Creating a fairer world requires more than good intentions.
Many of today’s most pressing injustices such as exploitation in supply chains, unfair wages and environmental destruction, are not accidental. They are the result of business decisions, policies and economic systems that prioritise profit over people.
At the same time, businesses have the power to drive positive change. Ethical labour practices, sustainable supply chains and corporate transparency are not just ideals; they are choices companies make every day. By embedding social justice into their operations, businesses can help shape a more equitable and sustainable future.
How can businesses drive change
Social justice is not a passive ideal. It requires action. From the abolitionist campaigns of the past to today’s efforts to demand corporate accountability, Elizabeth Heyrick’s legacy teaches us that real change happens when people refuse to accept injustice.
Businesses have a vital role to play. Those that commit to fair labour practices, ethical sourcing and transparency help shape a more just and resilient world. Many forward-thinking companies have already proven that responsible practices build consumer trust, strengthen supply chains and drive long-term profitability.
However, corporate responsibility isn’t just about reacting to consumer demand, domestic and international legislation, or market conditions. While these factors can drive reform, true leadership means proactively shaping a fairer future, not waiting for external pressures to force change.
Elizabeth Heyrick challenged those who spoke of justice but failed to act upon it, stating:
“To invite others to be just and merciful whilst we grasp in our own hands the rod of oppression—to solicit others to relinquish the wages of iniquity whilst we are putting them into our own pockets; what is it but cant and hypocrisy?”
By aligning with our work, companies can help ensure that progress towards social and environmental justice is driven by ethical leadership, not just regulatory compliance.
Elizabeth Heyrick’s legacy: economic activism as a tool for justice
Elizabeth Heyrick was ahead of her time. In the early 19th century, she recognised that lasting social change required more than just moral persuasion—it needed systemic action. Her groundbreaking pamphlet, Immediate, not Gradual Abolition, challenged the status quo, calling for urgent action to end slavery. Through consumer boycotts of slave-produced sugar, she demonstrated a keen understanding of corporate and institutional accountability. She recognised that businesses, whether complicit or actively reforming, played a central role in shaping a just society.
Today, her legacy remains as relevant as ever. Businesses hold immense power to shape the world for better or worse. They can uphold unjust systems or they can be part of the solution—driving fair wages, sustainable practices and ethical supply chains.
Systemic change requires economic pressure
Elizabeth Heyrick recognised that financial pressure could dismantle exploitative systems. While many abolitionists favoured gradual reform, she argued for immediate action, using consumer activism to challenge the financial interests that upheld slavery. Her mobilisation of communities, particularly women, proved that collective action could influence powerful institutions, demonstrating that economic justice is not only a moral issue but a structural one.
Today, corporations continue to shape social and economic systems and their actions determine whether progress is fair and inclusive. Injustices such as forced labour, unfair wages and unsafe working conditions persist when profit is prioritised over people. But just as in Heyrick’s time, financial influence remains a powerful tool for change. Companies that lead with ethical sourcing, fair wages and sustainable business models do more than mitigate harm. They actively reshape industries for the better.
A just transition towards a sustainable future requires businesses to take responsibility for their impact. Like Heyrick’s abolitionist movement, today’s most effective social justice campaigns recognise that economic action, whether through corporate leadership, ethical investment or consumer advocacy, can dismantle harmful systems and replace them with fairer alternatives.
Corporate accountability in today's world
Holding corporations accountable for their role in social injustice is crucial. Campaigns against exploitative supply chains, environmental harm and unethical business practices continue to use strategies similar to those of Elizabeth Heyrick and her fellow abolitionists.
For example, consumer boycotts remain a widely used tool, with recent movements pressuring companies linked to unethical labour practices and environmental destruction. Meanwhile, policy reforms, such as modern slavery legislation and corporate transparency laws, are pushing businesses toward greater accountability.
But accountability isn’t just about avoiding harm; it’s also about businesses actively contributing to a just transition. Companies that champion ethical labour, sustainable sourcing and fair wages are already proving that social responsibility and long-term economic success go hand in hand. The transition to greener, fairer economies must ensure that workers, marginalised communities and vulnerable industries are not left behind, but instead supported through investment, fair wages and secure employment.
What we can learn from Elizabeth Heyrick's activism
Elizabeth Heyrick’s work offers valuable lessons for today’s fight for social justice:
- Economic pressure works. Whether through consumer boycotts or investor activism, targeting financial interests can drive real change.
- Collective action is essential. Elizabeth Heyrick mobilised women and local communities to take a stand, proving that grassroots activism is a powerful force.
- Challenging power structures is necessary. Her insistence on immediate abolition challenged those in power who favoured a slower approach, just as modern activists must confront systemic barriers to a fairer economy.
Sponsor the Elizabeth Heyrick Society
By becoming a corporate sponsor, your business can:
- Support education and awareness initiatives that promote fair working conditions and social justice.
- Demonstrate leadership in ethical business practices and align with values-driven consumers.
- Help drive systemic change through advocacy and community-driven action.
Join us in shaping a fairer future. If your organisation values social justice, ethical business and systemic change, become a corporate sponsor today. Let’s continue Elizabeth Heyrick’s mission and drive meaningful impact.
