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New alliance puts sofa maker Buoyant at the vanguard of ethical labour practices.

Buoyant Upholstery has becomes the first company in the furniture sector to join the Slave-Free Alliance, the social enterprise launched by global anti-slavery charity Hope for Justice with the aim of preventing worker exploitation in global supply chains.

Research indicates almost four-fifths of companies said they expected to find modern slavery in their operations or supply chains, according to Slave-Free Alliance, which since its creation in 2018 has become a global force for change.

It now counts global multinationals including Asda, Aviva, AstraZeneca, Morrisons, Yodel, Hermes, Dixons Carphone, Experian, and ALDI U.K. as members and clients with Colne sofa maker Buoyant's decision to join making it a pioneer in the furniture sector.

Buoyant md Mike Aramayo said: "Slave-Free Alliance is an excellent organisation that will work with us to help protect our supply chain from human trafficking and modern slavery. There'll be an added benefit that when customers want to know what we're doing we'll have the evidence to support us."

Marc Stanton, director at Slave-Free Alliance, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with Buoyant Upholstery, which is setting a new standard as our first member from the furniture sector. It’s wonderful to see this commitment from Buoyant Upholstery to ensure that workers are not exploited, both now and in the future."

Slave-Free Alliance offers a wide range of services and access to its experts, including training, gap analysis, due diligence, risk management resources, and help with investigations, crisis response, remediation and Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statements, which are required for large businesses under the U.K.’s Modern Slavery Act 2015, but considered good practice for organisations irrespective of size.