Interactive "Products of Slavery" Map Helps You Buy Better

With all this talk about slave labor and sweatshops being used to make your favorite products, do you ever wonder where in the world these abuses are happening? Now you can find out, with Anti-Slavery International's fantastic, interactive Products of Slavery Map.

Anti-Slavery International's Slavery in What We Buy Campaign has released a new, awesome, Products of Slavery Map. It's a tech-nerd abolitionist's fantasy. The map charts what products from what countries are most likely made with child labor, forced labor, and/or slave labor. Interactive visualizations allow the user to view slave labor in consumer products around the world on a map or graph, search by country or product, and compare statistics across industries. It visually shows the rough prevalence of slave labor in a given industry or country, as well as detailed information on how the map makers define slave labor and where they source data.

Here's an example of how the Products of Slavery map can be an incredible tool for consumers looking to buy slave-free. Let's say you're in the market for a new pair of running shoes. You can search by product and see that running shoes are made by forced labor in four countries — Brazil, China, India, and Bangladesh. On the side bar, you can read statistics about manufacturing in these countries, like the fact that 25,000 children are reported to work in the shoe industry in India. You can also read testimonials, like the story of a 15-year-old girl who worked at a shoe factory in Bangladesh and was told she could only collect her wages if she went to her boss's house when his wife wasn't home. Now, when you go shoe shopping, you can make a point to avoid shoes from those problem countries. Or better yet, find Fair Trade or ethical manufacturers in those countries and support them instead.

According to Products of Slavery, fine jewelry fans should beware, as gold is the most problematic product with forced labor documented in 17 countries. Popular products like cotton and sugarcane follow closely behind, made with forced labor in 14-15 countries. And the map also charts items we may never think of as tainted by slavery, everything from broccoli to fireworks, Christmas decorations to brass plumbing fixtures. Fortunately, Anti-Slavery International also has suggestions for where you can buy better and how you can write to producers of your favorite brands and ask them to take slavery out of their supply chains.

You can also take action here on Change.org by signing petitions to reduce slavery in some of the products on the map most often tainted with forced labor. Ask Gymboree to stop using cotton picked by forced child labor in Uzbekistan in their clothing. Ask Domino sugar to offer a Fair Trade sugar option to customers. Or, start a petition yourself on Change.org asking your favorite company to stop using the products of slavery.

Photo credit: David Blackwell