50 Great States/50 Great Companies: Washington and Fair Trade Sports

Can you imagine going to a factory that was filled with unhealthy chemicals, working for 12 hours a day and then having the meager salary you made be given to your parents because you are only 7-years-old? That is the reality for millions of children around the world who are forced to work in order to contribute to support their family. Fair Trade Sports is trying to change that.

What's Fair is Fair

Traditionally, the area of Sialkot, in northeastern Pakistan near the boarder of the disputed Kashmir region, has been the global headquarters for the creation of the 70 million soccor balls sold annually. Fair Trade Sports sources their sports balls from this region and pays their adult workers a fair wage, allowing them to financially support their families. Parents that can earn a fair wage are able to feed and cloth themselves an their families, as well as send their children to school to receive an education. And when possible, even save money for healthcare and emergencies. A household supported by adults earning a fare wage  means children don't have to work — they get to be kids. This simple and basic right of earning a fair wage is raising the quality of life for hundreds of families and children in the region.

Let's talk hard facts. What does this all mean in people's lives on a daily basis? According to a fact sheet on the Fair Trade website here are some examples of projects that have recently been completed in the Sialkot region:

Water Purification: A water treatment plant has been installed that is the sole source of clean drinking water within a 20 kilometer radius. Basic Health Insurance: Through Fairtrade premium money the joint body has hired doctors and acquired medical supplies for regular check-ups, as well as emergency medical treatment for workers. Micro credit fund: The joint body of workers, stitchers and management has established a micro credit fund with Fairtrade premium money. Workers and their families can take out loans to set-up small businesses to increase their incomes and reduce their financial dependency on stitching.

Founded by former Microsoft man Scott James, and based in Bainbridge Island, Washington, Fair Trade Sports is all about goodness and they have quite a few badges to show for it. They are the first sports ball manufacturer whose products are both Eco-Certified and Fair Trade Certified plus they are a BCorp ensuring that the fundamental reason for their company is not profit but that they use the power of business to solve social problems. Fair Trade Sports is a business model is not that of a usual business, they dedicate all of their profits after taxes to charities.

All of these great ideas sound too good to be true, but in fact they play out daily in the lives of hundreds of workers. According to their B Corp profile it goes something like this: "We at Fair Trade Sports sell only balls that have passed the standards of the Fairtrade Labeling Organization (FLO). The payments we make for these balls includes a 20 percent premium, which is used for improving the lives of the workers, their families and their communities. Together, workers and management form a "Fair Trade Society" and decide how to dispurse the Fair Trade Sports half of the 20 percent premium to benefit the group (the other half goes directly to the workers themselves). Programs include community clinics and healthcare insurance — a first in this industry — as well as micro-credit loans and more."

Washington State Facts:

The state of Washington is the only state to be named after a United States president.Washington state has more glaciers than the other 47 contiguous states combined.Washington is the birthplace of both Jimi Hendrix (Seattle) and Bing Crosby (Tacoma).The state nickname is The Evergreen State.Washington has over 1,000 dams.

In The Pipeline:

Fair Trade month is coming up this October — curious about what you can do? You can find some great information about what it means to be Fair Trade certified and how you can get involved in your own community. Keep watching here for more info on Fair Trade month 2010 and check out the Fair Trade website www.transfairusa.org/

Read more Dollars & Sense.

 

Image courtesy Fair Trade Sports.