Our Commitment to Sustainability
Our Mission
To create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their product and stories to our markets through long-term,
fair trading relationships.
Our VisionOne day all artisans in the developing countries will earn a fair wage, be treated with dignity and respect
and be able to live a life of quality.
Ten Thousand Villages…
• Founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization• 150 Retail locations throughout the US• Unique global gifts, home décor, art and personal accessories• Rooted in a mission to provide sustainable income opportunities
to people in developing countries.
Fair Trade Means…
• A Fair Price – we pay mutually agreed upon fair prices for artisans’ creations
• Cash Advances and Prompt Final Payment – capital up front helps build sustainable businesses
• Long-Term Relationships – Consistent orders support artisans’ long-term planning (average length of relationship is 13.5 years)
• Deign Collaboration – trend and style information helps artisans adapt traditional skills
• Environmental Responsibility – we emphasize sustainable practices, recycled and natural materials
Our History• Began 65 years ago --- Edna Byler witnessed overwhelming poverty while visiting
Puerto Rico in 1946.
• Provided sustainable economic opportunities for artisans in developing countries by creating a viable marketplace for their products in North America.
• Grassroots campaign selling handcrafted products from trunk of her car.
• Worked tirelessly for the next 30 years to connect artisans in developing countries with market opportunities in North America.
• Ten Thousand Villages has grown to a global network of social entrepreneurs working to provide sustainable economic opportunities to artisans in developing nations.
Our ArtisansWe work with m ore than 1 30 artisan groups in 36 countries
around the world .
Latin Am erica, East Asia, M iddle East, South Asia and Africa
“[To com e up with ideas] I dream and think, and dream and think.”
- Chhum Cley
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_cVDwo0iPA
Sustainability
• Economic Sustainability – provide sustainable incom e
opportunities through long-term fair trade relationships
• Environmental Sustainability– Goods are produced by hand,
using natural and recycled/repurposed m aterials.
• Social Responsibility – com m itted to em powering wom en and
educating others about Fair Trade.
Environm ental Sustainability
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” –
M ahatm a Gandhi
We encourage our artisans to work with eco-friendly m aterials. M aterials can be
natural, such as palm leaves and sea shells, or they can be recycled m aterials like
snack bags and juice boxes.
Environm ental Sustainability
• Em phasis on sustainability with artisans, as well as with our business practices
back hom e.
• Innovation & Creativity with natural and recycled m aterials.
• Reduce carbon footprint through:
- Eco-friendly shipping (Sea shipm ents, less fuel than air freight, consolidate
shipm ents, U SPS Alternative Fleet)
- Eco-friendly store m odels (recycled flooring, environm entally safe paints,
handm ade fixtures using natural m aterials, gift wrap is hand m ade by artisans in
Bangladesh)
Working with Natural M aterials
• Bamboo• Palm Leaves• Water Weeds• Sea and River Shells• Sustainable Wood or “Good Wood” – farms that replant trees• …Even Fruit
U sing Natural M aterials
http://www.youtube.com /watch?v= 9m K -k2orS0I
Working with Natural M aterials
http://www.youtube.com /watch?v= m CVsBgx3D j4
U sing Recycled M aterials
http://www.youtube.com /user/tenthousandvillages#p/u/4/L_D ON LRhQ Jw
Everyday bags used to m ake Ten Thousand Villages products
“Swords to Plowshares”
War in Cam bod ia littered the landscape with bom b casings and
unexploded bom bs.
Share Peace Tea L ight H older
Econom ic Sustainability
• Alleviate Poverty through trade, not aid
• U se sales profits to increase artisan purchases & expand d istribution channels
• Long-term relationships
• Cash advances and prom pt final paym ents
• Capital allows artisans to purchase equipm ent & resources without going into debt by
taking out high interest loans.
• Artisans are paid in full before products are m arked down or placed on sale.
Econom ic Sustainability through M arket
Growth
- M ore than 78 Retail Locations in the U S.
- Growth in our m arkets = im proved lives for our artisans and their fam ilies
- Opened six new stores in 201 0, and five in 201 1
- Burgeoning e-com m erce website
- Wholesale supplier to several hundred retailers
Econom ic Sustainability
Creating H ope, Trinity Jewelry Craft, Nairobi,
K enya
http://www.youtube.com /watch?v= Cq6b3LH q-7Q
Econom ic Sustainability
Opportunity, Not Sympathy –
Bom bolulu Jewelry Craft, K enya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qKQWu8Sjok
Why Sustainability is Critical to U s
For our artisans to survive, our business m ust be sustainable at all levels.
We have to m ake enough m oney to survive without subsid ies and contributions.
N one of our efforts m atter m uch if we can’t run a successful business from how we
purchase from our artisans to how we m arket and ultim ately sell our product
across all channels.
Inspiring Trees Wall H anging
Leaf and Branch M ug
Sam phors attends law school in order to becom e an advocate for the d isabled .
Artisans craft a new holiday ornam ent for 201 1
Artisans craft a new scarf for 201 1
In 1 995, Chantavong helped start sister organization Lao
Sericulture Com pany, which works with silk production and
supplies silk thread to Phontong weavers.
“D o your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that
overwhelm the world .” – D esm ond Tutu