Yes, apparently we’ve all got one. By purchasing certain products that are manufactured overseas, or buying agricultural items that are grown in foreign countries, we’re supporting slavery, including child slavery. Take this survey to understand what your personal “slavery footprint” is.

These are the locations where I am apparently employing slaves.

An excellent way of reducing your slavery footprint and doing something beneficial to both people and the planet is buying vintage (or secondhand) clothing. When I took the survey without estimating the percentage of vintage clothing and jewelry that I own, I had a slavery footprint of 66. When I replaced what I had originally counted as “new” items with vintage, which is more accurate, my slavery footprint went down to 42.

I urge you to take the survey and although it is simplistic and not entirely accurate, you will get an idea of how the items we purchase have a permanent and negative impact in the world.