In the fight against modern slavery, empowering consumers with knowledge has always been a powerful tool for change. Not For Sale’s Free2Work app was a pioneering platform designed to do just that—offering consumers detailed information on the labor practices behind popular brands to support ethical purchasing choices.

Why Not For Sale Created Free2Work

When Not For Sale launched Free2Work, the mission was clear: help eradicate forced labor by increasing transparency within corporate supply chains. At the time, consumers faced an overwhelming lack of information about how their favorite products were made. By providing a simple, user-friendly grading system that rated brands on their commitment to fair labor practices, Free2Work gave consumers the power to support ethical companies and advocate for change.

The initiative’s impact was amplified through key partnerships. Working with the U.S. Department of State (link) and the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) (link), Not For Sale ensured that the app’s labor assessments were backed by robust research and global advocacy efforts.

For a deeper look into the significance of Free2Work, Fast Company highlighted the app’s potential to reveal hidden forced labor within everyday products in their article “Find the Child Slaves Hiding in the Grocery Store”. Similarly, the Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) explored Free2Work’s potential to reshape consumer habits and its innovative approach in their article “New App for Conscious Consumers”, further demonstrating the app’s influence on the global conversation about ethical consumerism.

From App to Global Guide

However, by 2013, funding to sustain the Free2Work app ran dry. Yet, the vision for an informed, ethical marketplace lived on. Rather than letting this important work end, Not For Sale made a strategic decision to transfer the grading framework to Baptist World Aid Australia (link), an organization deeply committed to ethical consumer advocacy.

Not For Sale’s team worked closely with Baptist World Aid Australia, providing in-depth training on how to assess companies based on their labor practices and transparency. The knowledge transfer laid the groundwork for the launch of Baptist World Aid’s now-renowned Ethical Fashion Guide in 2013.

The Ethical Fashion Guide: Continuing the Mission

Baptist World Aid Australia’s Ethical Fashion Guide has since become a trusted resource for consumers worldwide, rating brands on their efforts to prevent forced labor and exploitation in their supply chains. The guide has helped shape a growing movement of informed, socially conscious consumers who use their purchasing power to demand fairer practices in the fashion industry.

Be sure to save this (link) to Baptist World Aid Australia’s Ethical Fashion Guide and refer to it before you make your next clothing purchase.

A Legacy of Action

Free2Work may no longer be active, but its legacy lives on through the Ethical Fashion Guide and the countless individuals inspired to make ethical choices. This journey underscores Not For Sale’s enduring commitment to innovation in the fight against human trafficking and labor exploitation.

For more information on how you can support efforts to end modern slavery and make ethical consumer choices, visit Baptist World Aid Australia’s Ethical Fashion Guide and stay connected with Not For Sale’s latest initiatives.

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