Lab receives grant for ethical supply chain research

Funding awarded through the Environmental Venture Project program

Collaborators: co-PIs Jonathan Payne and Tiziana Vanorio (Earth & Planetary Sciences)

The Billington Lab joins Prof. Jon Payne and Prof. Tiziana Vanorio on a Woods Institute Environmental Venture Project, focusing on addressing hidden modern slavery in building materials. In this research, we are exploring the development of a framework to create geochemical "fingerprints" of imported cement and natural stone to verify their origin and assess risks of forced labor and environmental degradation. The framework aims to guide industry toward more responsible and transparent sourcing of building materials. Our team partners with colleagues from the Design for Freedom movement, supported by the Grace Farms Foundation.

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