Do you know what your customers expect from you today? They demand transparency—especially when it comes to ethical issues like modern slavery in your supply chain. But here’s the thing: while some businesses fear the reputational fallout of exposing modern slavery risks, embracing transparent communication on modern slavery actually strengthens your brand and builds trust.
In this article, we’ll dive into why transparency matters, how it benefits your business, and actionable strategies to communicate openly about modern slavery—strengthening trust with your customers, suppliers, and investors.
Why does transparent communication on modern slavery matter?
More than ever, consumers are demanding answers: Who may my product? Were they treated fairly? They want transparency, accountability, and ethical practices.
Think about this: a 2021 survey found that a staggering 88% of consumers are more likely to support brands with clear, ethical sourcing practices. Even more telling, younger generations are actively searching for businesses that prioritise human rights, sustainability, and modern slavery action.
Failing to communicate your efforts to promote human rights and tackle modern slavery in your supply chain and operations can turn ethical consumers from potential allies into vocal critics—leading to reputational damage and lost sales.
Instead, transparency delivers key benefits, including:
- Stronger consumer trust: Openness empowers consumers to hold you accountable, fostering loyalty.
- Competitive advantage: Transparency is a key factor in assessments like the CCLA Benchmark, which rank companies on ethical practices.
- Attract investors: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-conscious investors are drawn to transparent businesses. For example, organisations like the Investor Alliance for Human Rights, representing trillions of dollars in investments, prioritise companies with robust human rights policies.
- Legal compliance: New legislation like the 2024 landmark Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) mandates supply chain transparency. Non-compliance can result in fines and other penalties.
Strategies for transparent communication on modern slavery
So, how can businesses improve transparency in both their supply chains and their communications with consumers? Let’s explore seven actionable strategies that will help you strengthen supplier relationships, engage openly with customers, and showcase your ethical commitments effectively.
Strengthening supplier communication
Your supply chain is where the most significant risks lie. But how much do you really know about your suppliers—beyond just Tier 1?
Many businesses lack full visibility into who their suppliers are or where their materials come from. Transparent communication on modern slavery starts with open, proactive dialogue across every level of your supply chain.
1. Gather and maintain Tier 1 supplier data
Do you have complete, up-to-date information on your Tier 1 suppliers? Reliable supplier data—including company names, contact details, and locations—forms the foundation for identifying and addressing risks effectively.
- Why is this crucial? Without accurate Tier 1 supplier data, you can’t conduct effective modern slavery risk assessments or pinpoint areas of concern.
- What’s the next step? Regularly audit and update supplier information to ensure you’re working with the most current data.
Top Tip: Extend this practice beyond Tier 1 suppliers where possible—visibility across all tiers builds stronger risk management strategies.
2. Conduct regular supplier audits and risk assessments
When was the last time you evaluated the risks within your supply chain? Regular audits—including on-site visits—allow you to identify modern slavery concerns early and focus resources where they’re needed most.
- Be transparent about the purpose of audits: It’s about improvement, not punishment. Open dialogue reassures suppliers and builds trust.
- Include worker wellbeing site visits during audits to hear directly from employees—this often reveals issues that standard assessments miss.
Top Tip: Include clauses in your supplier contracts reserving the right to audit tier lower-tier suppliers.
3. Collaborate on solutions, not just problems
Here’s a key point: When risks or concerns arise, how do you respond?
Blaming suppliers only creates secrecy, but collaboration builds trust and transparency. You should:
- Work with suppliers to develop clear corrective action plans. Offer ongoing support to help them address risks effectively.
- Encourage suppliers to raise concerns by creating a safe, open environment—free from fear of punishment or contract termination.
Recognising that modern slavery risks can arise anywhere makes your business approachable and builds mutual respect. For SMEs with limited resources, ensure your expectations are realistic and provide guidance where needed.
4. Set clear standards and expectations
Are your suppliers clear on your ethical expectations? When onboarding a new supplier or renewing a contract, set transparent, achievable guidelines regarding modern slavery prevention and sustainability. You can do this through:
- Clear policies and processes: Ensure your policies and processes include clear clauses and expectations concerning modern slavery and ethical sourcing without using punitive terms like “zero-tolerance”.
- Monitoring and enforcing compliance: Establish systems to track supplier adherence. This will guide your decision-making moving forward. Consider setting clear KPIs to encourage suppliers to take the issue seriously or develop action plans for suppliers who lack expertise.
- Supporting your suppliers: Provide readily available resources and guidance to help suppliers comply with your anti-slavery standards. This can include training to raise awareness of modern slavery risks.
Communicating with consumers about modern slavery
So, how do you communicate your efforts to consumers effectively? Open, honest dialogue about your journey, challenges, and achievements is key to building trust and meeting growing consumer expectations for ethical businesses.
Here’s how you can use transparent communication to demonstrate your dedication to ethical sourcing and tackling modern slavery:
1. Be open about your journey—the good, the bad, and the ugly
Transparency doesn’t mean pretending to be perfect. After all, with 28 million people trapped in forced labour worldwide, no business is entirely risk-free. Customers appreciate businesses that are honest. It’s not about whether issues arise—it’s about what you do when they do.
- Share your yearly progress in your modern slavery statement—be specific with data and KPIs.
- Talk about lessons learned: What initiatives have worked well? What haven’t? How are you adapting moving forward?
- Make sure to include examples of potential exploitation, and highlight proactive steps you’ve taken to address them..
Why does this work? It shows you’re committed to continuous improvement, not just ticking boxes.
2. Make transparency a two-way street
Here’s a question: Can your customers ask you about your ethical sourcing practices—and get clear answers? Two-way communication empowers consumers and builds lasting trust.
- Use surveys, social media, and customer service channels to encourage dialogue about your modern slavery efforts.
- Respond proactively to questions or concerns. The more open and accessible you are, the more trust you’ll gain.
Top Tip: Use customer feedback to refine your strategies. Consumers’ insights can uncover blind spots or areas for improvement in your supply chains.
3. Leverage transparency for marketing and consumer engagement
Did you know transparency can give your business a competitive edge? Ethical sourcing and human rights are personal issues that resonate deeply with modern consumers. By showcasing your commitment to addressing modern slavery, you can connect with stakeholders on a meaningful level.
Here’s how to effectively integrate transparency on modern slavery into your marketing strategy:
- Share positive stories like partnerships with anti-slavery charities, collaborations with ethical suppliers, or progress toward ambitious new KPIs.
- Take transparency a step further by creating a dedicated section on your website where consumers can learn about your sustainability goals, achievements, and challenges. This empowers consumers to make informed choices.
But remember: Honesty is everything. Avoid exaggerating your progress—consumers are wary of greenwashing and socialwashing. Always focus on concrete actions and substantiated claims.
Leading by example: The Tony’s Chocolonely success story
Wondering what successful transparency looks like? Let’s take a quick look at Tony’s Chocolonely.
Tony’s Chocolonely stands as a beacon of how human rights transparency fosters trust and leadership. Sparked by a journalist’s exposé on child labour in the cocoa industry, Tony’s mission became 100% slave-free chocolate.
Recognising the limitations of journalism alone, the founders launched a brand driven by a singular purpose: ending child labour in the chocolate supply chain.
This transparency is woven into the fabric of Tony’s. Their vibrant packaging and engaging communications, including videos and annual reports detailing their efforts on the ground, resonated with consumers and ignited a movement for change within the industry.
Since 2005, Tony’s has challenged the industry’s lack of transparency, unfair treatment of farmers, and relentless focus on profit over people. They lead by example with five core sourcing principles: traceability, fair pay, strengthening farmer cooperatives, long-term partnerships, and investment in farmers and their productivity.
Tony’s success goes beyond mere awareness-raising. They inspire others to fight against modern slavery. The unwavering transparency has garnered them international recognition, including the 2022 Stop Slavery Award, the 2023 Chocolate Scorecard’s Achievement Award, and even a nomination for the Unseen 2024 Business Impact Award.
Now one of the most successful chocolate producers, Tony’s Chocolonely is a thriving business model that proves that transparency and a strong social purpose, supported by clear performance metrics, can build trust and pave the way for lasting success.
How we can help you embrace transparency
At Unseen, we offer a range of services to help you implement transparent communication strategies that build trust and make a real impact. Our services include:
- Worker wellbeing site visits: Our on-the-ground experts conduct in-depth site visits, engaging directly with workers. These visits provide valuable insights into working conditions, how your policies are functioning in practice, and help identify any potential exploitation concerns.
- Modern slavery awareness campaign support: We can help you raise awareness of modern slavery internally and externally. This includes providing resources to integrate the promotion of our Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline into your campaigns, empowering workers with a safe and confidential reporting mechanism.
- Unseen Business Hub membership: Join the Unseen Business Hub and gain access to our team of experts who will guide you in developing a bespoke modern slavery strategy that suits your business needs. This includes:
1) In-depth risk assessments to pinpoint potential vulnerabilities within your supply chain.
b) Policy gap analysis to identify areas where your policies might need strengthening.
c) CPD-accredited modern slavery training to equip your team with the knowledge and skills to tackle modern slavery effectively.
d) Supporting the development of a comprehensive and compliant Modern Slavery Statement, demonstrating your commitment to ethical sourcing and transparency.
Ready to take the next step? Contact us to learn more about how we can help your business build trust, embrace ethical sourcing, and become a leader in responsible business practices.
