Why FLO deals with Sports balls


In 2001 Rättvisemarkt, the Swedish member organisation of FLO, started developing Fairtrade labelled Sports balls in conjunction with Responsible Business Initiative (RBI), a consultancy in Pakistan. A year later, FLO was able to certify three sports balls organisations in Sialkot, the mecca of the world’s football production. Fairtrade certified footballs are currently being sold in Sweden and Italy. FLO-members in other countries plan to introduce this sports balls in the near future.

One year is not enough time to assess the impact of a process such as fairtrade. In a complex supply chain such as sports balls, clear lines seldom demarcate manufacturing operations. Where a market is seasonal, sporadic and often dictated by demands for short shipment lead-times, sub-contracted or piece-rate labour is often the only choice. With a fairtrade market growing, the sports balls supply chain can become more predictable. This predictability in turn can help “producers and workers organise themselves to defend their rights together and not depend anymore on others”. This within itself is a goal to aspire to.


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