Report question: Study Skills Module June 2014 On April 24 2013, a building known as the "Rana Plaza collapsed on top of garment workers inside its factories, killing more than 1,100 people and injuring 2,500. It would be known as the worst accident in the garment industry anywhere. It was later discovered that 28 brands that sourced clothes from the plaza included Primark, Bennetton, Mango, Matalan and Bonmache, prompting public concern about the working conditions of garment factories around the world which contribute to western high street fashion stores. Ethical consumerism encourages people to think about how the products they buy are sourced and produced which are not harmful to the environment and society. This can be evidenced through simply purchasing eggs that are free-range or boycotting goods/companies which promote child labour or unsavoury working conditions. There are a range of product areas which fall into the ethical category which includes: • Banking • Cleaning • Cosmetics & Toiletries • Dairy • Energy • Finance • Fashion • Food • Insurance • Soft Drinks • Tea industry • Travel Ethical consumerism is a growing market; a recent report from the Co-operative Bank showed a third of UK consumers claiming to be concerned about ethical consumption, with a large number of the public willing to challenge and boycott companies who do not comply with ethical standards. Write an analytical business report on what ethical consumerism means for businesses. Choose one company evidencing how they operate ethically. This must take into account the ethics and values of the company you choose to focus on. In your report (which must be written in business report format), you need to cover the following topics: • An executive summary which gives a brief overview of the argument in your report including key findings and conclusions • A brief overview analysis of ethical consumerism, identifying the examples of some of the products which fall into the ethical category, • A detailed review of one company claiming to operate ethically. Discuss the approach(es) they have used to become a more socially conscious business, linking this with the ethics and values of the company that you have identified. • A short opinion survey on what influences consumer buying behaviour, carried out by you from a sample of students at GSM London • A conclusion which includes critical evaluation of ethical consumerism based on the evidence that you have gathered both from your primary and secondary research, focusing on one company you have chosen for detailed review Supporting material will be posted on Blackboard, but you will be expected to undertake research using newspaper/magazine/web articles, journals and text books.