The likes of M&S, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Asos have joined calls for new legislation that would force UK businesses to tackle human rights abuses and environmental damage across their supply chains.
The retailers are among a coalition of 32 businesses, trade unions and campaign groups urging the government to introduce mandatory checks on human rights and environmental practices.
The group has written to the government calling for a new legal framework that would require businesses to identify, prevent and address harm linked to their operations and global supply chains.
The initiative is being supported by the British Retail Consortium, Ethical Trading Initiative and Corporate Justice Coalition, which argue that existing legislation does not go far enough to hold businesses accountable for abuses.
The coalition wants to introduce a legal duty requiring companies to take proactive steps to prevent issues including forced labour, poor working conditions, pollution and deforestation.
It argues that the current reliance on voluntary standards and legislation such as the Modern Slavery Act 2015 has left significant gaps in corporate accountability.
Under the proposals, businesses would be required to carry out mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence, while workers and communities affected by corporate misconduct would have greater access to justice.
Supporters believe the measures would also create a more level playing field for retailers already investing in responsible sourcing and ethical supply chains.
The calls follow a report from the Fabian Society, published earlier this week, which estimated that human rights abuses and environmental damage linked to UK supply chains cost the economy around £4.4bn annually.
The BRC, ETI and Corporate Justice Coalition have previously backed mandatory due diligence requirements, arguing that stronger enforcement would help protect workers, strengthen supply chain resilience and support responsible businesses.
The latest intervention adds pressure on the government to introduce a Business, Human Rights and Environment Act, as scrutiny intensifies over the social and environmental impact of the products sold by British retailers.
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