Since 2014 it has been Bala Sport’s mission to expand the availability and use of ethically produced and fairly traded sports balls in the UK and bring the Fairtrade message to the sporting world.
In 2023 custodianship of Bala transferred to Matt and Gillian Oliver, who found a new, Fairtrade certified manufacturer in Sialkot, Pakistan and brought a new range of fairly traded footballs to the UK.
Fairly traded simply means we followed the principles of Fairtrade, paying a fair price in line with Fairtrade principles and an additional 15% premium. The workers decide how this premium is spent – typically on school books or medicines, and, in the case of Sialkot, reduced price groceries for staff and their families. Children of factory workers are able to go to school and there is no slavery in the supply chain.
Although our footballs are not yet certified Fairtrade we aim to certify once enough profit has been raised from the first batch of ball sales.
While full certification is not yet possible, Bala still applies the principles of Fairtrade to benefit our producers and customers.
To buy a ball, visit our shop. If you are a reseller and would like to stock our balls, please contact us at info@balasport.co.uk for more information.
