The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) has launched its Strategy 2030, outlining an ambitious plan to advance human rights across global supply chains by shifting focus from corporate compliance to worker-centered, systemic change.
The strategy, detailed in a newly released framework document, emphasizes strengthening worker voice, enhancing human rights due diligence, and driving collective action among businesses, governments, and civil society groups. It comes at a time when global supply chains face increasing scrutiny over labor conditions, particularly in major manufacturing hubs such as South Asia.
ETI, a multi-stakeholder alliance of companies, trade unions and non-governmental organizations, said the new roadmap aims to address persistent challenges such as low wages, unsafe working conditions, and restrictions on workers’ freedom of association.
“Traditional audit-based approaches have not delivered the scale of change needed,” the organization said in its strategy report. “A shift toward collaboration and long-term engagement is essential to improve outcomes for workers.”
A central pillar of the strategy is strengthening worker voice. ETI plans to promote freedom of association and collective bargaining, enabling workers to actively participate in decisions that affect their working conditions. The initiative views empowered workers as critical to achieving sustainable improvements in labor standards.
Another key focus is advancing human rights due diligence (HRDD), encouraging companies to identify, prevent, and mitigate risks throughout their supply chains. ETI aims to align its efforts with international frameworks such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, while supporting companies in moving beyond “tick-box” compliance toward measurable progress.
The strategy also highlights the importance of collective action in addressing systemic issues that cannot be resolved by individual companies alone. These include gender inequality, wage gaps, and structural vulnerabilities within global sourcing models. ETI said it would facilitate industry-wide collaboration to tackle these challenges more effectively.
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Crisis response and resilience form another major component of the plan. Recent disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic and economic volatility, exposed weaknesses in supply chains and left millions of workers vulnerable. ETI intends to strengthen mechanisms for coordinated responses to future crises, ensuring better protection for workers during shocks.
The initiative will also expand its role in providing practical tools, training, and guidance to member organizations. This includes helping businesses adapt to evolving regulatory requirements on supply chain transparency and human rights due diligence, particularly in Europe and other major markets.
Industry experts say the strategy reflects a broader shift in how companies approach sustainability and ethical sourcing. Increasingly, stakeholders are demanding accountability not just from individual firms, but from entire supply chain ecosystems.
“ETI’s Strategy 2030 signals a move toward shared responsibility,” said a labor rights analyst familiar with the initiative. “It recognizes that real change requires coordination across multiple actors, including brands, suppliers, governments, and workers themselves.”
The strategy is particularly relevant for countries like Bangladesh, one of the world’s largest garment exporters, where millions of workers depend on global apparel supply chains for their livelihoods. While the sector has made progress in areas such as factory safety, challenges remain around wages, job security, and worker representation.
By focusing on systemic change, ETI hopes to bridge the gap between corporate commitments and on-the-ground realities. The organization stressed that measurable impact would be a key benchmark of success, with increased emphasis on data, transparency, and accountability.
As global supply chains continue to evolve amid economic and geopolitical pressures, ETI’s Strategy 2030 underscores the growing importance of ethical trade as both a moral and business imperative.
The initiative said it would work closely with its members over the coming years to translate its vision into concrete actions, aiming to deliver lasting improvements for workers worldwide.
