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Article

6 Mar 2019

Author:
Amber Milne, Thomson Reuters Foundation

Marks & Spencer becomes first UK supermarket chain to publish details of its tea suppliers in response to campaign to address workers abuse

"M&S reveals tea suppliers to address worker abuse concerns", 5 March 2019

Marks & Spencer has become the first British supermarket chain to publish details of its tea suppliers, responding to a campaign to address worker abuses on plantations.

Traidcraft Exchange, the charity behind the campaign for greater transparency, said it hoped more supermarkets would follow suit as it announced the move, citing the impact of their lower prices on the industry...

Major British tea brands including Twinings, Tetley, and PG Tips have already made similar pledges in response to concerns of labour abuse highlighted in the "Who picked my tea?" campaign for transparency and improved working conditions.

Marks & Spencer has published information online about its supply chains since 2016, but this is the first time it has chosen to include tea and coffee...

Traidcraft Exchange said there was more work to be done in tackling modern slavery in the tea industry, but that this response reflected a wider change in consumer attitudes...

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