://www.ftse.com/Indices/FTSE4Good_Index_Series/index.jsp">FTSE4Good </a>and the Ethical Sustainability Index.<span style=""> </span>Clear performance targets - with responsible parties noted- available publicly.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(204, 204, 204) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 5.5in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Demonstrated CSR Leadership Among Peers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Yes. (Bonus Point)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-48928641959208940692008-06-16T13:13:00.000-07:002008-06-20T14:49:43.583-07:00H&M - Summary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj_fqa8KIx7g8iV-fDe47uUCRvb_twjTucR7ot85uukT687kr3jdlnIj9k5brXbcgt-nwlUN6tVf_oMqXFiqWeN95feVKc8IQkWeKtbJB2bb19IuIbBFajkGCIt9phw0otCRzJJAsNzfU/s1600-h/h&m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj_fqa8KIx7g8iV-fDe47uUCRvb_twjTucR7ot85uukT687kr3jdlnIj9k5brXbcgt-nwlUN6tVf_oMqXFiqWeN95feVKc8IQkWeKtbJB2bb19IuIbBFajkGCIt9phw0otCRzJJAsNzfU/s200/h&m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214084022462986786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <a href="http://www.hm.com/us/">Hennes & Mauritz</a> (H&M) opened its first store in the U.S. in 2000. Called by <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/38183-h-m-the-ikea-of-retail-apparel-is-a-hit-with-u-s-consumers">some</a> the "IKEA of specialty retail", the Swedish company has been a hit in the U.S. market, targeting the young and hip with cutting edge design for urban tastes and with affordable prices. H&M carries everything from business attire to casual wear to beach wear for women, men and children. I have been excited to see H&M's <a href="http://www.hm.com/us/corporateresponsibility/environment/fashionpressrelease.ahtml?pressreleaseid=642">organic cotton pieces</a> and their <a href="http://www.hm.com/us/corporateresponsibility/wesupport/projectsandcooperation/hmlaunchesfashionagainstaids__faa_article.nhtml">designs that benefit outside causes</a>.<br /><br />Although H&M is <span>overall a leader in the fashion apparel sector on corporate social responsibility (CSR)</span> issues, their 100% outsourcing of production (they have no factories of their own) presents problems in monitoring and enforcement of CSR commitments. After being criticized by activists in the late 1990s for the the company's <a href="http://www.cleanclothes.org/companies/henm.htm">lack of attention to labor rights</a> in its supply chain (including a controversial expose on Swedish television), H&M began to actively respond through, among other things, developing a Code of Conduct for its suppliers and a compliance program. However, the company is still targeted for the low wages paid by some of its suppliers and was recently <a href="http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=113477">accused of anti-union activities by the AFL-CIO</a> (although, in the end, the company <a href="http://unionreview.com/hats-h%2526amp%3">received praise</a> for allowing the workers to organize.)<br /><br />In 2005, H&M stiffened its CSR inspections among its suppliers by increasing interviews with workers and introducing extra measures to ensure documentation such as time sheets and wage records were correct. The company also improved training for its 40-plus supplier auditing team. In 2006, while implementing this new, more detailed auditing program, H&M uncovered <a href="http://www.allbusiness.com/management/3501442-1.html">an increase in document forgery and abuses of child labor laws </a>among many of its suppliers.<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span><span></span></span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p>In 2007, an <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/sep/03/retail.supermarkets">independent investigation</a> of Indian-based H&M supplier <a href="http://www.gokaldasindia.com/aboutus.html">Gokaldas Export</a> (also a supplier for other brands like Marks & Spencer, Mothercare and Gap, Inc.) uncovered many violations of international labor laws, including harassment, forced overtime and wages below the legal requirement.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some Key Facts: </span> <ul><li>H&M is an apparel and cosmetics company headquartered in Sweden, where it was started in 1947.<br /></li><li>H&M sells clothes and cosmetics in approximately 1,500 stores in 28 countries, has approximately 20 production offices around the world, and more than 60,000 employees.</li><li>H&M does not have any factories of its own, but instead works with around 700 independent suppliers in primarily Asia and Europe. </li><li>The retailer sources more than <a href="http://www.just-style.com/article.aspx?id=96694">60% of its products in Asia</a>, more than half of which come from China.</li><li>The company is controlled by the family of Chairman Stefan Persson (the billionaire son of founder Erling Persson); they own nearly 37%.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Personally Speaking: </span> I was really excited to find out that H&M was coming to America. While in Europe for work in the late 1990s, I enjoyed browsing the racks of the H&M stores on my travels. I remember visiting that poor first store in NYC soon after it opened to find it looking like it has just been ripped apart by a tornado of fashionistas desperate for cheap Euro-fashion. I like H&M because you can find affordable pieces that are well-made (but also some that are NOT). Although many of the designs are targeted to younger audiences (and cut for the slim slim slim), I can always find something that is a little avant garde, but still appropriate for a professional 30-something.Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-44609171904843476732008-05-15T13:22:00.000-07:002008-06-16T14:25:55.822-07:00J. Crew Recommendation: BAD<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMAYIPB8enQvqWY0HxqzIJl2me7ruT2vqw_fRLar0H69oC6UFxKaKdSGIjbuDfvE6oIlwXtQmEmt0U7XcekkBQWfLc3aTnamxMPFkgmfprvLUpmqe80zhq870BGx0co0rDXxgKSt1s25D/s1600-h/thumbs+down.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 101px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMAYIPB8enQvqWY0HxqzIJl2me7ruT2vqw_fRLar0H69oC6UFxKaKdSGIjbuDfvE6oIlwXtQmEmt0U7XcekkBQWfLc3aTnamxMPFkgmfprvLUpmqe80zhq870BGx0co0rDXxgKSt1s25D/s320/thumbs+down.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200705183533954098" border="0" /></a>Based on J. Crew's low score of: <span style="font-weight: bold;">1.7</span>, we would recommend that you try your hardest to overlook their bright colors, cute cuts and hot models and buy your little black dress at another retailer . . . until J. Crew becomes a bit more open about what it is doing and develops stronger policies and procedures.Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-525444410055109062008-05-14T11:59:00.000-07:002008-05-15T13:21:57.247-07:00J. Crew - Template<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary</span></span><br /><br />I chose J. Crew as the first company to evaluate for no other reason than it was part of my list of companies for another research project.<br /><br />J. Crew has really re-established itself over the last few years as a higher-end fashion company. Gone is the emphasis on Gap-like basics, replaced with bright colors, of-the-moment silhouettes and patterns, but with many pieces still having that classic J. Crew feel. J. Crew went public in 2006.<br /><br />Perhaps a remnant of its privately-held past, J. Crew does not issue any annual report besides the mandated SEC Filings. Although the filings require an assessment of operations, the company is not obligated to report on any social responsibility issues (i.e., policy on wages paid by foreign suppliers, greenhouse gas emissions). Consequently, it is quite difficult to assess its CSR performance using the template. But, we did our best.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br />Some Key Facts</span><br /><br />J. Crew does not own or operate any manufacturing facilities. In 2007, approximately 85% of J. Crew merchandise was sourced from Asia (with 73% of products from China, Hong Kong and Macau).<br /><br />Although the company does not state so on its website, the SEC filing shows that J. Crew maintains a Code of Vendor Conduct, which requires that each J. Crew supplier operate in compliance with applicable wage, benefit, working hours and other local laws, and forbids the use of practices such as child labor or forced labor. The Code of Vendor Conduct is currently administered internally by J.Crew employees, including a dedicated J.Crew employee [ed.note: <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">just one??</span>], and two outside compliance audit firms that make periodic visits to the facilities that produce J. Crew goods to monitor compliance. New suppliers are prequalified based on the Code of Vendor Conduct and each existing supplier must execute an annual compliance certification. J. Crew's also works with the <a href="http://www.fairfactories.org/faqs.htm">Fair Factories Clearinghouse</a>, which is a provider of software to manage factory evaluations.<br /><br />Here is our evaluation of J. Crew based on the Scale of Involvement:<br /><br /> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border: medium none ; margin-left: 5.4pt; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(179, 179, 179) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 117pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Indicator<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(179, 179, 179) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 333pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Commitments/Comments<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(179, 179, 179) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 0.5in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">SOI Rank<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="3" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Environment – Operations<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">GHG Emissions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Energy Efficiency<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Air & Water Pollution<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Promoting Employee Enviro. Awareness<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Waste Reduction (Haz & Non)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="3" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="background: silver none repeat scroll 0% 50%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB"; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Environment – Materials<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Use of Toxics in Products<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Use and Promotion Of Sustainable Materials (i.e. organic cotton)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="3" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Social<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Workplace Diversity<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Generic diversity policy outlines in Code of Ethics<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Unions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Brief statement on unions in SEC filings.<span style=""> </span>No unions at J. Crew.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">2<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Workplace Safety<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No reference to workplace “safety”; generic statement on workplace “violence” in Code of Ethics<b style="">.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">2<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Community Relations<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Strategic Partnerships with NGOs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Animal Welfare<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available; though stopped carrying fur after pressure from PETA.</span><span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="3" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Human Rights<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Operating in Countries of Conflict<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Child Labor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Forbidden under Code of Vendor Conduct; no specific procedures discussed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Forced Overtime<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Forbidden under Code of Vendor Conduct. No specific procedures discussed.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Indentured Servitude<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Compliance with ILO Standards?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">UN Global Compact?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="3" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Supplier Management Issues<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Code of Conduct<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Yes, though it is not public.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">5<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Fair Wages<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Code of Vendor Conducts states that all vendors must “operate in compliance with applicable wage, benefit, working hours and other local laws”<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">3<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Training<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No Information available<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border: medium none ; margin-left: 5.4pt; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td colspan="4" style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(224, 224, 224) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 6.75in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="648"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">External Verification<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Member of <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">FLA</st1:place></st1:State>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">CSR Reporting Standard?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Other <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 333pt;" valign="top" width="444"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Working with Fair Factories Clearinghouse to share factory data with other brands.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">n/a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; background: rgb(204, 204, 204) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 5.5in; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" valign="top" width="528"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">Demonstrated CSR Leadership Among Peers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Agency FB";">No.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br />Due to some technical difficulties, links are not working right now, but will be added soon.<br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><pre><br /></pre>Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-60056373160327011192008-05-13T10:07:00.000-07:002008-05-13T11:42:03.166-07:00Issues Template<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Template</span></span><br />The Issues Template is used to summarize the key issues that are being evaluated for each company. Some might say that apparel companies should focus their efforts on issues that are most relevant to their business operations - mostly labor issues, wage issues, worker training, product safety/quality, etc. However, I have added environmental issues into the mix for several reasons. Environmental issues, like climate change and water pollution, are growing in importance to society at large and companies should <span style="font-style: italic;">at least</span>, at this point, be getting a sense of their impacts. Personally, I also see this as a differentiation marketing strategy and as a way to be prepared for any potential legislation on the environment. In addition, negative public opinion can adversely affect sales, and the public is calling for more environmental awareness on the part of companies.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7yv0CSALAIzgZ6X6l_WsiOzImzDOgfkkWL7-lkTWEdaH1i55d-sMK64bogwE_fXdx0CDc8WtgZJTnMwOdVzqidQ1vUYk2QwC1YI28hsU2b3uipozPi5seM1m8Ywt68Sg4P-I7Akp9C5o/s1600-h/Issues-Template.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7yv0CSALAIzgZ6X6l_WsiOzImzDOgfkkWL7-lkTWEdaH1i55d-sMK64bogwE_fXdx0CDc8WtgZJTnMwOdVzqidQ1vUYk2QwC1YI28hsU2b3uipozPi5seM1m8Ywt68Sg4P-I7Akp9C5o/s400/Issues-Template.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199913002586010562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Sorry, you will have to click on the image above to get a better view of the template.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Definitions</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GHG Emissions:</span> Is the company tracking its emissions from its operations? This does not have to include supplier emissions, but should include all stores, offices, distribution networks (from warehouse to stores, stores to outlets, etc.)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Air and Water Pollution:</span> Is the company tracking its air and water pollution?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Employee Awareness:</span> Is the company doing anything to make its employees aware of environmental issues? Educating employees is a incredibly effective way for a company to have a position environmental impact.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waste Reduction: </span>Does the company track waste (both hazardous and non.)?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Toxics in Products:</span> Does the company do anything to reduce the use of toxic chemicals in their products?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Promotion of Sustainable Materials:</span> Is the company doing anything to use more organics or other sustainable fibers/materials?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Workplace Diversity:</span> Does the company seek to promote a diverse workplace (this does not include suppliers, but does include stores, admin. offices, warehouses, etc.)?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Unions:</span> What is the company's position on unions?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Workplace Safety:</span> Again, not including suppliers.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Community Relations:</span> How does the company work with the communities that are touched by its business? This can include communities surrounding suppliers, if the company sources a large percentage of its product from that one supplier.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NGOs:</span> Does the company try to work with NGOs to address issues or create opportunities?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Animal Welfare: </span>Is there any action to promote humane treatment of animals if the company uses leather, fur, etc.?<br /><br />[<span style="font-style: italic;">Note: many of the "Human Rights" issue categories are aimed at determining how companies work with their suppliers in other countries, rather than how it treats its own employees in the country of origin</span>.]<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Countries of Conflict:</span> Does the company operate or use suppliers from countries of conflict where their business activities are promoting adverse impacts on the population or environment of that country?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Child Labor: </span>What does the company do/say about child labor?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Forced Overtime: </span>This is when employers force employees to work more than whatever the accepted standard is. In the US, it is 40 hours per week or, sometimes, 8 hours per day.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Indentured Servitude:</span> An indentured servant is a laborer under contract of the employer for some period of time, usually three to seven years, in exchange for such things as ship's passage, food, land and accommodations. And believe it or not, it still happens fairly often in some countries.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Compliance with ILO standards?:</span> "Since 1919, the International Labour Organization has maintained and developed a system of <strong style="font-weight: normal;">international labour standards</strong> aimed at promoting opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity." (from <a href="http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/InternationalLabourStandards/Introduction/lang--en/index.htm">here</a>) Read more <a href="http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/InternationalLabourStandards/lang--en/index.htm">here</a>.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UN Global Compact:</span> "The Global Compact is a framework for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with <a target="_self" href="http://www.unglobalcompact.org/AboutTheGC/TheTenPrinciples/index.html">ten universally accepted principles</a> in the areas of <a target="_self" href="http://www.unglobalcompact.org/AboutTheGC/TheTenPrinciples/humanRights.html">human rights</a>, <a target="_self" href="http://www.unglobalcompact.org/AboutTheGC/TheTenPrinciples/labourStandards.html">labour</a>,<a target="_self" href="http://www.unglobalcompact.org/AboutTheGC/TheTenPrinciples/environment.html">the environment</a> and <a target="_self" href="http://www.unglobalcompact.org/AboutTheGC/TheTenPrinciples/anti-corruption.html">anti-corruption</a> ."<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Code of Conduct: </span>Does the company have a Code of Conduct that must be adhered to by suppliers?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fair Wages: </span>What does the company do to ensure that its suppliers are paying "fair" wages to workers producing the brand's products?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Training:</span> Does the company do any training for suppliers on improving efficiency, operations management, employee management, environmental management, etc.?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Environmental Management:</span> Does the company do anything to track the environmental impacts of its suppliers.?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Member of FLA?:</span> The mission of the Fair Labor Association (FLA) is to combine the efforts of industry, civil society organizations, and colleges and universities to protect workers’ rights and improve working conditions worldwide by promoting adherence to international labor standards. The FLA conducts independent monitoring and verification to ensure that the FLA’s Workplace Standards are upheld where FLA company products are produced. Through public reporting, the FLA provides consumers and shareholders with credible information to make responsible buying decisions. More <a href="http://www.fairlabor.org/">here</a>.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CSR Reporting Standard?:</span> Disclosure and transparency are very important. There are number of different reporting standards (i.e., <a href="http://www.accountability21.net/default.aspx?id=228">AA1000</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalreporting.org%2F&ei=0dwpSJ7YOaCi8gSb8_DACw&usg=AFQjCNHLYiSP-XY4fVTuWX1bz5qBgAq0GQ&sig2=cMbMKH2A2YJhO5swyMOUBQ">Global Reporting Initiative</a>, find more examples <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_social_responsibility#Auditing_and_reporting">here</a>) that a company can use to make its reporting more organized, more substantial/comprehensive and more credible.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Closing Thoughts</span><br />Although I think that this list of issues is actually larger than it necessarily needs to be, it does not mean that a company needs to focus on every specific issue listed. However, I do feel like the majority of these issues represent real operational risks (whether from public opinion, the legal perspective or operational efficiency) that companies need to start getting their heads around.Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-69343172825038805112008-05-12T11:15:00.000-07:002008-05-13T09:42:53.706-07:00The Scale of Involvement!![I feel like the title of this entry needs to be said by some baritone-voiced radio personality, with emphasis on "scale" and "-volve-". ]<br /><br />In any case, the "scale of involvement" is a scale that was developed by one Dova Wilson, a member of my class group at GWU.<br /><br />It was designed as a way to evaluate a company's commitment to corporate social responsibility through its policies, programs and key performance indicators (KPIs). Since much of the information available on a company's CSR activities is qualitative in nature (meaning that it can't really be measured easily), the "Dova Scale" (as we like to call it) attempts to quantify (with numbers) mostly qualitative data. The scale is used along with a template (which I will share in the next entry). I have adapted the template we developed in class to be more relevant to the branded apparel companies I will be profiling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2ZHrQ22e2g33M2-ToSwkrJbJQq3pObkJxLoVUOXnnY3-IL7StL-_el4hE9XX82NiiN7Jsp_T544m906mRcvHq74G27ipsdtGktaayhXOckAUxdmOmZh6UGoi2cSATSb3DLFU1YIVt9sF/s1600-h/Scale.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2ZHrQ22e2g33M2-ToSwkrJbJQq3pObkJxLoVUOXnnY3-IL7StL-_el4hE9XX82NiiN7Jsp_T544m906mRcvHq74G27ipsdtGktaayhXOckAUxdmOmZh6UGoi2cSATSb3DLFU1YIVt9sF/s400/Scale.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199903742636520354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Definitions </span>(we will use child labor as an example to make it easier to understand):<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1- No Visible Involvement:</span> This rating can be applied when a company shows no mention of a particular issue. (For instance, has no official policy on child labor.)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2 - Lip Action:</span> The company may have a statement on child labor, but no specifics. It could be something like, "X company cares deeply about child labor", but with no specifics on anything else. This could also be the rating when a company says that it does something, but a third party (NGO, government, labor group) shows proof that this is not true.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3 - Compliance:</span> The company may make a blanket statement that they "comply with all necessary regulations" relating to child labor in the countries where they operate, but with no information on how they track this or what the regulations are.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4 - Policy & Procedures: </span>The company has a public policy on child labor that talks about how it would handle a situation of child labor (for example, the company would immediately terminate a contract with a supplier or factory that was found to have child labor). This rating is given when the company, although having a policy and procedure, does not actively investigate and monitor the issue.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5 - Internal Audit and Measurement:</span> The company investigates, monitors and reports on issues of child labor. This could mean that the company has hired a third-party verifier to investigate its factories or has its own compliance officers who work with their suppliers. The company may or may not report on its findings, but states that it has a way of doing so.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6 - Active Steps: </span> This rating would be given to a company when it is apparent that the company is proactive about child labor. For instance, one company that I have looked at partners with NGOs to provide education opportunities for children near the factories where the company manufactures its clothes, so the children have other options besides working.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7 - Creativity: </span>This rating is given to a company that definitely meets the 6th rating, but also tries to solve issues creatively or using its market position, partners with unique organizations, or, otherwise, takes active steps in ways that are different than the industry norm.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8 - Continual Improvement:</span> The company strives, year after year, to do better than it did the year before to address challenges, solve problems and be proactive about issues that affect its business and industry. Many companies that receive this rating have social responsibility as part of their mission statements. Their senior officers are vocal about the company's actions. The companies participate in external evaluations of their activities for research purposes. There is a high level of transparency, involvement of internal and outside stakeholders, development of new approaches, etc.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bonus Point - Leader:</span> The company is a clear leader in the industry based on what others are doing. In some industries, the leader may actually be rated low (like a 5 or 6), but because the industry as a whole is not doing much, they benefit in the scale by doing more. (This is not actually a whole point, but, more like an asterisk that will be taken into account.)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">How The Scale Is Used: </span></span> For every category on the template (which you will see next), the researcher (that would be me) looks at information available from the company and other resources and tries to get an overall opinion on what the company says its doing, what it is trying to do and what others say it is doing.<br /><br />That is definitely one of the drawbacks of this process: that I decide what the rating should be based on my opinion. However, because of the type of information that is evaluated (mostly quantitative), and that there are no standards for what companies do on these types of issues, subjective decision-making is part of the process. It would be much easier if there was some standard that all companies had to subscribe to and report on. This is often the case with pollution information (although we all know that a company, if it really wanted to, can find a way to get around that. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erin_Brockovich">Erin Borkovich</a>, anyone?)<br /><br />Anyway, an important part of making the rating decision is also understanding what other companies in the same industry are doing. This is important for several reasons. First, it might be difficult to get a full picture of the trade-offs that a company must make to implement a particular policy unless you have a lot of internal information on the issue. However, if you see many companies in the same industry implementing a particular policy, then you can assume that is it possible for the company in question to do so as well. For instance, if many companies in the same industry decide that they want to be open about what countries most of their clothing is manufactured in and one company is not sharing that information, then that will stand out. Also, looking at many companies in the same industry is helpful for getting a baseline on what <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">can</span> be done across the board. For the brand-name apparel sector, it is amazing to see that some companies are doing a lot, some are starting to do a little and others do very little or don't do anything at all.Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193810206957124220.post-25516404154032807492008-04-29T08:17:00.000-07:002008-05-13T09:44:22.346-07:00Introduction and MethodologyWelcome to <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Good, the Bad and the Tacky"</span>! My name is Maria and I love fashion and I love shopping. I also just finished my MBA, where one of the things I studied was social responsibility issues in the apparel sector. I am sure many of you have heard about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweatshop">sweatshops</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labor">child labor</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change">climate change</a> by now. But, did you know that there are many brand-named apparel companies that are doing<span style="font-weight: bold;"> a lot</span> to promote fair wages, reduce child labor and reduce their impacts on the environment? And, unfortunately, there are some companies (brands that you probably see on every trip to the mall) that seem to be <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">doing almost nothing</span>. Yep, pretty much nada. I was surprised, too.<br /><br />It took me a while to find this out. For my last MBA project, I researched many brand-named companies to see exactly what their policies and programs were in regard to many key issues. It took a long time. And I thought, "wow, an every-day fashionista just won't have the time to do this." (I know that I probably wouldn't have done it if it wasn't for my MBA.) So, I decided to share my research with you all through the amazing world of the internet. So, here it is.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A word about methodology (or, MBA-speak, feel free to skip this part): </span><br />The rating system is based on a project developed through the Spring 2008 Global Corporate Social Responsibility class at the <a href="http://www.business.gwu.edu/">George Washington University's School of Business</a>. The rating system identifies key issues of impact for companies. Each issue area is then ranked based on the "Scale of Involvement" rating system. This scale was developed as a way to attempt to quantify what is usually qualitative information. The data for the ranking was gathered primarily from information available on the company's website, its annual reports and SEC filings and third-party sources (like, news agencies, NGOs, government agencies, personal interviews).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Disclaimer:</span> The methodology is not perfect. Much of the rating system is subjective. But the website will provide links to specific information that a rating was based on, so, if the reader wishes, they can review the data themselves.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What we hope to achieve:</span> This website was created primarily to give fashion consumers access to information that is not always easily accessible. <span style="font-weight: bold;">It was not meant to serve as any sort of activism against the companies profiled that receive a low rating.</span> But, we do hope that those companies are encouraged to at least look at the impacts they have throughout their value chain and determine ways that they can turn existing challenges into opportunities - for themselves and society at large. Some companies are doing an awesome job - and we want you to know about it. In a shrinking, more connected, world, doing the right thing is more important than ever.Righteous (re)Stylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809228969166263679noreply@blogger.com0