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28 May 2025 Focus on fairness: Fair Wear Works project sends a signal for sustainable sport at Turnfest Leipzig

Press release of the Global Nature Fund & FEMNET e.V. in the project ‘Fair Wear Works’ - Fairness campaign Turnfest

This International German Gymnastics Festival in Leipzig continues to think of fairness – far beyond sporting competition. As part of the major sporting event, the Fair Wear Works project sets the idea of fairness in motion with a large-scale campaign – and puts the challenges of the textile industry in the spotlight. The message: Fairness does not end at the edge of the field.

Under the motto ‘Fair Modified’, the campaign draw attention to the importance of sustainable sports textiles with striking actions. Digital advertising spaces, posters in the community accommodation, postcards and a central exhibition sensitize the thousands of participants and guests from all over the world to social and ecological responsibility in sport.

Initiator of the campaign is the environmental foundation Global Nature Fund, which together with the women's rights organization FEMNET has launched the project. Fair Wear Works Implemented. The aim is to promote fair procurement in sport and to support clubs on their way to responsible purchasing of sportswear. “The gymnastics festival brings together people from all generations and backgrounds – this is the ideal place to think about fairness holistically”, emphasises Bettina Faust from the Global Nature Fund.

A highlight of the campaign is the Ideas competition "Sport Fairändert": Sports clubs are invited to submit their innovative projects for more social and environmental commitment and to win sustainable jersey sets.

The colourful festival also focuses on 3,500 volunteers, equipped with gymnastic bags made of GOTS-certified organic cotton and visible FAIR messages. “The best ambassadors are the people themselves”, said Bettina Faust. The trained volunteers inform about grievances in the textile industry and show practical solutions for more sustainability.

With this initiative, the Fair Wear Works project is sending a strong signal: Fairness is more than a sporting value – it affects everything we do, on and off the pitch.

The most important dates for sustainable materials, fair procurement and responsible club management:

• Interview: ‘Sustainable functional materials’
  Friday 30 May 2025, 15:15-16:00, Glashalle der Leipziger Messe
  Moderation: Clemens Loecke
  Expert: Bettina Faust
• Training seminar: "Sustainable procurement in the association"
  Saturday 31 May 2025, 11:15-12:30, Messehalle M1, Leipziger Messe
  Speaker: Bettina Faust
• Keynote speech with audience participation: ‘Fair procurement’
  Saturday 31 May 2025, 14:00-14:45, Mobile Green Room, Sustainability Area at Thomaskirche, Leipzig city centre
  With: Sport is Fair, Benjamin Zeise - Sports balls

The Fair Wear Works project is funded by ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL gGmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Deutsche Postcode Lotterie and Fairtrade Deutschland. The funding will be used to implement a fairness campaign as part of the project at the International German Gymnastics Festival 2025.

About the project partners

The Global Nature Fund is an international foundation for the environment and nature conservation. With projects such as Fair Wear Works, the GNF is committed to promoting sustainable business practices and fair working conditions.

FEMNET e.V is a women's rights organization that has been campaigning for better working conditions in the global apparel industry for over 15 years with political commitment, educational and advisory work, and projects abroad.

Learn more about Fair Wear Works

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