Fair Trade Sports
Fair Trade Sports is a sports ball provider based in Seattle, Washington. It was founded in 2006 by Scott and Susan James and follows a "Newman's Own" business model.
The company is a for-profit S-Corporation. Once the company is profitable, Scott and Susan James will receive all after-tax proceeds, then donate them to Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Room to Read International. The company donates $1000 annually to each of these children's charities until it produces after-tax profits.
The sports balls provided by Fair Trade Sports are certified Fair Trade by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) and eco-certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Sports balls were among the first non-agricultural products to be certified Fair Trade by the FLO. The future of the Fair Trade movement into non-agricultural products is discussed on this Utne Reader podcast . Fair Trade in relation to the international trading system is discussed by the Sierra Club. The ecological aspects of sports balls are discussed on Grist.
The balls are manufactured by Talon Sports in Sialkot, Pakistan. Fair Trade Sports' product range includes: soccer balls, footballs, volleyballs, rugby balls, futsal balls, and basketballs.
The marketing tactics of the company are described by Plenty Magazine (guerrilla marketing) and by Outside Magazine (green marketing).
External links
Fair Trade Sports official website