Charles Tyrwhitt, The White Company and seven major UK supermarkets are among the businesses urging the government to introduce mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence (mHREDD) legislation. They are arguing that voluntary approaches have failed to prevent harm across global supply chains.
An open letter to the prime minister, coordinated by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), the Corporate Justice Coalition and the British Retail Consortium, calls for the legislation to be introduced during the current parliamentary session.
The letter is backed by 20 businesses with a combined turnover of more than £130 billion, including Aldi UK, Asda, Co-op, Lidl GB, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s, alongside other big retailer names such as Asos, John Lewis Partnership, New Look and WHSmith.
The signatories want a single UK standard aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and OECD Guidelines, holding businesses legally accountable for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent harm across their operations and value chains.
The proposed legislation would cover human rights, labour rights and environmental damage, apply proportionately to public and private sector organisations, and provide access to justice and remedy for people affected.
“Voluntary standards have had decades to work but they have not delivered enough on their own, and the legal requirements we do have are not enforced,” the letter states.
It cites government figures showing 40% of companies fail to meet basic reporting requirements under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act without consequence. Research from the Fabian Society estimates serious labour exploitation and environmental harm costs the UK around £4.4 billion annually, compared with an estimated £420 million a year for a regime requiring businesses to prevent such damage.
Public opinion also supports stronger intervention, according to the signatories. YouGov polling for Friends of the Earth found just 8% of UK adults believe voluntary agreements are sufficient to prevent human rights harms by UK businesses, while 74% want companies operating globally to be legally required to prevent them and 60% want the same on global deforestation.
Giles Bolton, executive director of the ETI and a former Tesco sustainability leader, said: “For almost 30 years, ETI has brought companies, trade unions and NGOs together to improve conditions for workers in global supply chains. We know good practice can’t rest on goodwill alone.”
He suggested the debate is “no longer about whether to legislate, but how,” urging the government to commit to a proportionate law that holds companies accountable and provides a route to remedy for those harmed.
Three parliamentary committees have already recommended mHREDD legislation. The signatories are calling for the government to publish the findings of its review of Responsible Business Conduct and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s National Baseline Assessment without delay.
Dear environment secretary: UK supermarkets need deforestation legislation guidance
The businesses behind the letter have offered to meet the prime minister or his officials in the coming weeks to discuss how legislation could be developed through meaningful consultation with businesses and affected communities.
[image credit: Green Retail World]
