A B O U T
Project
Ethical Decarbonization and Responsible Sourcing in the Built Environment
Ethical Decarbonization and Responsible Sourcing in the Built Environment
My role
Project lead from start to finish.
Project lead from start to finish.
Timeline
2025-26
6 months
2025-26
6 months
Context
The AEC industry contributes to a global GDP of 13%, and it’s ranked 3rd for forced labor. The industry relies heavily on low-cost manual labor, and its supply chains are often complex and opaque. With this broader problem in mind, the objective was to map the material supply chain, eventually building a library of office fit-outs that are sourced and manufactured ethically. Eventually building an entire ecosystem of resources that can be used within the teams and with clients, moving from awareness to action.
The AEC industry contributes to a global GDP of 13%, and it’s ranked 3rd for forced labor. The industry relies heavily on low-cost manual labor, and its supply chains are often complex and opaque. With this broader problem in mind, the objective was to map the material supply chain, eventually building a library of office fit-outs that are sourced and manufactured ethically. Eventually building an entire ecosystem of resources that can be used within the teams and with clients, moving from awareness to action.
Challenge
How can we support built environment professionals to make socially responsible choices by integrating labor-conscious practices as an intentional part of the design and construction process?
How can we support built environment professionals to make socially responsible choices by integrating labor-conscious practices as an intentional part of the design and construction process?
R E S E A R C H
Stakeholder Ecosystem
Responsibility for material outcomes is distributed across a dense web of actors spanning raw material sourcing, manufacturing, certification bodies, sustainability consultants, and policy frameworks, with the latter emerging as the highest- leverage connectors influencing material integrity and labor outcomes.
Landscape Analysis
- Existing material transparency tools focuses on environmental standards than labor practices.
- Labor-related information is often shallow, fragmented, or missing across available tools and resources. Current tools rarely direct users to primary sources, making it harder to verify labor and supply chain claims.
- Strong supply chain accountability requires both clear value communication with suppliers and direct oversight of production practices.
Product Studies
Reviewed the list of materials, focusing on those that would have the most impact in terms of cost to the company. Identified top 6 categories and chose products to look into further in each category.
P R O C E S S
Phase 1: Product Mapping
The second phase of product mapping involved breaking down each product’s material components through thorough research, including Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and similar documentation, tracing ingredients to their raw material origins, and identifying the actors, locations, and processes involved. Gaps were filled through direct conversations with the manufacturer
Phase 2: Industry Outreach
Phase 3: Testing
O U T C O M E
Every material decision is a moral decision. The goal is to equip architects, designers, and contractors to make sustainable and socially responsible choices by making forced labor-free sourcing an intentional part of the design and construction process. This is achieved through education, tools and resources, and a shared language that fits into everyday workflows. Deliverables include client awareness tools, a social life cycle assessment framework for evaluating labor risk, & team workshops
Client Education
How do we educate and build shared commitment with clients around responsible sourcing?
A client guide outlines what to ask for, what to include in the project proposal, and how responsible sourcing may affect the budget. It places particular focus on budget implications and client responsibilities, ensuring both are clearly understood from the outset. Introducing this early in the process ensures alignment from the start. The guide presents information in digestible sections, helping clients understand what the project requires before work begins.
A client guide outlines what to ask for, what to include in the project proposal, and how responsible sourcing may affect the budget. It places particular focus on budget implications and client responsibilities, ensuring both are clearly understood from the outset. Introducing this early in the process ensures alignment from the start. The guide presents information in digestible sections, helping clients understand what the project requires before work begins.
Product Repository
A list of evaluated products, traced as far as possible through manufacturer and supplier outreach. Each product page includes a summary snapshot of the manufacturer, alongside a risk chart generated from ingredients gathered through EPDs, HPDs, and Declare labels. The chart is color-coded from green to red, indicating the labor risk level of each raw material, helping users identify where risks exist and what they involve.
Product Assessment Framework
A five-step strategic framework to evaluate products based on supply chain transparency,
and labor risk: verify certifications, assess labor standards, understand supply chain
structure, review material transparency, and evaluate ingredient-level risks.
and labor risk: verify certifications, assess labor standards, understand supply chain
structure, review material transparency, and evaluate ingredient-level risks.
D E C K
See the full report here
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