With an aim to support and promote the responsible buying practices within the garment industry supply chain in Bangladesh, two NGOs – Better Buying and Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) have come together for the cause.
These two NGOs have inked an 18-month partnership just over a week ahead of the fifth anniversary of the devastating Rana Plaza factory collapse which happened on April 24, 2013, claiming 1,100+ lives.
Garment factories in Bangladesh will be invited by these NGOs, to evaluate their buyers using the Better Buying’s online rating platform without disclosing their identity.
Planning and forecasting, design and development, cost and cost negotiation, sourcing and order placement, payment and terms, management of the purchasing process, and CSR harmonisation are the seven key aspects on which the buyers will be evaluated.
According to Martin Buttle of ETI, Better Buying scores and analysis will serve as an independent method of determining strengths and weaknesses within brands’ procurement cycles.
He even pointed out that a joint research conducted by ETI and International Labour Organisation (ILO) reveals that purchasing practices can negatively impact wages and working conditions in global supply chains.
“Information and analysis derived out of supplier ratings will help companies get to know about which purchasing practices are working well and which may benefit from focussed efforts to enhance business activities,” underline Better Buying and ETI.