The report is a study of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies of leading supermarkets in eight European countries:

1. Belgium,
2. Denmark,
3. France,
4. Greece,
5. Italy,
6. Poland,
7. Portugal and
8. Spain.

Labour conditions and trading relationships:

The report focuses on the countrie's policies relating to labour conditions and trading relationships in developing country supply chains. It has revealed an inadequate and, at times, contradictory approach to addressing unacceptable labour conditions in the developing world.

Social impact of consumption choices:

According to the survey European consumers are increasingly concerned about the social impact of their consumption choices. There is widespread support amongst consumers for supermarkets paying their suppliers a fair price even if this led to higher prices for consumers.

Importance of incorporating issues of sustainability into all decision-making:

The survey also shows that there is growing recognition of the importance of incorporating issues of sustainability into all decision-making.

Conclusions:

It concluded that overall, there is a need to develop policies on labour conditions and trading relations and implement them through multi-stakeholder processes wherever possible and processes should be put in place for independent verification.

It encourages supermarkets to publish clear information about their CSR policies and their implementation.

It urges governments to introduce Right to Know legislation, or review existing legislation if it is not effective, to ensure that consumers have access to information about the sustainability of products and services.

Download PDF