Blocking The Chain

Keeping SupplyChains FreeFrom Modern Slavery

- Matthew Flynn​​​​​​​

We are fortunate to live in an age where we have technology in the palm of our hand that was largely unimaginable a few decades ago, not to mention access to quality food and clothes shipped to us from all over the world. However, the dirty, not-so-little secret surrounding the supply chain that allows us to enjoy these products is deeply troubling.

In some cases, the products that we enjoy come from underdeveloped countries where modern slavery is still a grave concern. A 2018 report from the Global Slavery Index concluded that $354 billion of products shipped to G20 countries have forced labor in their supply chain. Part of the problem is that many companies involved are either unaware of their exact sourcing or are willfully ignorant.

The same study explains that the most “at-risk” products are ones many of us can’t live without: mobile devices and laptops, clothing, seafood, cocoa, and sugarcane—in that order. It’s certainly hard to imagine life without any of these modern necessities. Fortunately, it looks like soon we won’t have to enjoy them without turning a blind eye to the facts so we sleep better at night.

SUPPLY CHAIN MEETS BLOCKCHAIN

Incorporating blockchain technology into supply chain management provides transparency and accountability, even for the most at-risk industries. Consumers, producers, and governments could potentially know exactly where products have come from and how workers are treated, then respond accordingly.