British brands back calls for a new law to prevent corporate harm to people and the environment

• 32 leading organisations have written to the Prime Minister today urging him to introduce new legislation that would hold businesses accountable for failing to taking reasonable steps to prevent environmental and human rights abuses - full letter can be viewed online
• Household name brands from across British business are among the signatories, including ASOS, Marks & Spencer and Asda
• Their appeal comes as more than 200 people are expected to turn out in Westminster today as part of a mass lobby to galvanise MPs to pledge their support

Businesses, campaign groups and trade unions are among the 32 organisations that have written to the Prime Minister today, urging his government to adopt a long-overdue law to prevent corporate harm.

It comes as two government reviews that could recommend such legislation are soon expected to be published (see notes for details).

The letter, coordinated by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Corporate Justice Coalition (CJC) - the latter an alliance of over 70 organisations including Friends of the Earth, ActionAid and the TUC - calls on the government to introduce mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence (mHREDD) legislation as a matter of priority this Parliament.

The letter's backing by some of the biggest names in British business, including ASOS, Marks & Spencer and Asda, shows there is a broad and growing alliance of organisations that are now pushing for stronger measures to hold companies to higher ethical standards in how they operate. These must come in place of the current patchwork of ineffective laws and weak voluntary regimes that have held businesses back and have therefore been unable to stem the problem, argue the letter's signatories.

Right now, too many UK businesses are failing to act responsibly when it comes to preventing harm in their global supply chains, at a cost to people and the planet. This is the case both here in the UK and overseas - whether they're linked to activities that are polluting the environment, fuelling deforestation, subjecting workers to exploitative labour practices or driving communities from their land. Legislation would close this gap by creating a level playing field, supporting businesses already acting responsibly and requiring action from those that are not.

As well as covering human rights, labour protections and environmental harms comprehensively, the 32 organisations are demanding that the legislation holds all UK businesses legally accountable for failing to prevent harm, provides access to justice for affected communities, and applies to both private and public sector organisations.

The letter's publication comes as more than 200 people are expected to gather in Westminster today for the Good Business Matters mass lobby of Parliament. Coordinated by the CJC, it brings together grassroots groups, national organisations and concerned members of the public who will meet with their MPs to urge them to back a new Business, Human Rights and Environment Act - the coalition's proposed mHREDD legislation.

So far, more than 90 MPs and Peers have signed the Good Business Matters pledge, 50 leading businesses - including Sainsbury's, Primark and New Look - support new legislation to level the playing field, and over 80% of the public say they would back such a law. It's hoped the mass lobby will galvanise support for stronger legislation and compel the government to act.

Participants in the mass lobby will also be joined by speakers from communities around the globe who have been affected by corporate harm - from those facing conflicts over land and water due to encroaching soy plantations in Brazil, to Indigenous communities defending their way of life against precious metals mining in Guatemala, amid some of the highest rates of killings of environmental defenders in the world.

Francisca Paz is president of the ACA Peasant Association, which works alongside communities in the southern Maranhão region of Brazil to defend their territorial, social and environmental rights. Due to speak at the event, she said:

"Brazilian soy is making its way to the UK where it is used for animal feed. But the industry is linked to a number of impacts that are being felt by people and the environment in southern Maranhão. Traditional communities and family farmers face land grabbing and conflicts, pressure on water resources and exposure to pesticides. The clearing of forests to make way for soy plantations also threatens native Cerrado vegetation and the livelihoods of those who depend on this land.

"With such a clear link to the UK market, we need the British government to bring in legislation to require companies and financial institutions to identify, prevent and address social and environmental impacts within their supply chains. Voluntary measures alone have proven ineffective for preventing harm. What we really need are mandatory rules, real routes for holding organisations accountable and the guarantee of access to justice for affected communities."

Earlier this week, a report published by The Fabians also exposed how the cost of labour exploitation and environmental damage enabled by UK businesses costs the economy £4.4bn alone each year. According to the researchers, this is an incredibly conservative estimate.

With other European countries now making significant strides in introducing corporate due diligence legislation, the UK is lagging behind. That's why the government mustn't hesitate to answer the demands of the growing number of political figures and diverse organisations coalescing around the call for a new law.

Anna Gavurin, corporate accountability campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:

"So often, the UK is at the forefront of bringing in world-first legislation to tackle some of the biggest problems of our time. But when it comes to setting a new standard for how businesses should operate in a rapidly advancing world, the UK is trailing behind.

"Whether it's water pollution on home soil, or deforestation overseas, too many UK companies are linked to harm, whether directly or through their global supply chains.

"This is not some fringe issue - today's letter proves there is consensus that we need a new approach backed by some of the most influential institutions in business, the non-profit sector and the trade union movement. The campaign for a new Business, Human Rights and Environment Act is gaining momentum - the government can no longer afford to ignore it."

Giles Bolton, executive director of the Ethical Trading Initiative, said:

"For nearly 30 years, ETI has brought businesses, trade unions and NGOs together to tackle challenges none of them can solve alone. Our members don't always agree, but they have agreed on what effective due diligence legislation should look like. The debate has moved on from whether to legislate to how. With two government reviews due imminently, we're asking the government to commit to a proportionate law, aligned with international standards, that protects workers in UK businesses' global supply chains and gives responsible businesses the certainty they need."

Lou Sherry, human rights policy lead at the British Retail Consortium, said:

"The BRC and our members have long campaigned for the introduction of mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence. While many retailers already voluntarily follow international standards such as the UN Guiding Principles, clear legislation is essential to strengthen supply chain protections, align the UK with global standards, and create a level playing field for all businesses across the supply chain. The costs would be manageable and far outweighed by the long-term benefits of preventing harm, improving resilience, and ensuring ethical and sustainable business practices."

Eleanor Rosenbach, co-director of the Corporate Justice Coalition, said:

"The clarion call from leading UK businesses today is clear: we need a mandatory duty to protect human rights and our environment in supply chains.

"This adds to the growing chorus of voices - from civil society organisations, trade unions, and today, from the hundreds of people descending on Westminster demanding protection of our human rights and our environment in supply chains.

"It's time for our policy makers to listen and legislate - we cannot wait any longer for a Business, Human Rights and Environment Act: for people, for planet, and for responsible business."

ENDS

Notes:

1. The full letter signed by 32 businesses, campaign groups and trade unions can be accessed online.

2. The Good Business Matters mass lobby of Parliament will begin with an event at 10.30am at Westminster Central Hall where participants will hear from representatives from affected communities, followed by a photocall and rally in Westminster at Victoria Tower Gardens at 12.30pm. This will be followed by the mass lobby which begins at 1.15pm where participants will meet with their MPs, taking place at the Houses of Parliament (Cromwell Green Entrance).

Journalists that would like to attend should contact the Friends of the Earth press office using the contact details above.

Those who can't attend the lobby in person are also being encouraged to contact their MP(s) at the local level and urge them to pledge their support.

The lobby has been organised by the Corporate Justice Coalition, Friends of the Earth, ActionAid, Amnesty International, CAFOD, Earthsight, Fairtrade Foundation, Forest Peoples Programme, Labour Behind the Label, Peace Brigades International UK, Transform Trade, TUC, UNISON and Water Witness.

3. Spokespeople from organisations across the Corporate Justice Coalition will be available for interview at the mass lobby, including CJC co-directors Dominique Muller and Eleanor Rosenbach, and Friends of the Earth corporate accountability campaigner Clare Oxborrow. They will also be joined by a number of speakers hailing from across the globe who can speak to the corporate harms communities in their country contexts are facing. To find out more and/or arrange an interview, please contact the Friends of the Earth press office.

4. Additional quotes from organisations involved in the Good Business Matters mass lobby of Parliament:

Lucy Brill, private sector policy lead at CAFOD, said:

"The UK urgently needs stronger laws to hold corporations accountable for human rights abuses and environmental destruction linked to their global supply chains. For too long, companies have been able to turn a blind eye to the harm caused by their operations.

"Today, CAFOD is joining the Corporate Justice Coalition, Friends of the Earth and other campaign groups in Westminster to demand the government introduce a long-overdue Business, Human Rights and Environment Act, requiring companies to prevent harm and holding them to account when they fail.

"As a faith-based organisation, we stand in solidarity with communities around the world whose lives, livelihoods and environments are being damaged by reckless business practices, notably in the mining of essential critical minerals."

Business and human rights expert, and CJC ally Richard Howitt, said:

"This is an exciting moment where countries all around the world are passing corporate human rights due diligence laws, recognising not simply the imperative for supply chains free from abuses, but also that it is good business to better manage the risk and volatility which is so increasingly prevalent in our world. I would be deeply proud if Britain could join that list."

5. Read more about the Good Business Matters pledge.

6. Two government reviews that could recommend mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation are due to be published imminently. The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade's (DBIST) review of Responsible Business Conduct, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office's (FCDO) Baseline assessment of the UK's implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

7. Published on Monday 19 October, new Fabian Society research found that the cost of serious labour exploitation and environmental damage in the UK far outweighs the cost of addressing this harm through the implementation of a Business, Human Rights and Environment Act-style law. This research was supported by the Corporate Justice Coalition and UNISON.

8.The Corporate Justice Coalition (CJC) is the UK's leading network on corporate accountability. Our 70+ members span civil society organisations, trade unions, and legal experts who share the same goal: building a fairer, greener world. We campaign for rights, corporate accountability, and an end to impunity by championing new legislation in the UK and legislative processes internationally.

9. The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is the leading alliance of trade unions, NGOs, and companies, working together to advance human rights in global supply chains through collective action, advocacy and accountability. Founded in the UK in 1998, ETI counts many of Britain's best-known supermarkets, high street retailers and brands among its members, alongside international NGOs and global union federations representing 160 million workers. ETI supports companies to strengthen human rights due diligence in line with the UN Guiding Principles and advocates for policy that enables responsible business. Find out more at ethicaltrade.org.