Three years later, more than 1,100 Bangladeshi workers were crushed to death when the Rana Plaza collapsed. The building was not designed to carry the weight and vibration of production machinery, yet had housed dozens of illegal factories producing clothes for a range of international brands.
In Southeast Asia, owners of palm oil plantations have been blamed for years for burning large swathes of forest, causing periodic bouts of toxic haze to blanket the region. Palm oil is a key ingredient in soaps, detergents and a wide range of processed food and other products.
These examples share three points in common: outsourcing to low-cost suppliers; behavior by suppliers that is frequently illegal or at best irresponsible; and finally, despite efforts at reform, the illegal or irresponsible behavior has continued.
How can brands do better?
Following the Rana Plaza disaster, big name Western retailers and clothing manufacturers agreed to improve worker safety. While steps have been taken, some Bangladeshi garment workers still complain of insecurity at the workplace.
