Celebrating the People Behind Every Bicycle
There is a human behind the manufacturing of each product, a fact we celebrate this World Bicycle Day, June 3. By bringing people to the forefront of conversations, new industries are driving greater social compliance and collaboration across global supply chains. In November, WRAP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Taiwan Bicycle Association […]
From Industrial Growth to Global Trade: How Manufacturing Created the Need for Social Compliance
The roots of today’s global supply chains lie in the manufacturing boom of the early 20th century—but their explosive growth was driven not just by factories, but by global trade. As industrial production accelerated in the early 1900s, manufacturing economies learned how to produce goods at scale and move them efficiently to market. Railroads, shipping […]
World Day for Safety and Health at Work: Why Systems Matter
Occupational health and safety concerns are an integral part of global supply chain networks. When workers suffer from work-related injuries or occupational illnesses, it often points to deeper gaps in workplace systems and controls. To honor workers affected by these incidents, promote safe working environments, and raise awareness of the consequences of inadequate health and […]
Why We Remember Rana Plaza
April 24 marks the anniversary of the devastating Rana Plaza tragedy in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Spanning eight floors, the commercial building housed a variety of facilities which produced garments for mainstream brands. Despite cracks beginning to form and workers questioning the structural soundness of the building, they were told that they needed to return to work. […]
WRAP Certification: Building Responsible, Ethical, and Sustainable Workplaces
WRAP certification is more than meeting requirements. It demonstrates a facility’s commitment to running its operations in a responsible, ethical, and sustainable way within the context of the global supply chain. Collaboration is at the heart of WRAP. The organization works directly with facilities to help them build and maintain systems of social compliance for […]
The Essential Fabric: Women’s Role in the Global Apparel Industry
The garment sector employs an estimated 94 million workers worldwide, making it one of the largest manufacturing workforces on the planet. Although the exact number of women workers is difficult to pinpoint due to the high prevalence of informal employment, the International Labour Organization estimates that 60–80% of the global garment workforce is female. This […]
Discrimination Divides. Inclusion Drives Success.
Workplace discrimination remains one of the most persistent barriers to ethical business conduct and sustainable development. At its core, discrimination refers to any distinction, exclusion, or preference based on race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction, or social origin that undermines equality of opportunity or treatment in employment. When discrimination takes root, it compromises […]
Rethinking Working Hours in Labor-Intensive Industries
High working hours in labor-intensive industries—particularly footwear and apparel—have been debated for decades and remain one of the most persistent challenges in responsible supply chain management. At the heart of this discussion is Principle 6: Hours of Work, a foundational component of WRAP’s 12 Principles, which collectively define WRAP’s approach to ethical, lawful, and humane […]
The Evolution of Social Compliance and WRAP’s Role
The modern social compliance movement emerged from public scrutiny, worker advocacy, and growing demands for accountability in global supply chains. Over the past 25 years, it has evolved from reactive responses to high-profile scandals into a structured system of standards, legislation, and continuous improvement. Created as part of the industry’s early response to these challenges, […]
Customs Compliance: A Cornerstone of Global Trade
As the international supply chain adapts to an ever-changing geopolitical landscape, one priority remains constant: customs compliance. For importers and exporters, this is not just a box to check—it’s a critical safeguard against delays, fines, and even the seizure of goods. In a world where products often pass through multiple hands, cross oceans, and traverse […]
