Combating slave labour in productive chains: capability developments in Brazilian-UK timber and beef supply chains.

This paper presents an analysis of four supply chain initiatives that exemplify the development of capabilities in the detection and remediation of the risk of slave labour in the upstream supply chains of Brazilian companies supplying Brazilian timber and beef to the UK. Our findings suggest that while there is evidence of capability developments at the firm, supply-chain and business-non-business partnership levels; initiatives may be voluntary or are limited to specific communities; geographies or company locations. Although representing pockets of good practice, supply chain interventions are idiosyncratic and companies may have more to do if they are to play a significant part in combatting slave labour in Brazil.