Lobbying and policy press releases

The Companies Act has failed to make environmental and social reporting simpler and more effective according to a new report released today by the Corporate Responsibility (CORE) Coalition.

From today, (Thursday, 4 February) the 10 largest supermarkets will be subject to an updated code of practice but until an independent ombudsman is in place, the new set of rules will fail to protect suppliers from abusive practices by supermarkets.

Achieving positive, long-term trading benefits for purchasers and their developing world suppliers is the focus of a new publication from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) and Traidcraft.

Paul Spray, currently a Deputy Director at the Department for International Development, is to be Traidcraft’s new Director of Policy.

UK tea drinkers consume 165 million cups a day. And 66% of UK tea consumers buy Fairtrade or would be in favour of their preferred tea brand converting to Fairtrade, according to a poll commissioned by international development charity Traidcraft.

Consumer support for a supermarket watchdog culminates today as campaigners gather outside the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in London.

The Groceries Supply Code of Practice published today (Tuesday 4th Aug) by the Competition Commission sets out rules to govern the behaviour of UK supermarkets – but lacks any measure to enforce them.

UK supermarkets are split over plans for a watchdog to monitor and penalise stores which treat suppliers unfairly, a coalition including cross-party MPs reveals today.

Supermarkets in the UK should support the proposed grocery watchdog – or admit they have something to hide in the way they treat their suppliers.

Call for a fresh approach towards the global trading system, based upon equity and sustainable development objectives.

Call for Ombudsman over stores abusing suppliers

A proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the EU poses a real threat to millions of small businesses, workers and farmers, according to a report published today by Traidcraft.

Hardly a week goes by without news of yet another company being brought into disrepute by exposure of unethical practices in their supply chains. To help buyers understand purchasing and supply chain issues in an enjoyable and engaging way, trade development experts Traidcraft have teamed up with purchasing experts The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) to launch an interactive online supply chain game.

Companies from the retail and oil and gas sectors are among those who will meet next week to debate the latest findings on how to enhance sustainability in supply chains and manage risks effectively.

The Competition Commission inquiry into UK grocery retailing has left small farmers in the developing world still facing “excessive and disproportionate” risks, says one of the country’s leading social enterprises.

The ways in which purchasing practices need to change to protect vulnerable tea farmers and workers was the subject of a lively debate when twelve tea companies and other key players in the tea sector met in London last week.

A new guide to help company directors implement their environmental and social obligations under The Companies Act has been launched today by The Corporate Responsibility (CORE) Coalition.

The UK’s leading flower importers are among the first companies and trade associations to publicly call for the European Commission to withdraw its threat of increased import tariffs if new trade agreements between European and African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries are not in place by the end of the year.

Traidcraft, the organisation which helped pioneer fair trade in the UK, welcomes the strong support of fair trade in the International Development Committee (IDC) report, released today, and says its findings are a wake-up call to the Government to overhaul its ineffective approach to trade and development.

The European Commission (EC) is using strong-arm tactics to force 76 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries to sign trade deals that will benefit rich nations at the expense of developing countries, according to a new report by five UK development agencies.

Trade deals now being negotiated between the EU and its former colonies will achieve the opposite of their stated aim of promoting regional economic integration and increasing Africa's regional trade.

Hundreds of campaigners from across the UK will visit all 26 European embassies in London tomorrow (19 April) to protest against free trade deals being negotiated by the European Union (EU) that could have a devastating impact on millions of the world's poorest people.

European Development Ministers meeting in Bonn this week (March 12-13) must act to stop the unfair free trade deals between the EU and countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP), otherwise millions of people will be locked into poverty, said an informal coalition of European Non-Governmental Organisations, including Oxfam, Traidcraft and WEED today.

British parliamentarians from the International Development Committee are today on their way to Brussels to demand answers from Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson about controversial trade deals between the EU and groups of the world's poorest countries.

The Corporate Responsibility (CORE) Coalition and the Trade Justice Movement have welcomed the Companies Act, given royal assent this week, as a step forward towards greater corporate responsibility, but warn the new legislation has not gone far enough to ensure that British business will work for people and planet as well as profit.

PM targeted with open letter as Company Law Bill enters Commons.

A landmark report warning that European free trade deals risk millions of Africans' jobs today threatens to increase tension between UK prime minister Tony Blair and Brussels trade commissioner Peter Mandelson. The report claims vital industries face collapse if poor countries are forced into opening markets to Europe's big business.