Unnamed, Brazil

Amazon, Brazil | Forced Labor | 60 drawing hours

Reference Photo by Marcelo Cruz

In Brazil’s timber industry, workers are often lured by a lack of job prospects, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of modern slavery. They harvest wood linked to significant U.S. and European projects, including renovations of New York’s Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park as well as wood that ends up in luxury products like furniture and flooring across the U.S. and Europe.

These laborers may not receive payment for months, risking fatal accidents in dangerous conditions, suffering from contaminated food and water, and facing exhausting hours. Knowing they are engaged in illegal work and entangled in debt, they fear seeking help due to threats of violence, often choosing to flee when authorities arrive. This situation perpetuates a cycle of exploitation that contributes to the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

Although rescue operations have freed thousands, many remain enslaved, facing threats and violence to keep them from escaping. This illegal exploitation also contributes to the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

Consumers can make a difference by choosing ethical furniture from brands certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Fair Trade, such as West Elm and Made Trade, and by advocating for sustainability in supply chains.