Case Study Of Hanesbrand Inc.

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1) HanesBrand Inc. produces and sells clothing on an international level. The company website states they are a, “socially responsible manufacturer and marketer of leading everyday basic apparel” (Hanesbrand Inc.). The company is proud that they practice ethical business practices within the workplace. They own the majority of the facilities where their products are manufactured and produced meaning they are able to control the working conditions and wages within the facilities. They are the only apparel manufacturer to be distinguished by the Great Place to Work Institute for the facilities in the Central American and the Caribbean (Hanesbrand Inc.). The company has earned several notifications and awards from organizations

The King Ranch harvests 30,000 acres of cotton each year for the production of T-shirts. This land was at one time teaming with native plants and animals. The famers decided to clear cut the area and replace the plants with a monoculture. In order to make the cotton produce the desired amount pesticides and fertilizers are dumped onto the plants. The pesticides and fertilizers run off the soil and enter waterways. The fertilizers can cause eutrophication in the waterways (USGS). The fertilizers do this by creating an algae bloom that becomes too large for the body of water and begins to die. As the dead organic material decomposes, it uses up the oxygen in the water leaving a dead zone. Aquatic animals are not able to survive in this zone and die if linger too long. The cotton crops also need numerous liters of water. Reports differ but it can take from 2,000 to 20,000 liters to water one kilogram of cotton (WWF). This water is pumped form the ground water and runs off fields carrying fertilizers and

These individuals are paid a wage that barely supports one individual let alone a family of four or more. Working long hours the individuals are not given adequate breaks in order to remain alert and aware of their surroundings. This can lead to accidents that may have been prevented if the individuals had been more alert. Another aspect to the manufacturing and assembly aspect is personnel safety. Other countries do not have the same safety standard the United States had issued. After the Triangle Waist Factory Fire in 1911 in New York City, the United States examined ways to make factories safer (Triangle Fire). Other countries such as Vietnam and Bangladesh have not been so quick to implement new regulations after an accident or disaster. The companies associated with the factories in these regions are able to get away with lower standards of safety because the regulations are not as strict as the United States. Numerous building collapses and fires have cost numerous workers lives; however, the companies continue to produce clothing in these