Image: Me in Cape Town, South Africa
But there is no need to go on the other side of the world to realise that deep social injustice affects us all. Even in Europe, if we care to see, we will find high rates of poverty, income inequality, and discrimination. Something that, being in an interracial relationship, I am unfortunately fully aware of.
It is for this reason that my job does not feel like a job at all: every day is an opportunity to help companies reach their ambition of achieving a leadership position in the way they treat their workers – and of course the environment.
The task is not an easy one. Working with large companies, side by side, I understand well the many challenges that they face when trying to improve their environmental or human rights performance, including incredibly complex supply chains, pressure prices, and the need to create stronger demand for sustainable products. Not to mention technical difficulties and the large amount of investment required to find innovative solutions. Companies cannot be expected to completely change, one day to the next. However, every day we are moving one step closer, thanks to the ground-breaking work of a few committed companies and to the contribution of all those people that, globally, are demanding for change.
At Eco-Age, I have found the opportunity to channel my innate sense of justice by working on projects that are not only ambitious and game-changing but also tangible, and beautiful both ethically and aesthetically. But what I love most about my job is being surrounded by people who share my same values and who are not afraid to walk the talk, starting from Livia and her fight to ensure fair work and uphold a living wage for the most vulnerable.