M&S believes advancing both ethical and environmental causes must be tackled together to facilitate systemic and transformative change. The company exercises due diligence is carried out always and employers in its supply chain recruit responsibly.

The company has highlighted the steps taken to ensure human rights are considered at every stage of the value chain. This area of development has been divided into three categories: taking the lead on modern slavery, tackling in-work poverty and fostering an inclusive economy.

These three principles are underpinned by M&S’ commitment to robust governance and upholding decent work. Specific examples of where the company intends to improve include; developing a financial literacy microsite for employees, running a second Diversity and Inclusion Festival, expanding its gender program with the British High Commission in India and, something which has been a hugely divisive in the apparel sector, signing the Bangladesh Transition Accord.

This is a garment sector regulatory body. It is seen as a credible means of ensuring that the Bangladeshi workers in the supply chain don't have to fear for their lives in the factories they work in. Bangladesh Transition Accord is seen as an improvement over corporate-led initiatives to monitor factory safety which have in the past failed to prevent disasters like the Rana Plaza collapse.