Fair Trade USA™ & Partners Create $100 Million in Community Impact

Pictured: Mohammad Zunaid Alam, a worker in a Fair Trade Certified Factory in Howrah, West Bengal, India.

Honoring Lives Lost, Protecting Lives Today

Factory workers are some of the most vulnerable workers in our global economy. Despite being a critical part of supply chains across industries, factory workers often endure unsafe working conditions, labor rights violations, low wages, and discrimination based on race and gender. These unsafe and unjust conditions have major consequences around the globe. On April 24, 2013, Rana Plaza, a factory building in Bangladesh, collapsed due to a structural failure. 1,134 lives were lost, as well as thousands of injuries, including workers from five garment factories within the building.  

As we mark the anniversary of this heartbreaking event, we hold space for the workers who lost their lives, those who were injured, and the families and communities forever changed by that day. We also recognize that Rana Plaza was not an isolated incident.  

Fair Trade USA was founded on the belief that every person deserves safe working conditions, fair wages, and a voice in their workplace. In the wake of tragedies like Rana Plaza, that mission feels more urgent than ever. 

$100 Million Invested in Community Development

Since launching our Factory Program in 2010, we have partnered with over 100 certified factories worldwide. Fair Trade Certified factories meet 100+ compliance criteria related to social and environmental sustainability. This means that brands sourcing from certified factories are ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, increased economic opportunity, strong environmental standards, and Community Development Funds for workers to utilize in building thriving communities. These standards aren’t just the right thing to do, they are saving lives and protecting entire communities. 

This year we are celebrating an important milestone—generating $100 million in Community Development Funds that go directly toward improving livelihoods and protecting local ecosystems around the globe. 

To celebrate this exciting milestone, we talked to some of our factory brand partners, who are sharing how certification is a key part of their operations:  

Pictured: Jegadeeswari V, a tailor at a Fair Trade Certified Factory in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, India.

Partner Spotlights

Boll & Branch

Luxury home design and bedding company Boll & Branch have been partnered with Fair Trade USA for over 10 years—underscoring their commitment to worker well-being, sustainable sourcing, and radical supply chain transparency. Boll & Branch currently sources from 10 Fair Trade Certified™ factories around the world, directly impacting more than 10,000 workers across its supply chain.

“When we started Boll & Branch, we set out to make better bedding—but we knew it had to be done in a better way. Luxury shouldn’t come at the cost of the people who make it. We’re proving that businesses can thrive while prioritizing ethical production and fair pay. We are proud of the impact we’ve made and remain committed to building a future where workers are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.”

 

Scott Tannen, Boll & Branch Founder and CEO 

e.l.f.

e.l.f. was the first beauty brand to source from a Fair Trade Certified factory, setting a strong industry example and elevating high standards in beauty sourcing. Many of their certified factories use Community Development Funds to celebrate important cultural moments for their workers. These cultural celebrations preserve heritage, build community, and foster inclusivity—which also boosts employee engagement, helps with stress reduction, and improves mental health.  

At a factory in Hangzhou, China, funds were used to celebrate the Mid-Autumn and Loong Boat Festivals. The festivals were an opportunity for workers to help support the local community, selling vegetables and handicrafts as well as leading a hike and local clean-up at Qiandao Lake. These efforts promoted closeness to nature and community, while providing education on local ecosystems.

Eileen Fisher

“As part of Fair Trade USA’s $100M milestone, we proudly celebrate the efforts of the people who make our clothes. By contributing Community Development Funds, we’re supporting the workers’ ability to invest in themselves, their well-being at work, their families, neighborhoods, and broader communities. For instance, workers at PT Tainan in Jakarta not only bought groceries for everyone to take home, they also donated some to their nearest orphanage.

 

Vina Nobland workers in the south of Vietnam made a donation to typhoon relief in the north. Workers use the Community Development Funds to support nutrition for pregnancies, eye clinics, and scholarships for kids, even though many of them are not pregnant, do not have glasses, and don’t have school-age children. We are inspired by their altruism every day and are proud to be their partners in this work.” 

Pictured: A worker participates in Fair Trade Committee election day at a Fair Trade Certified factory, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Fair Trade Committees are elected worker groups that help decide where Community Development Funds will be allocated.

HAE Now

In early 2025, the Fair Trade Committee at Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills, following a Need Assessment Survey amongst workers, launched a short-term project titled “Better Food / Better Cloth / Household Items.” As part of this initiative, gift coupons worth Rs.15,000 were issued to the 1400 eligible employees who work on HAE Now’s production.

These funds have had immediate, tangible benefits: for example, Madhab Halder from the stitching department used his voucher to purchase a refrigerator, explaining that it “helps to preserve food and avoid wastage during this hot summer.” Bijay Kundu from the finishing department used his voucher to buy a laptop for his daughter—an investment that supports her higher education and future opportunities. 

“Fair Trade is integral to our mission at HAE Now because it aligns with our belief that ethical responsibility drives sustainable growth. Every purchase you make contributes 1.5% of the cost of goods directly to the empowerment of our workers. Looking forward, we are determined to continue collaborating with our supply partners on initiatives that not only improve working conditions but also foster long-term economic and social development in their local communities.” 

PACT

“Fair Trade is the gold standard for factory certification. Our collaboration with Fair Trade USA ensures that our supply chain aligns with our core values and enables us to give back to the workers who invest so much in creating our clothing. Consumers also trust Fair Trade. They understand that when they are making a Fair Trade Certified purchase, it will be products that are made by people who are treated with dignity and respect. Our customers also love to see that their purchases truly give back. By contributing a premium from every purchase, the people that work in our factories are able to access smoke-free cook stoves, computers for their children’s education or extra cash, Fair Trade Premiums make a true difference in the lives of thousands of people.”

Fair Trade USA partners are constantly raising the bar for what it means to do responsible business. Our factory brand partners, including Arc’teryx, Boll & Branch, Cotopaxi, e.l.f., Eileen Fisher, HAE Now, J Crew, Known Supply, Madewell, Mightly, PACT, Patagonia, Peak Design, Terra Thread, Williams Sonoma, Inc. including West Elm and Pottery Barn, and more incredible partners have been integral in reaching this milestone. 

Looking Ahead

$100 million in Community Development Funds is a huge number—and goes directly to protecting people and the planet around the globe. Since workers decide democratically how these funds are spent, projects are diverse in scope and impact. Many workers choose to use funds on education, healthcare initiatives, business opportunities, food distribution, environmental projects, and so much more. At Fair Trade USA, we’re looking toward the future—and are excited to continue partnering with dedicated and innovative brands that put planet and people first.  

We invite businesses to join us in creating a fairer, safer, and more sustainable world for factory workers everywhere. Learn more about our factory program.