According to the Global Slavery Index, nearly 50 million people are living in modern slavery, exploited because of society’s desire for cheap goods.

The footprint of modern slavery can be found all around us – if only we were made aware so that we could open eyes to the problem. The clothes we wear. The smartphones in our pockets. The solar panels on our buildings.

These and many other common goods often carry the taint of forced labor and modern slavery. Most people have no understanding that everyday goods are part of a supply chain that is touched by extreme exploitation. But the question is, if the world understood just how close we are to modern slavery, would this change the way we consume?

Unconscious consumer culture has long fueled the exploitation of some of the poorest and most vulnerable groups of society. Too often, international human rights laws are left ignored, while the need to cut costs for greater profits continually trumps all other business goals.

A new report sheds light on the surprising extent of the problem – and the culpability of some of the world’s richest nations. According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index by the human rights group Walk Free, nearly 50 million people are living in modern slavery. Millions of them are being exploited because of society’s desire for cheap goods.

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