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5Wake‐Up Calls: The Dual Disasters of Rana Plaza and COVID‐19

“There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.'

No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.”

—Dalai Lama XIV

Thanks to an increased interest in and awareness of responsible sourcing over the past 30 years, the global production community has come a long way since the Nike soccer ball scandal of the 1990s. However, simply because systems for increased transparency and accountability have been created and are now utilized, supply chains remain complex, and the models do not always operate the way we would hope. Over the last several years, our world has shifted in ways that have brought new global challenges but also new technologies and opportunities. These shifts can result from economic crises, natural disasters, political unrest, consumer demand, and the myriad other events that can impact a globalized supply chain. Meanwhile, the industry has also continued to learn from existing solutions. These changes and learnings require brands to continually reevaluate and improve their approach to sourcing and supply chains, as well as the tools they use to ensure that they and their sourcing partners are operating responsibly.

In this chapter we will look at two disruptive events that highlighted weaknesses within the responsible‐sourcing sector. Both events have led to a concerted effort to address industry‐wide, ...