Martin Buttle, Supply Chain Manager, UK © MADE-BY

‘I passionately believe that ethical consumers can play a role in making businesses broaden their concept of value and change their trading relationships to become more sustainable.

Following a PhD studying ethical investment and the social economy, my interest in ethical fashion was first prompted in 2004 by a two-year Post-Doctoral research project examining the ethical trading strategies of the top ten clothing retailers in the UK & US markets. This study convinced me to leave academia and follow a career helping businesses to manage their supply chains responsibly.

Before joining MADE-BY, I was a Project Manager at the labour standards consultancy Impactt, where my role involved working with businesses and brands, learning about the challenges they face and developing strategies to ensure social standards were upheld and their supply chains were more sustainable.

Amongst other projects I led the development of the Local Resources Network an online community for grassroots organisations engaged in efforts to improve working conditions in factories, farms and work sites worldwide.

I have long admired MADE-BY’s approach to increasing supply chain traceability through its Track&Trace initiative and am pleased to have the chance to contribute to such an exciting and revolutionary organisation.’