Ethical Trading Initiative

What Ethical Trading Initiative does

Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), founded in 1998 and registered as a UK charity (Registered No. 3578127), is a tripartite alliance of businesses, NGOs and trade unions that advances human rights in global supply chains. Headquartered in London at Kennington Business Park, ETI operates a wholly-owned subsidiary in Bangladesh (ETI Bangladesh Ltd) and coordinates with sister ETI organisations in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Its product portfolio centres on the ETI Base Code — a nine-clause framework covering freely chosen employment, freedom of association, safe conditions, child labour prohibition, living wages, reasonable hours, non-discrimination, regular employment and freedom from harsh treatment — and extends to the Corporate Transparency Framework, Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) Framework, GAIA Principles for gender-based violence and harassment in agriculture and fisheries, and GRACE gender-responsive HRDD tools. ETI complements these frameworks with paid training (Human Rights Essentials four-module course at GBP 475+VAT per module for members, GBP 595+VAT for non-members, plus bespoke in-house training), a public webinar series (ETI Insights), guidance documents on EU CSDDD and EU Forced Labour Regulation, and country-level mHREDD guides for Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia.

ETI generates revenue primarily through recurring membership fees paid by global retail and fashion brands, supplemented by training course fees, bespoke training engagements, and likely grants or donations. Its go-to-market is community-led: members join a tripartite structure that combines business influence with worker and trade union expertise and civil society advocacy, and participate in country-specific programmes (JETI Bangladesh since 2015; Nalam India since 2012) and sectoral working groups. Distribution is via direct membership engagement, online training delivery through partner Inherently Human, free public webinars, and on-the-ground programme teams in South Asia. The organisation is governed by a Board chaired by Philip Jennings and led by Executive Director Peter McAllister, with a small secretariat (11-50 employees) including category leads for apparel and textiles, industrial relations advisors, and regional programme coordinators. No AI/ML capabilities are disclosed, and there are no funding rounds, acquisitions or public-company instruments; ETI is a non-profit governed and resourced by its membership base.

Name

Ethical Trading Initiative

Legal name

Ethical Trading Initiative

Website

https://ethicaltrade.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is a UK-registered charity and tripartite alliance of businesses, NGOs and trade unions that helps global retail and fashion brands implement human rights due diligence across supply chains via the ETI Base Code, training, guidance and country programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ethical Trade and Human Rights Due Diligence Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Labor, Social Protection & Occupational Safety Standards Cooperation (BPADANAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inclusive Trade (Gender, Youth, Marginalized Groups) (BPADAMAM), EHS Management Systems & ISO Consulting (ISO 14001/45001) (BPAHAJAF)

Keywords

• Ethical trade standards
• Human rights due diligence
• Supply chain compliance
• Corporate membership alliance
• Worker rights training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: ETI operates as a membership organisation with businesses, NGOs, and trade unions as members who pay fees to join and access ETI's frameworks, guidance, training, and collective programmes.
2. Training programmes: ETI offers paid training courses including Human Rights Essentials (four online modules) at £475+VAT for members and £595+VAT for non-members per module, plus bespoke in-house training for companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is a UK-based non-profit alliance of businesses, NGOs and trade unions that delivers membership-based ethical trade services, including the ETI Base Code labour standards framework, Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) guidance, the Corporate Transparency Framework, training programmes (e.g., Human Rights Essentials), sector-specific toolkits such as GAIA Principles and GRACE, and country-level supply chain programmes in Bangladesh and India.

Product overview

Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is a leading alliance of businesses, NGOs and trade unions advancing human rights in global supply chains. ETI offers a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered around its ETI Base Code—a nine-clause framework for ethical trading. The organization's offerings include training courses (Human Rights Essentials with four modules, Bespoke Training, and E-learning on Access to Remedy), guidance documents (mHREDD guidance, HRDD Framework, legislation factsheets on CSDDD and EU Forced Labour Regulation), and specialist toolkits like the GAIA Principles for addressing GBVH in agriculture/fisheries and GRACE tools for gender-responsive due diligence. ETI also provides the ETI Insights webinar series, a case studies library, and the Corporate Transparency Framework requiring member disclosure. These products work together to help companies implement human rights due diligence, with the Base Code serving as the foundational standard that all other tools support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ETI Base Code A globally recognised code of nine principles covering freely chosen employment, freedom of association, safe working conditions, no child labour, living wages, reasonable working hours, non-discrimination, regular employment, and no harsh or inhumane treatment. It is the foundational framework for ethical trading standards used by ETI's business members.
• Human Rights Due Diligence Framework A comprehensive guide aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights that helps companies prevent and manage labour rights risks across their supply chains through engagement, negotiation and collaboration. For ETI member companies and other businesses.
• Corporate Transparency Framework A framework that requires ETI company members to publish their Tier 1 suppliers and report performance against the full framework, enabling public accountability on supply chain transparency.
• Human Rights Essentials Training A four-module online training course equipping learners with the fundamentals of human rights in business, covering foundations of human rights, supply chain transparency and risk, managing risk and measuring progress, and remedying human rights violations. Priced per module at £475+VAT for ETI members and £595+VAT for non-members.
• Responsible Purchasing Practices Support and Training Training that addresses purchasing practices which legislation explicitly requires companies to review and act upon to prevent adverse human rights impacts in supply chains. Aimed at buying teams and compliance functions.
• Bespoke In-House Training Customised in-house training courses tailored to specific business needs, delivered by external trainers either in person or online. Recent clients include H&M, Asda, Monsoon and Lush.
• E-learning Module: Access to Remedy Principles An interactive e-learning module (approximately 90 minutes) on the practical application of ETI's Access to Remedy Principles and operational grievance mechanisms, designed for retail and supplier businesses.
• Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (mHREDD) Guidance Guidance helping companies navigate emerging mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation, with country-level guides available for Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia.
• ETI Insights Webinar Series A free public webinar series (launched May 2025) sharing insights and guidance from ETI's secretariat, members and partners on issues including just transitions, responsible purchasing practices, mandatory HRDD and sector-specific challenges.
• GAIA Principles Principles to end gender-based violence and harassment in commercial agriculture and fisheries supply chains, forming the foundation for businesses to address root causes of GBVH through individual and collective action.
• ETI GRACE Tools A gender-responsive HRDD toolkit including a Self-Assessment Questionnaire, Model GBVH Workplace Policy, GBVH Case Handling Process, and Complaints Record Template for addressing gender-based violence and harassment in supplier workplaces.
• Case Studies Library A library of member case studies covering ETI programmes including freedom of association, responsible purchasing practices, gender equity and human rights due diligence across sectors and geographies.
• CSDDD Legislation Factsheet A factsheet breaking down the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive into accessible information for businesses navigating the new requirements.
• EU Forced Labour Regulation Factsheet A factsheet outlining which companies are in scope of the EU Forced Labour Regulation and which aspects of the value chain are covered, helping members understand compliance obligations.
• ETI Membership (Corporate, NGO and Trade Union) The core membership offering of the tripartite alliance, providing businesses, NGOs and trade unions with access to ETI's Base Code, frameworks, guidance, training, programmes and collective initiatives, plus reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• 169,000+ workers positively impacted through the JETI Social Dialogue Programme in Bangladesh across 77 factories
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers37 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered key and core.

• BRAC UniversitykeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Research partnership for case study report 'Scaling What Works: Lessons on Green Energy Transition from Bangladesh's RMG Sector' presented at multi-stakeholder policy dialogue. ETI Bangladesh and Worker-led Climate Action Network jointly organised the event with The Business Standard.
• The Business StandardkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly organised multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on accelerating renewable energy transition and decarbonisation in Bangladesh's readymade garment sector.
• Worker-led Climate Action NetworkkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly organised multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on accelerating renewable energy transition and decarbonisation in Bangladesh's readymade garment sector.
• IndustriALL Global UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade union partner in India garments and textiles programme. Represents workers globally in garment sector and participates in programme governance alongside brands and NGOs.
• HMS UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade union partner in India garments and textiles programme. Contributes to worker representation and collective bargaining initiatives.
• INTUCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade union partner (Indian National Trade Union Congress) in India garments and textiles programme. Supports worker rights and collective bargaining in Tamil Nadu textile sector.
• Anti-Slavery InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in India garments and textiles programme. Brings expertise on modern slavery and bonded labour issues, particularly relevant for addressing Sumangali scheme exploitation.
• CARE InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in India garments and textiles programme. Contributes expertise on gender equality, women's empowerment and working conditions in garment supply chains.
• Dalit Solidarity NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner addressing caste discrimination issues in India textile sector supply chains. Part of programme focusing on labour rights for Dalit workers.
• Homeworkers WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner focusing on rights of homeworkers in textile and garment supply chains. Supports Homeworkers group initiative for guidelines development.
• Women Working WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in India garments/textiles programme focusing on women's empowerment and gender equity in supply chains. Contributes to gender equality initiatives.
• Fairtrade FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in India garments and textiles programme. Brings expertise on fair trade standards and worker certification.
• Inherently HumankeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining delivery partner for ETI Human Rights Essentials programme. Designs and delivers online training courses including the four-module curriculum and booking platform.
• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Gender Data Initiative partner. Based on BSR Gender Data and Impact Tool for integrating gender-disaggregated data into supply chain risk assessments and monitoring.
• OxfamkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on collective bargaining in Brazil's fruit sector. Oxfam led local research interviewing workers on pay and conditions. Collaborated on findings and recommendations for supermarkets and governments.
• Petrolina Rural Workers UnionkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal trade union partner in Brazil fruit sector programme. Negotiated better pay and conditions including women-friendly policies, creches, breastfeeding breaks, and protection for temporary workers.
• ETI BangladeshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFully owned subsidiary of ETI operating in Bangladesh to design and deliver programmes achieving ETI's global vision and strategy. Delivers JETI Social Dialogue Programme.
• ETI DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister ETI organisation in Denmark. One of several national ETI organisations working on ethical trade in their respective countries.
• ETI NorwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister ETI organisation in Norway. One of several national ETI organisations working on ethical trade in their respective countries.
• ETI SwedencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister ETI organisation in Sweden. One of several national ETI organisations working on ethical trade in their respective countries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• World Benchmarking Alliance: Produces benchmarks on corporate human rights and supply chain conduct used by investors, regulators, and companies; thematically comparable as an accountability layer for ETI's member companies.
• Responsible Purchasing Practices Initiative: Industry initiative focused specifically on responsible purchasing practices — a topic ETI trains on — making it a thematic peer with overlapping buyer audiences in apparel.

Direct peers

• Sedex: Membership platform for supplier ethical data sharing used by major retailers; comparable in serving the same retail/fashion buyer base with labour rights and ethics data tools.
• Fairtrade International: Sets ethical trade standards and certification for producers and supply chains; comparable as a multi-stakeholder standards body operating in overlapping sourcing categories (cotton, garments, agriculture).
• Social Accountability International (SAI): Operates the SA8000 standard for decent work and human rights in supply chains through certification; directly comparable to ETI's Base Code framework approach.
• Fair Labor Association: US-based tripartite (brand, civil society, university) membership association setting labour standards and conducting supply chain assessments; directly comparable to ETI in model, mission, and member types.
• amfori BSCI: European membership-driven business association providing a common code of conduct and supply chain auditing platform; directly comparable as a membership-based supply chain ethics initiative.
• Better Work (ILO/IFC): ILO/IFC partnership programme improving labour standards in global garment supply chains through factory-level interventions in Bangladesh, India and other sourcing countries; directly comparable field-programme model.

Broad incumbents

• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Large sustainability consultancy serving global brands on human rights and supply chain strategy; comparable as both a collaborator (ETI's Gender Data Initiative partner) and competitor offering implementation services ETI does not.
• Rainforest Alliance: Global standards body and certification programme for sustainable agriculture and forestry; comparable in being a multi-stakeholder standards setter with overlapping members and supply chain scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ethicaltrade
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EthicalTrade
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ethical-trading-initiative
• Facebookfacebook.com/ethicaltrade

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ethical Trading Initiative