By providing ethically-supplied mortise locks for the renovation of Bigfork Library in Montana, US, Assa Abloy has contributed to a Grace Farms Design for Freedom pilot project to showcase how responsible sourcing is possible on a modest budget.
The community library has been renovated with a focus on ethical building design with a shared commitment to eliminating forced labour in the building materials supply chain. This was achieved through rigorous research and partnerships between designers and product manufacturers.
The mortise lock specified on this project has become a test case for Assa Abloy, as it is complex and has over 150 components.
Door hardware is often considered as an open specification in a typical project delivery model. An open specification will show manufacturer names along with alternates or equals. However, the customer transitioned to a closed specification to meet performance standards of the Bigfork Library – meaning that we list specific components and suppliers and no substitutions are allowed. In practice this means that due diligence is ensured when it comes to meeting specific sustainability standards in a project.
“Product and process optimisation play a large role in our Design for Freedom involvement and we plan to continue driving it as part of our larger sustainability initiative,” says Amy Musanti, Director of Sustainable Building Solutions, ASSA ABLOY.
Our commitment to trace the 150 components of the mortise lock used in the Bigfork Library initiated further investigation through supply chain risk assessment and compliance technology.
Ethical responsibility and due diligence
We are working with supply chain mapping technology platforms to map and trace the supply chain as a direct result of our involvement with the pilot project. With over 9,000 suppliers across our global supply chain, we are committed to ensuring their ethical responsibility. This is largely achieved through collaboration with our supply chain team and their due diligence.
Grace Farms is a cultural and humanitarian centre in New Canaan, Connecticut. Its work to foster more grace and peace in local and global communities includes leading the Design for Freedom Working Group, which Assa Abloy is part of. The group was created in 2020 to combat the problem of forced labour in the building materials supply chain.
“Success, fulfillment, and joy come from working with customers on innovative projects like the Big Fork Library,” Amy says. “A holistic spirit of continuous improvement fuels us all to work together and pursue greatness through progress in the built environment and its value chain.”
Source: SECURITY WORLD MARKET