Tracing transparency in supply chains

Overview

DAY 10: CONTRIBUTE TO THE MODERN SLAVERY REGISTRY

The clothing you’re wearing right now.

The party tray of fruit or shrimp in your refrigerator.

The electronic device you’re using to read this.

The harsh reality is it’s extremely difficult for any brand or company to guarantee you any of those items are entirely slavery-free, and the more complex the item, the more complicated the supply chain. Modern day supply chains – the paths products travel from raw material to finished goods – are often global, complex and notoriously tough to trace. Just a few minutes on slaveryfootprint.org will show you just how pervasive slavery is in products we buy and consume every day.

It’s incredibly disturbing to realize you have unknowingly purchased goods tainted by modern slavery. But as the video above states, as consumers we have tremendous power to influence corporations and businesses to do better. We can make it clear that it matters to us. We can insist companies push for greater transparency and accountability from their suppliers, and many are doing just that.

Today’s challenge is to spend a little time using your electronic device for good, helping make it possible to assess companies’ efforts.

Go here to contribute to the Modern Slavery Registry. We refreshed the data and need your help to document at least one company’s modern slavery statement or mark that you could not find one on their website, both are helpful in holding companies accountable.

The Modern Slavery Registry is a crowdsourced list of companies’ modern slavery statements. It is now a requirement for companies with an annual turnover (revenue) of at least £36 million (about 45 million USD) operating in the UK to publish a statement on their website. The UK government has not provided a list of the companies, or a centralized repository. So, you can help the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre populate the Modern Slavery Registry.

Discuss one way you plan to change your purchasing habits in light of what you’ve learned during Freedom Fortnight.

Don’t forget to let us know you will take action by clicking or tapping the ACCEPT CHALLENGE button on this page. If you missed any of our previous Freedom Fortnight challenges you can still take action here.

Chip in and help end modern slavery once and for all.

Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.

A few things we do not tolerate: comments that promote discrimination, prejudice, racism, or xenophobia, as well as personal attacks or profanity. We screen submissions in order to create a space where the entire Freedom United community feels safe to express and exchange thoughtful opinions.

3 Comments

Most Voted

Newest Oldest

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Kate

5 years ago

The company I was randomly assigned seems no longer to be in business. There was no place for me to input that information, so I ended up just checking the box that said I couldn’t find their statement on their website.

Kayleen

5 years ago

My first attempt was frustrating: wound up with a shelf company without a website, and couldn’t work out how to find out who they are trading as.

paul

5 years ago

What I saw on FREEDOMUNITED happens all over the world, every situation varies. Some to a lesser or greater abuse. I know this from first hand experiance. As a blessed NATION for the most part(not all) here in U.S.A, most could care less or don’t want to here how, where or why. We eat, no questions asked as to who made it possible for food on our tables(farmworkers) we just eat. Cars,we just buy and drive, toys for our children, for adults (keeping up with the JONES) CELL PHONES, COMPUTERS etc..