Declare Equity is being developed as one pathway within a broader Declare framework that will also encompass health and environmental performance. It also complements the existing Just® transparency label for organizations (see “Understanding Two Approaches to Equity Transparency”).

The goal is not simply to produce another label, but to create realistic entry points for manufacturers that want to move toward more equitable practices without being overwhelmed by the distance between current operations and an ideal outcome, Tam explained.

Rather than building an equity transparency system around the question “Where can we compromise?” Tam said Living Future is asking, “How do we make this step more attainable?” Manufacturers may ultimately be working toward equitable policies, living wages, freedom from forced and child labor, and healthier relationships with surrounding communities. Yet they need practical benchmarks that help them understand where they stand now—and what meaningful progress looks like.

That is where the pilot’s partners and reviewers have made a difference. Liveable, Design for Freedom, technical advisors, manufacturers, contractors, designers, and other experts have helped Living Future test indicators against the realities of different company sizes, product types, and organizational structures. A small manufacturer may move quickly toward implementing more equitable practices but have little leverage over a major supplier. A large company may have significant influence, but face layers of procurement, human resources, legal review, and confidentiality requirements before it can act.

The stakes extend well beyond product specification. Supply-chain decisions affect employment conditions, local economies, community well-being, and the ability of companies to respond when human-rights risks emerge. A benchmarking system can help turn broad commitments into clearer accountability: not merely whether a policy exists, but, as Tam put it, “What’s the actual impact or the outcome that affects the workers?”

Perhaps the most human part of the initiative is its recognition that awareness creates responsibility. “Once you’re aware of what’s happening, you can’t become unaware of it again,” Tam said. “Once you do, you can’t not do something about it.”

Declare Equity is still evolving. That is not a weakness of the pilot; it is the point. What the pilot may offer is a practical path from intention to action—and a reminder that every material carries a human story, whether or not the industry has learned to read it yet.