ETI Press Release
ETI Biennial Conference 2005:
‘Violent agreement’ is a key outcome says ETI director
18 May 2005
One objective united the melting pot of diversity and opinion gathered at the Ethical Trading Initiative’s Fourth Biennial Conference in London last week (12 -13 May 2005): that of ‘marrying the commercial with the ethical’.
A major focus of the conference was how companies can marry their commercial practices with their commitment to improving labour standards - and specifically how they can ensure their own purchasing practices do not undermine their suppliers’ ability to comply with their codes.
Says ETI director Dan Rees:
“this is one of the major focal points of the brave new agenda of ethical trade. No-one says it’s going to be easy or that the path to ethical trade is clearly signposted.
“But the complete recognition by companies, NGOs and unions that ethical trade must go to the core of business practice is a huge step forward. We’ve moved on from the strategic debate about what’s important to ‘how are how are we going to deliver on it?’. ETI can mentor companies through the delivery phase and provide a safe space in which to sound out their ideas and practices.”
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Contacts:
Julia Hawkins, ETI Writer and Media Relations Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7404 1463 / 07967 498 340
email: julia@eti.org.uk.
Notes to editors:
- The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) was established in 1998 to improve the lives of workers and their families in global supply chains. We believe that companies producing, supplying and selling goods for consumer markets should observe national and international labour laws. Our purpose is to identify and promote responsible corporate practice that will help make this a reality.
- The ETI Biennial Conference 2005: ‘Ethical Trade - Shaping a New Agenda’ was attended by over 350 key decision makers in ethical trade, including leading global brands Nike, Gap, H&M, Levi and campaigning organisations such as Oxfam, Cafod, the Clean Clothes Campaign and the Maquila Solidarity Network. Trade union organisations represented included the International Textile, Leather and Garment Workers Federation (ITGLWF), the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Lesotho Clothing and Allied Workers Union (LECAWU).
See also:
ETI Events: Conferences: ETI Biennial Conference 2005
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