Sports balls may seem small in size, but their production involves energy-intensive machinery, raw material processing, packaging, and transport—each contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. International buyers increasingly demand verified environmental performance, climate disclosures, and low-carbon supply chains. Without structured systems to measure emissions across energy use, raw materials, packaging, transport, and waste, and without reliable data, improving competitiveness remains at risk, while industries that understand their environmental footprint gain a decisive advantage.

Pakistan’s sports ball manufacturing sector — a global hub of craftsmanship and production excellence is now stepping confidently into this future. Through Fairtrade NAPP’s CO₂ and CHG Emissions Measurement Program, leading Fairtrade certified sports ball producers in Sialkot are taking a structured, science-based step toward carbon accountability, climate resilience, and market-ready sustainability, turning data into direction and awareness into action.

A Data-Driven and Participatory Approach

Between December 8 and December 31, 2025, Fairtrade NAPP conducted on-site assessments across seven major sports ball manufacturing facilities in Sialkot, engaging 45 workers and 08 management representatives. Using globally recognized standards such as the GHG Protocol, ISO 14064, and IPCC Guidelines, the program introduced structured data collection, facility walkthroughs, document verification, and stakeholder interviews.

Producers were not passive recipients of audits; they became active participants in the process. Management and workers engaged directly in understanding production flows, sourcing practices, and waste handling systems. This participatory model strengthened ownership and internal learning- an essential foundation for long-term sustainability action.

Revealing Emission Hotspots and Unlocking Solutions

The assessments provided a consolidated picture of emissions across material use, energy consumption, packaging, transport, and waste. The findings highlighted raw materials—particularly synthetic rubber and PVC as the single largest driver of emissions. Variations in energy efficiency, reliance on diesel power, and underutilized production waste further contributed to carbon intensity.

Yet within these challenges lay opportunity. Producers now understand where material substitution, recycled inputs, and sourcing improvements can dramatically reduce emissions. The data revealed practical, producer-specific mitigation pathways—ranging from energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy transitions to improved waste reuse, optimized packaging, and smarter logistics. With these interventions, producers now have a realistic roadmap to reduce carbon footprints over the next five years while strengthening compliance with Fairtrade environmental requirements.

Building Capacity Beyond Compliance

Beyond numbers and reports, producers gained hands-on knowledge of carbon accounting, sustainability benefits, and long-term efficiency gains. This new capacity equips them to respond confidently to buyer expectations, environmental audits, and global sustainability trends.

“This initiative has enhanced our understanding of greenhouse gas emissions and their impact, supporting our efforts toward environmental responsibility and sustainability.”
— Haseeb Ghuman, Talon Sports

“It was a great opportunity provided by Fairtrade NAPP for measuring CO₂ emissions within our setup, directly contributing to environmental protection and compliance with environmental standards.”
— Muhammad Javaid, Anwar Khawaja Industries

From Measurement to Market Advantage: A Lasting Impact

With verified emissions data and clear, producer-specific mitigation plans in place, sports ball manufacturers in Sialkot are now equipped to meet Fairtrade environmental compliance requirements, strengthen credibility with international buyers, access environmentally conscious markets in Europe and North America, and demonstrate leadership in sustainable manufacturing. What began as a technical assessment has evolved into a strategic business advantage — positioning Pakistan’s sports goods sector at the forefront of responsible global production.

By implementing the recommended interventions, producers have committed to cutting down their carbon footprint, connecting environmental responsibility with long-term economic growth.

Beyond the commitment, the CO₂ Measurement Program has delivered lasting transformation: accurate emissions baselines, producer-specific mitigation strategies, enhanced technical capacity, stronger engagement between workers and management, and a shared sustainability vision across the sector. Most importantly, it has turned sustainability from an abstract concept into a practical, actionable business strategy.