© FEMNET ⁇ Rosa Grabe Gender Equality in Public Procurement It is widely known that in so-called high-risk industries such as textiles, electronics or food, there are devastating labour and human rights violations in the supply chain. On 30 October, we discussed with municipalities and representatives of civil society why gender equality is a central issue for fair procurement practices. It became clear: Municipalities have concrete options for action – and they can already make effective use of them today. Details Published: 19 November 2025 Read more …
© Turgut Arslan - pixabay.com Mirror, mirror on the wall - where do the textiles of the public sector come from? There are numerous approaches to make textile supply chains more transparent. Nevertheless, the origin of the textiles that municipalities procure, for example for hospitals or the police, often remains unclear. Why is this, and how can it change? Details Published: 19 November 2025 Read more …
© newafrica - depositphotos.com Future-proof and fair: Hamburg sets the course for procurement How can sustainable procurement be achieved at the municipal level? In Hamburg, FEMNET, together with Stadtreinigung Hamburg (SRH) and other stakeholders, has further developed strategies for anchoring eco-social criteria in purchasing. A workshop shows: The will is there – and the knowledge is growing. Details Published: 25 June 2025 Read more …
Appeal: We call for a legal anchoring for sustainable procurement FEMNET has been working in the field of ‘fair public procurement’ for many years. The public sector in Germany invests about 500 billion euros annually in the purchase of goods and services (OECD 2019). As part of our membership of the CorA Corporate Responsibility Network Let's support an appeal, which calls on the Federal Government to adopt clear legal requirements for the consideration of human rights and environmental standards in the procurement of the federal, state and local governments. Details Published: 08 October 2024 Read more …
© geralt -pixabay.com End of procrastination: Bund must procure textiles sustainably! A year ago, the Federal Government published the ‘Stage Plan for Increasing the Sustainable Procurement of Textiles by Federal Administration Authorities and Institutions’. FEMNET and 10 other civil society organisations are calling for implementation. Details Published: 15 March 2024 Read more …
© Stefan Klübert ⁇ FEMNET Sustainable textile tenders: New guidance for municipalities on circular economy and complaint mechanisms FEMNET asked municipalities which sustainability aspects they would like to integrate more into their textile tenders. The result: Sustainability criteria for "circular economy" and "complaint mechanisms" were desired. In a new guide, FEMNET has elaborated these in detail and informatively. Details Published: 05 February 2024 Read more …
© FEMNET More eco-fair in the future: Krefeld and Dormagen invited to the Niederrhein market dialogue At the end of a one-year pilot project on eco-fair workwear, the cities of Krefeld and Dormagen, together with FEMNET, invited regional suppliers to exchange ideas. The practice-oriented program and the triad of regional specialist retailers, manufacturers and municipalities received a lot of positive feedback from all sides. Details Published: 13 December 2023 Read more …
© Engagement Global / Compass Sustainability FEMNET develops digital ‘detection questionnaire generator’ In the future, buyers will be able to create interactive proof questionnaires for bidding companies using a new online tool without any Excel knowledge in order to check compliance with sustainability criteria. The proof questionnaire generator will be available free of charge from summer 2023 in the new ‘My Compass’ login area of the SKEW Sustainability Compass. Details Published: 24 May 2023 Read more …
© geralt ⁇ pixabay.com New FEMNET study: Is traceable equally sustainable? Technical solutions for traceability of textile products could be an important tool to bring together verified information on sustainability in 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. Details Published: 12 May 2023 Read more …
Procurement transformation package: FEMNET participates in the consultation process FEMNET welcomes the Federal Government's plan to strengthen environmental and climate friendliness as well as the social sustainability of public procurement. In a 12-page opinion as part of the public consultation process, we identify concrete opportunities for improvement. Details Published: 03 March 2023 Read more …
© Disposal companies Konstanz From Blaumann to Multinorm: Own businesses rent sustainably For the technical companies (TBK) and the waste disposal companies (EBK) of the city of Konstanz, sustainability has long been relevant in purchasing. In the joint re-tendering of a framework contract for rental work clothing with laundry services, FEMNET's municipal own businesses were supported in integrating sustainability criteria on several levels. Details Published: 13 December 2022 Read more …
