Will ethical trade be a casualty of the credit crunch?

The last decade was marked by huge gains in ethical trade and consumerism, as many retailers and brands put worker welfare at the heart of their global supply chains. But was this just a luxury of a booming economy? With the business agenda resetting, recession looming, and many firms fighting for survival, the challenge now is to make sure social responsibility isn’t just a matter of financial convenience. Leonie Barrie reports.