YOUTH2ACT
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Things to Keep in Mind While Shopping
Shopping can hide what the label does not show
Many products pass through long global supply chains before they reach a store shelf. The biggest risks are often not at the final store, but further upstream in farming, mining, fishing, raw material processing, and subcontracted production. International data also shows that child labour remains a major global issue, with agriculture accounting for the largest share.
No shopper can trace every product perfectly. But consumers can still reduce risk, make better choices, and put pressure on companies to be more transparent and accountable.
How to recognize higher-risk items
Products at high risk of being involved in child or forced labour often show signs of weaker transparency and greater pressure within the supply chain. They may be priced unusually low relative to the labour, skill, or materials likely needed to produce them. They also tend to come with limited information about where they were made, where their materials were sourced, or what standards were used during production. In many cases, the branding may use reassuring terms such as “ethical,” “responsible,” or “sustainable” without providing clear evidence to support those claims. Risk can also be higher when a product contains materials or ingredients that are frequently associated with labour abuse in global supply chains, such as cocoa, cotton, seafood, mica, cobalt, gold, or diamonds. In general, higher-risk products are often marked by low prices, weak documentation, and limited proof of accountability.
What you can do while buying products
Check the material first
Before buying, look at what the product is made from. If it includes a high-risk material like cocoa, cotton, mica, cobalt, seafood, rubber, gold, or diamonds, slow down and look more carefully.
Read the label carefully
Look for the country of origin, material details, and any sign of sourcing or traceability information. Missing information is useful too, because it may show that the company is not being transparent.
Do a quick phone search
A simple search while shopping can help. Search the brand name with terms like “supplier list,” “modern slavery statement,” “due diligence,” or “forced labour policy.” Brands that publish more information are generally easier to evaluate than brands that say almost nothing.
Prefer transparent brands
Choose companies that explain where their products come from, what standards they use, and what they do when labour abuses are found. Transparency does not guarantee a product is clean, but it is better than silence.
Look for meaningful certifications, but use them carefully
Certifications can help reduce risk, especially in products like cocoa, coffee, cotton, textiles, jewelry, seafood, and electronics. But they are not perfect guarantees. Even certification bodies acknowledge that no system can promise a product is 100% free from child labour.
Understand what a label actually means
Some labels support better practices without guaranteeing that the exact product in your hand is fully traceable to certified sources. For example, Better Cotton explains that some of its consumer-facing claims rely on a mass-balance model rather than full physical traceability.
Ask direct questions
If information is missing, ask the company or retailer:
Where was this made?
Where do the key materials come from?
Do you publish your supplier list?
How do you prevent and respond to child labour in your supply chain?
Questions like these matter because they push companies toward real disclosure instead of vague branding.
Avoid impulse buying when something feels unclear
If the product seems suspiciously cheap, poorly documented, or full of vague claims, pause instead of buying immediately. Waiting, checking, or choosing another option is a real action.
Buy fewer, better-quality items
One practical way to reduce pressure on exploitative supply chains is to avoid unnecessary buying, especially in high-turnover categories like fashion. Buying fewer, longer-lasting products can reduce demand for the cheapest and least transparent production systems.
Consider second-hand options
Buying second-hand can reduce demand for new production, especially for clothing, furniture, books, and household goods. It is not a full solution, but it can be a useful way to avoid feeding risky new supply chains.
Support worker-centered or cooperative models when possible
When available, products linked to worker cooperatives or stronger worker voice structures can be a better option, especially in some agricultural and artisanal sectors.
Go beyond the checkout
Shopping choices matter, but pressure on brands matters too. Consumers can email companies, ask for supplier disclosure, support worker-rights campaigns, and push for stronger supply-chain laws. Worker-rights groups note that organized pressure can be more effective than trying to shop perfectly.
Quick checklist before you buy
Ask yourself:
Does this product contain a high-risk material?
Is the price suspiciously low?
Can I clearly see where it was made or sourced?
Is the brand giving real evidence or only marketing words?
Can I find a more transparent option?
Do I need this now, or should I research first?
Responsible shopping helps reduce risk, but it will not solve child slavery on its own. This is a systemic issue tied to poverty, weak enforcement, hidden subcontracting, and pressure for cheap production. Real change also requires stronger laws, better enforcement, corporate accountability, and public pressure.
Pause before you buy
Do I actually need this?
Less impulse buying= Less demand for exploitation.
Do a quick brand Check
Do a quick google search or use Good On You
"Better informed" over "Perfectly informed"
Wear more, Waste less
Sustainability is not about being trendy. It is about being intentional.
Use Your voice
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