This framework, developed by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), gives a brief overview of what is meant by ‘responsible purchasing practices’ for the food industry. The industry includes many varied product types, sectors and processes, for which ‘responsible purchasing practices’ may vary (e.g. fresh produce, smallholders, seafood, commodities etc). This framework acts as a core reference document, to provide a common language and structure for discussion and action, after which guidelines for different elements of the industry may be developed.