Become An Informed Consumer

You Can Fight Slavery

Become an informed consumer

5 Ways You Can Become an Informed Consumer to Fight Slavery

Every day, our buying decisions can make an impact in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery.

Annually, G20 countries import hundreds of billions of dollars worth of slavery-tainted consumer goods. Forced labor generates an estimated US$236 billion a year and is deeply connected to demand from higher-income countries. Our entire global supply chain – extraction of raw materials, manufacturing, product packaging and transport – is often tainted by slavery.

And yet, the average consumer knows very little about how the marketplace or how products and services they buy might contribute to slavery.

"In today's global economy, labor rights violations in one part of the world has detrimental ripple effects everywhere."

– Julie A. Su, Acting Secretary of Labor, US Department of Labor

As we work together to fight human trafficking and modern slavery, it’s important to provide consumer education so consumers may be empowered in their decision-making.

At Hagar, we want to equip and enable information to consumers like you so that you can make empowered decisions. By becoming a well-informed consumer, your efforts to buy slave-free products can help change the world.

Here are five helpful tips to inform and guide you as you become a more informed consumer. Fight modern slavery with every purchase you make.

1. Know which industries are tainted by slavery.

Some industries are more tainted by slavery than others. Start by getting to know which common products are connected to forced and child labor.

Cattle

Coffee

Electronics

Garments

Textiles

Fish

Solar Panels

Palm Oil

Source: Global Slavery Index

2. Know which countries have high rates of slavery

When slavery is prevalent in a country, the likelihood that slave labor is used in the production of goods rises. India, China, Pakistan, North Korea, Russia and Turkey have some of the highest numbers of enslaved people in the world.

3. Check your barcodes with supply chain apps

Most markets require products sold in the US to have a barcode with a Universal Product Code (UPC) or a European Article Number (EAN). This barcode is unique to each product and guaranteed to be the same across retailers. For example, if you buy a pair of Nike shoes from one retailer, it will have the same UPC/EAN barcode everywhere else its sold in the world.

You can use this code to find out a product’s origin (and other useful information) by using an app like Nest Egg, which has a database of thousands of products and their manufacturers.

4. Test how your fave business, product or service scores on social and ethical issues

When making purchasing decisions, the goal is to choose companies that are transparent about their supply chain. Many businesses publish sustainability reports or have sections on their websites detailing their commitment to ethical labor practices.

Look for legitimate and professional certifications. Many companies are Fair Trade or B Corporations, which adhere to ethical labor standards. As of 2022, there were nearly 5,000 certified B Corporations in 79 countries. The goal here is that the purchases we make contribute to a world where all people are free.

Use the following websites and apps to test your favorite brands, businesses, products and services for how they score on social and ethical issues.

5. Evaluate your consumption habits – how are you contributing to slavery?

Use a platform like slaveryfootprint.org to evaluate your own consumption and how it might be contributing to slavery.

Buying less, buying second hand, and buying fair trade are all ways to reduce your slavery imprint. Fair trade ensures fair wages and working conditions for those around the world who produce the things we buy and consume.

As you become an informed consumer, you can make strategic decisions about how you spend your money and ensure every purchase you make contributes to a world free of slavery and abuse.

Educate yourself about the issues. Understanding the scope and nature of child labor and forced labor globally can help you make informed decisions. As more people make well-informed decisions about how they spend their money, it can change the world.