Letters | Xinjiang cotton ban: why it’s good to be talking about slavery

I am writing in response to your report, “As Xinjiang cotton row rages, European firms ‘caught between rock and hard place’” (March 25). From my perspective, boycotting Xinjiang cotton is a more complicated story than just a political game between China and the West. It is also characteristic of the new-found emphasis on operating sustainable supply chains.

Human rights issues now animate many global consumers, especially millennials, and they pay close attention to labour exploitation and target their spending power on companies with strong sustainability frameworks. Global brands are sensitive to consumer pressure, but they are also fully aware that ethical issues in their supply chains may not only cause reputational damage but could also expose them to legal risk and the possibility of lawsuits.

H&M, Nike and other global brands which terminated the use of Xinjiang cotton made a strategic choice of prioritising social responsibility.

Moreover, this is hardly a China-only story. Modern slavery is present in supply chains across the world, from Africa to the West. Hard decisions need to be taken.