Do you know where your goods come from?
Building an ethical supply chain is one of the most important steps in being an ethically responsible business, especially if you are getting your supplies from countries outside of the UK where the labour standards might not be to the standard you expect.
Even if you are buying form a company within the UK, it is important to make sure that they are using ethical suppliers. For example, mica powder is used by a huge number of crafters and companies to add a distinctive shimmer to their products. A lot will use synthetic mica powders, but there Is still a huge demand for natural mica. As natural mica is a mineral, it needs to be mined and mining this can come at the expense of children, who are exploited for their cheap labour robbed of an education.
Make sure you are vetting your potential suppliers and checking that their values and ethos match your own. There are a number of online directories available which will help link you with potential manufacturers or if you don’t fancy trawling through hundreds of possible matches, engage with a reputable sourcing agent.