Costs and supply chain disruption drive rise in UK retail sourcing from high-risk labour countries
Energy costs, inflation and supply chain disruption are changing how British retailers source their goods. The shift has come with an increase in procurement from countries with high risks to human and labour rights, according to research by sustainability rating agency EcoVadis and verified with official trade data.
Countries rated high-risk by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) accounted for 61% of UK imports of non-food retail goods in 2025, up from 54% in 2022, according to HM Revenue & Customs trade data analysed by Retail Week.
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