The supply chain has a heartbeat. And ethical entrepreneurship keeps it alive. Every product we consume – whether a morning coffee, a new t-shirt, or a piece of tech – has a human story behind it. But too often, that story is hidden, silenced, or worse – marked by exploitation. For those of us working to end modern slavery, this is where the real work begins.

At Not For Sale, we believe the fight against human trafficking must go far beyond rescue. We must rebuild systems that never allow exploitation to take root in the first place. That’s where ethical entrepreneurship comes in.

We’re not just supporting survivors. We’re empowering entire communities through purpose-led business.

From surviving to thriving: the shift to dignity-first business

In the traditional business playbook, people are often seen as inputs – just another resource to be optimized. But in every venture supported by Not For Sale, we flip that script.
We ask: What if the product was the byproduct of dignity? And we love it when we find other businesses doing the same.

Enter Krochet Kids, a fashion brand that doesn’t just stitch clothes – it stitches new beginnings. Partnering with women in Peru and Uganda, Krochet Kids provides skills training, sustainable income, and holistic support. Every item includes the signature of the person who made it. Why? Because people matter. Their names matter. Their futures matter.

When a woman who once faced generational poverty signs her name on a garment bound for global shelves, she’s not just labeling a product – she’s claiming her power.

Beyond compliance: why minimum standards of ethical entrepreneurship aren’t enough

Checklists don’t change lives. Compliance can confirm the absence of harm, but it doesn’t guarantee the presence of hope.

That’s why Not For Sale admires businesses like Five North Chocolate, which doesn’t just meet fair trade standards – it actively reinvests in farmer communities in West Africa. Their approach goes deeper than ethical sourcing. It’s about value creation that stays with the people who cultivate it.

By paying farmers fairly, supporting women in leadership roles, and funding local education, Five North proves that premium products can come from systems that are just as rich in equity as they are in flavor.

Because real ethical entrepreneurship doesn’t ask: “What’s the minimum we can do?” It asks: “How far can we go to protect and uplift the people behind the product?”

The enterprise engine for systemic change

At Not For Sale, we don’t believe in one-off fixes. We believe in building an ecosystem where dignity is embedded into every decision – from who gets hired to how profits are shared.

That’s why our founders, David Batstone and Mark Wexler, go beyond traditional philanthropy. They take seats at the boardroom table, shaping governance, operations, and strategy to ensure ventures live their purpose. This isn’t symbolic oversight – it’s active partnership.

One powerful example is Regenerate Technology, a global leader in battery recycling and upcycling, incubated by Not For Sale. The company reclaims critical materials from end-of-life batteries – such as lithium-ion and lead-acid – using environmentally sustainable processes.

Instead of sending batteries to landfill or relying on high-emission mining, Regenerate extracts and refines valuable metals for reuse in next-generation battery production. This circular approach reduces waste, lowers the environmental cost of energy storage, and supports green infrastructure.

Alongside Not For Sale, Regenerate is committed to ethical operations that create fair employment opportunities in regions historically impacted by industrial decline, proving that clean tech can empower people as well as the planet.

Ethical entrepreneurship and purpose that performs

Ethical entrepreneurship isn’t just good for people – it’s good business. Consumers are becoming more conscious. Investors are looking for impact. And the next generation of talent wants to work for something that matters.

But most importantly? When dignity is part of the business model, everything changes. People stay in their communities. Children go to school instead of work. Women gain independence. Hope replaces scarcity.

This is what happens when we see people not as laborers, but as leaders.

We don’t just need more products. We need more purpose

The global market doesn’t always need another energy bar or shoe brand. It needs bold, conscious businesses that protect people before profits – and prove that freedom can be scalable.

Through every venture we seed, partner with, support, or get inspired by, Not For Sale keeps one question at the center:

Are we building something that protects the people behind the product?

If the answer is yes, then we’re not just in business. We’re in the business of ending exploitation.

• Support Not For Sale and ensure more businesses thrive through ethical entrepreneurship.