Activity Description: Lead-Free Alliance Mexico has been a two-year project to use existing, inexpensive methods of pottery production to ensure lead-free ceramic sales by using new lead-free glazes that work with low-fired kilns, the kind typically found in Mexico. The project also links artisans to an international market that had previously not had access to these goods because of the presence of lead.

The goals of ATA's Lead-Free Alliance Mexico project are the revival of traditional Mexican pottery, improvement of the health of traditional Mexican potters and their customers, and the increase in potters' incomes while minimizing negative environmental impact.

The project also creates a reliable supply chain for lead-free traditional Mexican ceramics by strengthening artisans' ability to access, develop, produce for, and deliver reliably to international markets.

Lead-Free Alliance Mexico also builds relationships between suppliers, government agencies, business service providers (e.g. lead testing laboratories) and potters, to ensure sustainability of the Mexican lead-free pottery market. This project was a winner in the 2005 World Development Marketplace competition.