Ethical Purchasing & Consumerism

Human Trafficking is a very complex problem that is influenced by laws, economics, private and public agencies, culture, and policies. Even though customer choices cannot completely fix the problem, since we increase the demand, we have the responsibility to do something about Human Trafficking. Even though consumer choices cannot completely solve the problem we can work towards minimizing it through our choices. Consumers increase the demand for human trafficking. We each have a responsibility to act for change.

1. Know Your Sources

Look into the sources of the products and services you buy. On this list, you can see products that Human Trafficking victims produced. In addition to that, buy local. Know where your products come from.

2. Reduce Risk

Sometimes it is hard to know your sources and in those cases, you can still reduce the risk of buying products produced by Human Trafficking. You can avoid businesses and industries associated with “sketchy” products, such as internationally sourced precious metals/- or garments.

In addition to that, you should help combat the demand for commercial sex, by boycotting pornography or other sex-oriented businesses. If you do not know the source of your sexual gratification videos, or products, do not participate.

3. Understand your Slavery Footprint

If you live in a western country, some part of the products or services you buy is probably produced by “modern-day” slavery. Human Trafficking is present in many parts of the supply chain and many do not even know this. On the website Slavery Footprint, you can determine which habits of yours are most likely tied to some types of Human Trafficking. With that information, you can change your behavior and work towards a better future. Buying less fast fashion, chocolate, or products you do not know the sources of is the first step towards abolishing this issue.

4. Boycott Goods Produced by Human Trafficking victims

Even though we cannot be sure that everything in our supply chain was ethically produced, we can still work on boycotting unethical industries or businesses and replace them with fairtrade products or other products whose sources you know. Buy fairtrade products, to reduce your slavery footprint and help save victims.