Jones Snowboards Achieves Fair Trade Certification On 2024/25 Snow & Splitboard Collections
Press release:
All 2024/25 Jones snowboards and splitboards will be certified by Fair Trade USA
Snowboard, winter apparel and backcountry gear brand Jones Snowboards is proud to announce that their 2024/2025 snowboards and splitboards will be Fair Trade Certified™. Jones is the first ski or snowboard hardgoods brands to have their boards certified by the non-profit organization Fair Trade USA™.
Fair Trade Certified is an award-winning sustainable sourcing model that helps support responsible companies, empower workers and protect the environment. When a product is Fair Trade Certified it means it has been audited to make sure the people who manufacture that product are treated fairly, paid equitably and work in safe conditions.
“Our boards are known for their performance and responsible manufacturing standards, but what is not as well known is that we hold all our factory partners to the highest social responsibility standards. Achieving Fair Trade Certification honors our longstanding commitment to the people who manufacture our products,” said Jeremy Jones, founder of Jones Snowboards.
SWS Board Technology, Jones Snowboards’ production partner, became a Fair Trade Certified manufacturing facility in October 2023. To achieve certification, SWS was audited to demonstrate adherence to over 100+ compliance criteria that cover social responsibility, environmental responsibility, employee empowerment and economic development.
“The wellbeing of our employees is our top priority and achieving Fair Trade Certification is a reflection of our dedication to providing a positive work environment, marked by fair wages, safe conditions and opportunities for employee growth. We take pride in ensuring that our commitment to the Fair Trade Organization is not just a certification, but a lived reality that offers success and satisfaction to our employees and the communities we serve,” said Renske Visser, Sustainability Officer of SWS.
Every time a consumer buys a Fair Trade Certified Jones product, Jones will make a contribution to a Community Development Fund that will support the SWS factory employee’s most pressing community needs, including education, child care and healthcare. Factory employees control the Community Development Fund and vote on how the funds are used.
“We are thrilled by this commitment and partnership from Jones, “ said Paul Rice, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fair Trade USA. “Working with companies like Jones enables our model to succeed. The products that we buy every day are connected to the livelihoods of others and partners like Jones empower consumers to shop their values. Pioneers like Jones show the breadth of what is possible with Fair Trade Certified across industries.”
Receiving Fair Trade Certification reinforces Jones’ mission to be a leader in ethical and responsible business practices. Other notable milestones in Jones’ efforts include switching their snowboard production to 100% solar energy and Bio-Resin epoxy in 2020, completing a life cycle assessment of their snowboard production in 2020, and developing Re-Up Tech, the world’s first snowboard recycling program in 2023. Jones’ Fair Trade Certified 2024/25 snowboards and splitboards will be available for public sale in August 2024.
