GENDER EQUALITY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN
COS stands for equality and empowerment. Throughout our tier-one supply chain (direct business partners and product-manufacturing partners), we contribute to the work of over 128,000 workers in 12 different countries. Each country has a unique culture, societal norms, legal contexts and levels of gender equality, which can result in women being more likely to be unemployed or have insecure contracts.
Having proper employment is one of the most important means for women’s empowerment and independence – with almost 65% of the workers in the factories in our supply chain being women, we have a responsibility to ensure that they are safe, healthy and empowered both in and outside of their everyday work environment.
THE COS TOTE: FOR EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENT
In 2023, we launched the first of our community investment projects, to support women in our supply chain, their families and their neighbours. Using 100% of the profits from the sale of our COS tote bag, we have invested in partnerships with non-profit organisations to deliver projects that address key gender equality issues in communities surrounding our supply chain.
Find out more about the initiatives that have benefitted from the funding below.
In 2023, we launched the first of our community investment projects, to support women in our supply chain, their families and their neighbours. Using 100% of the profits from the sale of our COS tote bag, we have invested in partnerships with non-profit organisations to deliver projects that address key gender equality issues in communities surrounding our supply chain.
Find out more about the initiatives that have benefitted from the funding below.
Yanındayız Derneği, Türkiye
For the second year running, we are funding local organisation Yanındayız Derneği to deliver trainings to improve awareness and understanding of gender equality and gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) issues in the workplace and activate men’s participation in the discussion.
Since launching the initiative in early 2023, we have trained 7,251 female and male workers, including those in the wider community, and funded 78 training sessions on GBVH awareness.
CARE, Bangladesh
Since 2023, we have been working with CARE Bangladesh to fund Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) for women who work in our factories, including their neighbours and friends. These spaces provide education on GBVH, problem solving and decision making, stress management, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and food and nutrition. Additional activities, such as inspirational talks by female role models, couple’s cooking competitions and street performances, further boost the overall reach and impact.
Since partnering with CARE, 2,595 people have been directly reached through WFS memberships and we have provided 2,540 women with foundational training on GBVH issues.
Together with CARE, we will begin work to ensure these Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) are self-sustaining for the long term.
Photograph courtesy of Erik Stackpole Undéhn
Oporajita Initiative, Bangladesh
The Oporajita initiative unites a diversified group of stakeholders to ensure women garment workers gain essential working skills and competences in an inclusive, supportive environment. The initiative is co-created with the workers and addresses their needs across three key areas that significantly affect their lives.
Enabling Environment includes access to hygiene practices, health services and gender-sensitive financial literacy, as well as promoting gender-inclusive practices within a work environment.
At a community level, it supports girls’ science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, as well as parenting and childcare. Skills Training equips women with relevant power skills such as leadership and communication and technical skills for career growth in and beyond the Ready-Made-Garments (RMG) sector, including micro-entrepreneurships. RMG Sector Competitiveness aims to make the garment sector more inclusive and resilient to automation and emerging competition. This area promotes stakeholder collaboration and piloting human-centred innovations – including the creation of jobs – to boost RMG women’s employability.
Photograph courtesy of Erik Stackpole Undéhn
CARE, Bangladesh
Since 2023, we have been working with CARE Bangladesh to fund Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) for women who work in our factories, including their neighbours and friends. These spaces provide education on GBVH, problem solving and decision making, stress management, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and food and nutrition. Additional activities, such as inspirational talks by female role models, couple’s cooking competitions and street performances, further boost the overall reach and impact.
Since partnering with CARE, 2,595 people have been directly reached through WFS memberships and we have provided 2,540 women with foundational training on GBVH issues.
Together with CARE, we will begin work to ensure these Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) are self-sustaining for the long term.
Photograph courtesy of Erik Stackpole Undéhn