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Date of Graduation
5-2026
Description
Global supply chains have become increasingly complex, making it difficult to identify and prevent unethical labor practices embedded within everyday consumer goods. In recent years, attention has been directed toward the use of Uyghur forced labor in China, particularly within the fashion and automotive industries. While governments and corporations have faced growing scrutiny, less is known about how consumers perceive responsibility for unethical sourcing and how unethical practices influence their purchasing behavior. This research seeks to examine the question: Whose responsibility is it to address unethical practices in global supply chains? Specifically, the study evaluates perceptions of responsibility across three key stakeholders, corporations, governments, and consumers, and assesses consumer awareness of Uyghur forced labor and its influence on ethical shopping behavior. A quantitative, survey-based methodology was done using the Qualtrics platform, with approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The survey targeted individuals aged 18 and older and collected data across three primary categories: shopping attitudes and perceptions, awareness of Uyghur forced labor, and ethical values of the consumer. A total of 431 responses were collected. Data was analyzed to identify patterns in consumers attitudes and perceived responsibility across demographic groups, specifically age and gender. Findings indicated that while many consumers express concern about ethical sourcing, levels of awareness regarding Uyghur forced labor remain low. Respondents frequently placed primary responsibility on corporations and governments, while assigning comparatively less responsibility to consumers themselves. These results suggest a gap between ethical concern and ethical action, influenced by awareness, transparency, and access to information.
Publication Date
2026
Document Type
Book
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Marketing
Advisor/Mentor
Rapert, Molly
Disciplines
Marketing
Keywords
Business
Citation
Evans, K. (2026). Whose Responsibility Is it: Corporate Ethics and Supply Chain Accountability in the Uyghur Crisis. 2026 Research Poster Competition. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hnrcsturpc26/6
