Christmas shoppers in St Albans were greeted by a giant Mobile Phone, Teapot and T-Shirt this week, as campaigners sought to remind people of the importance of the way in which their products are made.

St Albans Friends of the Earth campaigners met with Richard Howitt MEP who was very supportive of their request to strengthen a proposed EU law making companies come clean about their effect on people and the environment.

The new law on Non-Financial Company Reporting is currently being debated in the European Parliament.

Amanda Yorwerth, from St Albans Friends of the Earth, said: “During Christmas at peak shopping time, the people of St Albans are busy stocking up on their Christmas gifts. They want reassurance that the products they buy are made responsibly with respect to the environment and the people that make them.

“EU Law may seem a distant irrelevance at this time, but this key vote is vital in ensuring that we can shop in St Albans with confidence and feel good about the things that we buy.

“The tragic deaths of so many workers in a Bangladesh clothing factory earlier this year demonstrate how important this issue is. “

Richard Howitt MEP spent a long time with the campaigners talking through their concerns, and gave reassurances that he will be working hard to support improvements to the legislation at a European level.

Sarah MacLaren, from St Albans Friends of the Earth added: “Regardless of where people shop, be it in a large multinational or the smallest local shop, they deserve to know that the products they buy have been made ethically, and the manufacturers held responsible and accountable for how they do business. “