At the recent Green Design Show in Melbourne, I was moved by the discussions around an often-overlooked issue: modern slavery in the design industry. As designers, we have a responsibility to ensure that our practices and the materials we use do not contribute to this global problem. Attending this event and hearing from leading experts on the topic was both eye-opening and inspiring, reinforcing the importance of addressing modern slavery within our profession.

Libby Staggs, Founder and CEO of Sustainable Business Matters, delivered a powerful talk that underscored the urgent need for the design industry to take meaningful action against modern slavery. Here are some of the key takeaways from her presentation and insights from other guest speakers, including Katherine Featherstone, Senior Manager – Products & Materials at the Green Building Council of Australia, Isabella Peppard, Architect at Product Aware, and Sasha Titchkosky, Co-Founder of Koskela.

The often ignored issue of Modern Slavery in Design

Modern slavery is not something we talk about enough in the commercial design industry. Often, we assume that our suppliers are responsible for monitoring risks, and we take their assurances at face value. However, the term “blue washing” was uncovered during a conversation with the panellists where companies deceptively market their social practices to appear more ethical than they truly are. This highlights the need for designers to be more vigilant and proactive in scrutinising our supply chains.

Taking Meaningful Action

As designers, addressing modern slavery within our organisations and design processes can make a significant difference. Committing to ongoing investigations and yearly follow-ups can help ensure our suppliers are making real progress. Setting benchmarks for what is acceptable and questioning any answers that do not meet our requirements can drive positive change. While improvements won't happen overnight, initiating these conversations now is crucial for seeing progress in the near future.

Encouraging Supplier Transparency

Encouraging more transparency and accountability from our suppliers can lead to significant improvements. Actively looking for signs of modern slavery and engaging with experts like Libby Staggs at Sustainable Business Matters can provide valuable guidance on how to start taking meaningful action against modern slavery in our industry.

What steps can we take as Interior Designers?

While we know these issues can exist in the industry, there are practical ways we can change how we work to make a real impact. Here are some steps we can take as interior designers to combat modern slavery:

1. Investigate Manufacturing Locations: Understanding where our specified products are manufactured can be highly informative. Educating ourselves about high-risk countries and regions is beneficial.

2. Identify High-Risk Products and Materials: Scrutinising the products and materials we use, especially those with higher risks within our suppliers' supply chains, is essential. Investigating the lower tiers of these supply chains can provide deeper insights.

3. Engage with Suppliers: Asking our suppliers the right questions can foster transparency and accountability. Consider inquiring about:

• Actions they are taking to assess the risks of modern slavery in their supply chains

• Their remediation processes

• How they are assessing the effectiveness of their actions

• Their strategy for ongoing monitoring and improvement

4. Utilise Available Tools: Tools like Product Aware can help us vet products and ensure we make informed choices.

While the topic of modern slavery in our industry can be challenging when we look below the surface, this talk made me realise that are steps we can all take that can contribute to a more ethical and sustainable design industry - ensuring that our work does not perpetuate the cycle of modern slavery. It’s a collective effort, and the time to act is now.