Responsible Retailing: Regulating Fair and Ethical Trade

During the last decade or so, there has been intense pressure for greater corporate accountability in the global trading of goods. This article examines a range of voluntary initiatives under the umbrella of fair and ethical sourcing in a global banana supply chain. Taking the case of bananas is significant because the major corporations at each end of the chain are in a potential position to orchestrate fair and ethical trade. Despite this potential for standards to be upheld, the case of bananas suggests that whilst supermarkets continue to drive down consumer prices, voluntary initiatives will fall short of their guarantees. This leads the paper to consider the policy implications of a more regulated approach to fair and equitable trade in the world's supply chains.