The tool is being developed by built environment research group BRE, and is based on the organisation’s existing Ethical Labour Sourcing (ELS) framework.

BRE hopes that, by creating an interactive assessment tool, more businesses will be able to access and use the framework. It will be launched on Tuesday at an event in U.K. Parliament.

The original ELS framework was developed for the construction sector, but Shamir Ghumra, director of sustainable products at BRE, said he hopes the online tool will be useful to other sectors. Speaking to Supply Management, Ghumra said: “Accessibility is the real reason why we’re planning to take it online.

“Yes we are the custodians of the built environment, but we see ELS as a platform being used by anybody doing anything, whether they’re in the built environment or not.”

The online tool will be an interactive and updated version of the ELS framework and will including response prompts and the ability to submit documentation as evidence. It will help businesses assess the maturity of their ethical sourcing policies are identify what the needs to be done to improve.

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