Is ethical trade just for large companies?

Ethical trade tends to be associated with activities undertaken by large companies to address and improve working conditions in what are often vast and complex supply chains. Although small and medium-sized sourcing companies may not have the resources and leverage of large companies, they still bear a responsibility towards the workers involved in making their products, and can and should seek to source ethically. The fact that smaller companies often have fewer suppliers and closer relationships with them than large companies may actually make it easier for them to get their suppliers to improve. New international frameworks are also defining clear responsibilities for all businesses, large and small. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights is a globally-recognised framework which outlines the roles of states and businesses in protecting human rights in business situations.