Text description of flowchart, to help with buying products that avoid modern slavery

Description

A complex flow diagram with boxes for questions, instructions, positive information/score, negative info/score and rankings. The diagram itself is available here.

Introduction

Before starting, consider if the purchase is essential. Could the product instead be borrowed, put together from existing items, bought second hand, or hired? This assures that we do not unnecessarily contribute to modern slavery in supply chains. While it is best to procure ethically even if not purchasing new, not being able to has less detrimental impact when borrowing, hiring, making or buying second hand than buying new.

Flowchart

Start with a score of zero. The flow diagram has one entry point. Options are listed below the figure.

1. QUESTION – Is this for a company’s branded product, or the product/service in general?
   1. If answer is ‘Specific branded product’, forward to QUESTION box 2
   1. If answer is ‘Type of Product/service’, forward to QUESTION box 15
2. QUESTION – Do we already know they are an ethical supplier, and this has been confirmed in the last 24 months?
   1. If answer is ‘Yes’ – forward to POSITIVE INFO/SCORE box – If not scored yet, add one to score. Purchase!
   1. If answer is ‘No’ – forward to QUESTION box 3
3. QUESTION – Does this brand/product declare itself as ethical in its labour?
   1. If answer is ‘Yes’ – forward to QUESTION box 4
   1. If answer is ‘No’ – forward to INSTRUCTION box – Google/Ecosia the product, company or parent company and modern slavery, and then forward to QUESTION box 5
4. QUESTION – Is the brand certified by one of the listed fair-trade companies?
   1. If answer is ‘Yes’ – forward to POSITIVE INFO/SCORE box – If not scored yet, add one to score. Purchase!
   1. If answer is ‘No’ – forward to INSTRUCTION box – Google/Ecosia the product, company or parent company and modern slavery, and then forward to QUESTION box 5
5. QUESTION – Do the results show evidence of current/recent involvement in modern slavery?
   1. If answer is ‘Yes’ – forward to NEGATIVE INFO/SCORE box – Subtract one from score then continue, and then forward to QUESTION box 7
   1. If answer is ‘No’ – forward to INSTRUCTION box – Search through the specific types of slavery, especially state-mandated. Then forward to QUESTION box 6
6. QUESTION – Do the results show evidence of current/recent involvement in modern slavery?
   1. If answer is ‘Yes’ – forward to NEGATIVE INFO/SCORE box – Subtract one from score, then continue. Then forward to QUESTION box 7
   1. If answer is ‘No’ – forward to QUESTION box 7
7. QUESTION – Does the company have an accessible anti-slavery statement or declaration?
   1. If answer is ‘Yes’ – forward to QUESTION box 8
   1. If answer is ‘No’ – forward to INSTRUCTION box 9
8. QUESTION – Is the provided statement clear and does it appear implemented?
   1. If answer is ‘Yes’, forward to QUESTION box 11
   1. If answer is ‘No’, forward to NEGATIVE INFO/SCORE box – Subtract one from score, then continue. Then forward to QUESTION box 11
9. INSTRUCTION – If there is time, contact the company to request a statement. Do they provide one?
   1. If answer is ‘Yes’, forward to QUESTION box 8
   1. If answer is ‘No’, forward to QUESTION box 10
10. QUESTION – Are they a UK company with annual turnover above £36 million?
    1. If answer is ‘Yes’, forward to INSTRUCTION box – Report company as they are breaching UK law. Then to NEGATIVE INFO/SCORE box – Subtract one from score, then continue. Then to QUESTION box 11
    1. If answer is ‘No’, forward to NEGATIVE INFO/SCORE box – Subtract one from score, then continue. Then to QUESTION box 11
11. QUESTION – Is there some form of accessible transparency on their suppliers, overall supply chain, and suppliers’ ethicality?
    1. If answer is ‘No’, forward to INSTRUCTION box 12
    1. If answer is ‘Yes’, forward to INSTRUCTION box 13
12. INSTRUCTION – If there is time, contact the company to request this. Is this provided in a relevant form?
    1. If answer is ‘Yes’, forward to INSTRUCTION box 13
    1. If answer is ‘No’, forward to NEGATIVE INFO/SCORE box – Subtract one from final score, and note final score of company/product (between -1 and -3)
13. INSTRUCTION – Are we convinced the supply chain meets high ethical standards?
    1. If answer is ‘Yes’, forward to NEGATIVE INFO/SCORE box – Note final score of company/product (between 0 and -2)
    1. If answer is ‘No’, forward to QUESTION box 14
14. QUESTION – Is the company able to offer a more ethical version of the good or service in discussion with us?
    1. If answer is ‘Yes’, forward to INSTRUCTION box 13
    1. If answer is ‘No’, forward to NEGATIVE INFO/SCORE box – Subtract one from score, and note final score of company/product (between -1 and -3)
15. QUESTION – Start by checking the generic good or service against our collection of resources to see if there is a recommended suitable purchaser
    1. If answer is ‘There is’, forward to POSITIVE INFO/SCORE box – Ensure specific product has been confirmed as such in the last 24 months. Purchase!
    1. If answer is ‘There is not’, forward to INSTRUCTION box – Google/Ecosia generic product, with key terms such as ethical, ethical supply chain, anti-modern slavery, supply chain transparency. Check with other relevant sources, such as asking in CAP hub. Then forward to QUESTION box 16
16. QUESTION – Do these results provide viable options?
    1. If answer is ‘Yes’, forward to INSTRUCTION box – Take best viable results and investigate using specific product/company flowchart. Use highest ranking result. Then forward to QUESTION box 3.
    1. If answer is ‘No’, forward to INSTRUCTION box – Research best options, without anti-slavery focus. Then forward to INSTRUCTION box – Take best viable results and investigate using specific product/company flowchart. Use highest ranking result. Then forward to QUESTION box 3.

Scores

Scoring system

1: Desirable, and likely ethical – acceptable in all circumstances

0: Somewhat undesirable, and likely somewhat unethical – acceptable in some circumstances.

-1: Undesirable, and likely unethical – acceptable in occasional circumstances.

-2: Very undesirable, likely very unethical – acceptable in rare circumstances.

-3: Extremely undesirable, likely extremely unethical – acceptable in nothing but the most extreme circumstances.

POSITIVE INFO/SCORE box

If the score is greater than 0, this is a desirable product, which to our knowledge is not contributing to modern slavery. This should be the aim for all goods and services we procure. We should acknowledge where we have to use less ethical products, and be attempting to find alternative supplier for the next purchase.

NEGATIVE INFO/SCORE box

If the score is less than 0, this is an undesirable product, which to our knowledge is likely contributing to modern slavery. If this occurs, we should attempt to find an alternative, and especially with scores lower than -1, we should be willing to purchase somewhat inferior alternatives the lower the score is. If a product with a low score must be purchased, we should consider if affordable a donation to a charity helping combat modern slavery in supply chains, or to support victims.