Design for Freedom
Global laws forbid the use of slave labor in the built environment, yet our buildings, and the materials that go into our buildings, are heavily reliant on slave labor. Most industry professionals are familiar with the once legal transatlantic slave trade of the previous centuries. Though slavery is now illegal in every country, it persists in various forms, from human trafficking to forced labor. This report defines aspects of modern slavery and the scope of the problem, and presents compelling reasons why we should care about the systemic use of forced labor in the building materials supply chain, including growing legal and reputational risks.