Design for Freedom International Guidance & Toolkit
We all have agency to Design for Freedom
The first Design for Freedom International Guidance & Toolkit provides resources professionals can use to prioritize ethical supply chains and integrate the three Design for Freedom Principles:
Find and Address Embedded Forced Labor
Pursue Ethical Decarbonization
Prioritize Circularity
With contributions from more than a dozen leading international experts, The International Guidance & Toolkit shines a light on critical issues related to forced labor in the building materials supply chain, including the legal landscape, the importance of compliance, the role insurers and investors can play to ensure our building materials are not embedded with forced or child labor, and the growing issue of prison labor. The International Guidance and Toolkit builds on Grace Farms’ Design for Freedom Toolkit (2022) and the Design for Freedom Report (2020).
The International Guidance and Toolkit provides information on 12 raw and composite materials that are at high risk of forced and child labor. These materials, which include glass, concrete, steel, and bricks, are some of the most commonly used in the built environment today. They are often extracted and produced in brutal and inhumane conditions in countries throughout the world. By better understanding the supply chains of these materials and using the relevant tools presented here, design and construction professionals can prioritize human rights and ethical procurement, while meeting health and climate project goals.
Design for Freedom International Guidance & Toolkit
The Design for Freedom International Guidance & Toolkit provides insights and inspiration from international leaders and experts working in all parts of the build environment. It has been updated with new tools including sample specifications, updated material tracking spreadsheets, relevant certifications, supply chain risk technology platforms, research, and added rigor and alignment with existing global frameworks.
Webinar | Using the “International Guidance & Toolkit” to Advance Ethical Supply Chains Globally
Watch a webinar hosted by Grace Farms CEO and Founder Sharon Prince and Design for Freedom International Lead Elaine Mitchel-Hill during National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month.
Link coming soon
Additional Resources from the International Guidance & Toolkit:
Project Team and Supplier Engagement Letter
Customize and send this letter to initialize conversations with both project teams and suppliers.
Ethical Design Requirements, Division & Sample Specifications
Use Ethical Design Requirements Specifications to require contractors to meet ethical sourcing standards across the project materials or by spec division. Sample of Wood Specification included for reference.
Design for Freedom Self-Assessment Questionnaire
Complete this Self-Assessment Questionnaire to encourage organizations to assess progress, elevate internal dialogue, and promote external discussion.
Slavery and Trafficking Risk Template (STRT)
Use this free, Open-Source industry standard template to assist companies in their efforts to comply with modern slavery legislation and improve their supply chain-related public disclosures.
Ethical Materials Tracking Schedule
Utilize resources within the tracking schedule to identify regions of high-risk for exploitation and transparency certifications that recognize the dignity of responsible supply chains.
Responsible Certifications, International Frameworks and Standards List
Refer to the Responsible Certifications List within the Ethical Materials Tracking Schedule to filter relevant certifications by material or product type, third-party verification, industry focus, prerequisites, and other differentiators.
Contract Language for Architects and Contractors
Download sample contract appendices regarding Design for Freedom for architecture and construction firms and to give Owners or Clients.
