Market Movers: Lessons from a Frontier of Innovation - IFC

Market Movers 37the MAS business case – the three most important factorsHere we highlight the three most important ways in which sustainability performance at MAS is influencing businessdrivers and supporting business strategy.1. Stronger client relationshipsas a result of high labourstandards– Despite competition from othermanufacturers with lower costsand equal quality, MAS becamea strategic partner to brands likeGap, Marks & Spencer, Nike andVictoria’s Secret, in large part dueto its high-quality workforce andhigh labour standards.3. licence to operate fromsocio-economic development– When factories first openedthere was mistrust and concernfrom local communities that MASwould exploit local workers. Someemployees were even attacked.– Community development effortsinclude supporting schools,hospitals and scholarships in ruralvillages, which help generate locallicence to operate.– By ‘taking work to the worker’,MAS also brings investment andstability to rural communities.– Gap and Victoria’s Secret havejoined in ‘Women Go Beyond’.– As part of its ‘Plan A’ programme,Marks & Spencer has selected MASto build a green manufacturingfacility.MAS BUSINESS CASE MATRIxEnvironmentalPerformanceSocialPerformanceGovernancePerformance2. Higher employee productivityand lower turnover from goodworkforce managementSales &Market Access– MAS’ reputation enables it toattract and retain top talent.OperationalEfficiency– Annual staff turnover is 20%, onequarterindustry average.– ‘Women Go Beyond’ contributesto greater engagement andmotivation of women employees,positively impacting productivityand absenteeism.Accessto CapitalRisk Mgmt &Licence toOperateTalent &Human CapitalBrand Value &Reputation