In towns, streets and communities all across the UK, people are trapped in modern slavery. This is not only a failure, but an affront to us all. At a time when the UK needs an urgent upgrade of existing legislation and policies on modern slavery that better protect people, instead a dangerous narrative is being spread, and victims of slavery up and
Despite international efforts to abolish slavery, it is well and truly alive in certain parts of the world. Global warming and the COVID-19 pandemic are not helping matters.
The retailer has signed the document as part of its relaunched Plan A sustainability scheme
M&S is among the first UK retailers to sign a call to action urging fellow brands to address human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region.
The retailer said it had signed the document as part of its long-term focus on ensuring its supply chains were sustainable and ethical, and to encourage fellow retailers to examine their own supply chains. It was also striving to ensure workers are treated fairly and human rights are respected across its supply chain, it said.
M&S sources its cotton through businesses that are accredited with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), a not-for-profit organisation that focuses on sustainable production. The BCI suspended its activities in Xinjiang in March 2020, and as a result, there is no new licensed BCI cotton coming from the region or used in any M&S products. Nevertheless, the retailer emphasised it wanted to sign the call to action to encourage oth