As an athletic child growing up, I never thought it might be other children my own age who stitched my sports equipment. Sports competition is fun at any age; working under horrible conditions at a sweatshop is not. As a consumer of athletic equipment, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your purchases are not only making you feel better, but the people who made them for you as well?

Fair Trade Sports is one of the only companies that can guarantee their sports equipment is made under fair trade practices that include only using adult workers and paying fair wages (50% higher) so that parents can provide for their children and not have to send them to work.

Their athletic gear is made at their certified fair trade facilities in Sailkot, Pakistan, where 75% of the world’s balls come from. Fair Trade Sports also uses rubber that is sustainably harvested in Sri Lanka and India. The forests they source from recently passed FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) audits.

In a recent interview with Eco Times, founder Scott James said: “We are using our company, Fair Trade Sports, to demonstrate to other manufactures like Nike, Adidas, Puma, and Badden, that it is financially feasible to transform your production sources to be certified fair trade and eco-certified.”

You can find this great equipment for sale locally at your Whole Foods Markets or online at:

www.fairtradesports.com
* (Input ydt on the checkout page for free shipping!)
or
www.globalexchange.org

Categories:  Monday--Active Lifestyle