Question: GlobalEdge Apparel ( Pty ) Ltd Background GlobalEdge Apparel ( Pty ) Ltd is a South African - based multinational company specialising in fast fashion.

GlobalEdge Apparel (Pty) Ltd Background GlobalEdge Apparel (Pty) Ltd is a South African-based multinational company specialising in fast fashion. Over the past decade, it has expanded its operations into 12 countries, with manufacturing hubs in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Ethiopia. The company markets itself as a champion of sustainable, ethical, and affordable fashion, boasting partnerships with environmental NGOs and membership in global ethical sourcing alliances. Corporate Governance In 2024, the company experienced a major governance scandal when whistleblower reports revealed that several board members had concealed material financial losses related to overseas operations. Investigations uncovered that internal audits were bypassed and risk reports were downplayed during board meetings to preserve shareholder confidence. The scandal triggered a sharp decline in share value and damaged stakeholder trust. Supply Chain and Ethical Sourcing GlobalEdges supply chain spans multiple developing economies. An expos by an international news outlet highlighted poor working conditions and labour violations in the companys factories in Ethiopiaranging from underpayment and excessive overtime to unsafe working conditions. While GlobalEdge had a Supplier Code of Conduct, it lacked effective monitoring mechanisms and local enforcement capacity. Organisational Culture and Psychological Safety A 2023 internal climate survey showed that only 22% of employees felt comfortable reporting unethical behaviour. Many feared retaliation, especially after a prominent ethics officer was demoted after raising red flags. Human Resources claimed to have an open-door policy, but employees believed that ethics hotlines were monitored and used to track dissent. Greenwashing and Environmental Reporting In its annual ESG report, GlobalEdge claimed a 60% reduction in carbon footprint and highlighted the use of recycled materials in its "EcoWear" line. However, an independent audit revealed that the recycled content made up less than 10% of the final product and that carbon emissions had only dropped by 12%. Environmental watchdogs accused the company of greenwashingmisleading the public through inflated sustainability claims.QUESTION ONE [25] Assess the role of corporate boards in ensuring ethical governance and long-term value creation, considering recent corporate collapses. QUESTION TWO [25] Discuss the challenges of embedding ethical sourcing principles in global supply chains, especially in the context of developing economies. QUESTION THREE [25] Examine the role of psychological safety and ethical climate in encouraging employees to speak up against unethical conduct. QUESTION FOUR [25] Analyse the legal, ethical, and reputational risks associated with greenwashing in the context of environmental reporting and sustainability claims.

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