© FEMNET Advanced training for municipalities: Fair procurement of textiles More and more cities, municipalities and districts in Germany want to procure more socially and environmentally friendly. In SKEW's advanced training courses, developed in cooperation with FEMNET and Resource Miracles, you will learn what concrete next steps can look like. The free offer of the service center Kommunen in der Eine Welt (SKEW) is aimed at municipal procurers and other employees entrusted with procurement. The in-depth training consists of 4 hours (including breaks) and can take place either as an online seminar or in-person. Individual workshops are also possible, tailored to the needs of your municipality. Read more …
© ACCORD Sustainability is not in vain: How much does sustainable textile procurement cost? Many municipalities want to buy work clothes, bed linen and towels more sustainably, but worry about higher prices. Since economical management is an important criterion for the public sector, price often plays the decisive role in the award of contracts. FEMNET has addressed the question of the costs of sustainable procurement in a study – together with the Südwind Institute and on behalf of the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (Society for International Cooperation). Concrete case studies for workwear and flat linen illustrate the impact of compliance with sustainability standards on the price of textiles. Read more …
© geralt ⁇ pixabay.com Traceable textiles: New evidence for sustainable public procurement? Technical solutions for traceability of textile products could be an important tool to bring together verified sustainability information on supply chains, products and companies. As part of a study, FEMNET examined how they could be applied in the demonstration of public procurement – and where there are currently still limits. Sustainability is of increasing relevance for the public sector in the procurement of textiles. However, the examination of submitted evidence always presents clients with challenges. There is no single proof for all aspects of sustainability. Potentially, traceability solutions for public buyers could be a great relief here. So far, however, the full potential has not been exhausted. Read more …
© FEMNET ⁇ Stefan Klübert Workshops for local businesses: Procure textiles fairly As diverse as the fields of work of municipal companies are their textile needs: From workwear and protective clothing, to flat linen, to marketing and sponsorship products. Use your market power to improve working and environmental conditions in the textile industry. Read more …
Well protected? Exploitation of work clothes Extremely low wages, forced overtime, high job insecurity and oppressed unions: Workwear is intended to protect employees in Germany, but in manufacturing the working conditions are as precarious as in the fashion industry. Such goods are also purchased by public institutions in Germany. There are now numerous studies on working conditions and human rights violations in the garment industry. However, there is a lack of information specifically on workwear. On behalf of FEMNET, the Indian organization researched Cividep and the Tunisian Institute FTDES in a total of seven textile factories. The shocking result: Working conditions in the production of workwear are just as bad as in many other fashion industries. These results play a central role in public procurement, as more and more municipalities want to integrate labour and social standards into their procurement practices. Read more …
© FEMNET Fair procurement as a topic in education and training Through workshops at administrative (higher) schools, FEMNET sensitizes future and experienced administrative employees to the impact potential of sustainable procurement. Read more …
