Third-Party Certification of Garment Factories: Antidote for the Race to the Bottom?

Abstract

In this case, third party certification of garment factories is examined as an approach for addressing compliance with labor, safety, and environmental standards of host countries. Through the certification efforts of Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), garment factories in developing countries such as Indonesia qualify for garment orders with retailers in the United States. As the largest independent certification program for the sewn products industry, WRAP’s efforts are discussed in this case as a strategy to address the race to the bottom in factories in developing countries. Issues around compliance and supply chain relationships are considered in this ethical examination of the garment industry.