Besteller joins the British Ethical Trading Initiative

Danish retail group Bestseller, which owns brands including Vero Moda and Jack and Jones, has become a foundation stage member of the British Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), a leading alliance of companies, trade unions and non-government organisations that promotes worker’s rights around the world.

As a foundation member, Bestseller is committing to the British Ethical Trading Initiative’s labour practices, as well as its principles of implementation, which sets out the approaches to ethical trade that member companies should follow. After two years as a foundation stage member, Bestseller will become a full member if it successful commits during the trial period.

More than 80 global companies and well-known brands including John Lewis, Inditex, Primark, Burberry, Stella McCartney, H&M, River Island, Tesco and Hobbs make up the British Ethical Trading Initiative.

This isn’t Bestseller’s first commitment to ethical trading, the fashion group was one of the founding members of the Danish Ethical Trading Initiative, a sister organisation of British Ethical Trading Initiative. However, Bestseller has resigned after seven years to join the British organisation to “engage” with other larger international fashion companies that are “met with the same expectations and face the same challenges”.

“As a single company we often have very little leverage to tackle issues that are deeply rooted in country cultures and that require fundamental changes,” said Bestsellers sustainability director Mogens Werge. “Therefore, joining forces within the industry and taking a collaborative approach is the most efficient way of making real sustainable improvements when working with complex supply chains as in the apparel and footwear industry.”

Image: Vero Moda