On April 24, 2013, the apparel and textile industry stood still.
News of the Rana Plaza factory collapse rippled through apparel supply chains and the devastation – 1,134 workers killed and several thousand injured – led to the reimagination of garment workers’ rights.
In the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster, the Bangladesh Accord was a pivotal step towards holding the industry accountable for ensuring the safety and well-being of its workers, who are predominantly women of color. Since the Bangladesh Accord’s expiry, the binding International Accord and successor agreements like the Pakistan Accord, followed suit.
Many of Cascale’s corporate members operating in apparel and textile supply chains have committed to greater accountability in their supply chains by uplifting worker safety and pegging to decent work.
The International Accord is a legally binding contract between brands and factories underscoring the commitment to worker safety including factory disclosure and financial remediation. International Accord signatories include ASOS, Benetton, Bestseller, Boohoo Group PLC, C&A, Carrefour, El Corte Inglés, Gap Inc., G-Star RAW, HanesBrands, H&M Group, Hunkemoller, INDITEX, Fast Retailing Co., Fanatics Apparel LLC, John Lewis, KappAhl, LPP SA, Marks and Spencer, Mammut Sports Group, Mango, Marks and Spencer, NA-KD, New Look, NEXT Plc, Otto Group, OVS Spa, PUMA, Primark, PVH Corp., River Island, Sainsbury’s, SOLO Invest, Target, Tchibo, Tesco, Varner Group, and Zalando, per the International Accord tracker last updated in April 2024.
Similarly, the Pakistan Accord extends the protections of the International Accord including independent inspections and remediation of safety hazards, independent worker complaints mechanism, and joint capacity building with the government of Pakistan. Many International Accord signatories also signed on to the Pakistan Accord.
Companies committed to the accord pledge to disclose all factories producing for them in countries with International Accord programs, ensure all listed factories participate in the inspection, remediation, and safety training programs, support factories to ensure remediation is financially feasible, and help fund operational costs of the programs.
Cascale works across its diverse ecosystem to bring human rights due diligence to the forefront of industry priorities. Many of our affiliate members and industry collaborators are equally committed to building responsible and just supply chains.
Members are encouraged to find ways to increase their involvement and band together in support of worker justice.
New collaboration to catalyze the industry towards impactful due diligence
In a milestone development, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and the Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) announce a deepened strategic collaboration as SLCP has completed its separation from SAC and transitioned into an independent non-profit foundation.
As part of a recurring series, Cascale details the involvement and vision of its Board members. Here, Krishna Manda, Vice President, Corporate Sustainability at Lenzing Group, shares his perspective.
In March, Cascale and Worldly held a webinar, “Navigating Legislation & the Higg Index: Higg BRM with CSRD.” In this blog, we share the recording, highlight key takeaways, and address submitted questions during the session.
Preferred fibers are better in theory but how do they become reality?
