Femnet e.V.

Pressemeldungen -

04 May 2021 From blue man to fabric bag: Companies want support in sustainable textile purchasing

Joint press release from Global Nature Fund (GNF) and FEMNET

A survey by the Global Nature Fund (GNF) and FEMNET shows: Companies need more information about sustainable textile procurement. In a digital panel discussion on 20 May, the organisations will present the results and present proposals for effective sustainability management in the textile sector to companies, which they have jointly developed in the FAIR WEAR WORKS project.

Bonn, 03/05/2021. Whether protective suits for the laboratory or bed linen in the hotel - the procurement of textiles offers companies the opportunity to make an important contribution to a responsible economy with manageable effort. This small but essential building block of the sustainability strategy forms the background to the FAIR WEAR WORKS project, which FEMNET and the Global Nature Fund (GNF) launched a year ago. The partner organisations are now publishing the results of a survey that provides an insight into the textile procurement of companies.

Stumbling blocks when shopping for textiles: Lack of information about credible seals and providers

The good news: More than half of the companies surveyed are already purchasing textiles sustainably. However, a large part of them encounter problems and state that they need support. According to the company, stumbling blocks in sustainable textile purchasing are in particular a lack of information about credible textile standards and seals.

Some of the recommended standards are not yet well known, while seals such as Oeko-Tex 100, which do not meet social and environmental criteria in the supply chain, are very common. In addition: Suitable suppliers are hardly known, high price and quality requirements make it difficult to switch to sustainable procurement. Another problem: Depending on the business sector – such as CSR or purchasing – those responsible weight sustainability claims very differently.

Online seminar: Companies benefit from tips for sustainable procurement

On 20 May, 3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., GNF and FEMNET will show how companies can avoid these stumbling blocks with their online seminar for beginners entitled ‘More sustainability for workwear, promotional products and co: buying textiles eco-fair’. The event is aimed at interested parties from all industries who want to buy workwear, flat linen and promotional items more sustainably.

The seminar provides an easily accessible introduction to the extensive assistance that GNF and FEMNET companies can provide. This includes, for example, the joint analysis of existing purchasing requirements, help with market research, the selection of sustainability criteria, recommendations for requirements for suppliers or information on seals and standards. In addition, the project portfolio includes impulse workshops: Apprentices and vocational students can also take part early on in the path to sustainable corporate engagement.

Three factsheets published by the two organisations also provide an initial overview of the practical implementation. Companies can find out about challenges and solutions, standards, seals and multistakeholder initiatives in the textile industry as well as the steps towards sustainable textile purchasing. The materials are available for free download on the project pages of FEMNET and the GNF.

registration to the Digital Talk on 20.05.21, 15.00-16.30: ‘Shopping for workwear, promotional items and co. eco-fair’ with experts from FEMNET, the Global Nature Fund and Fairtrade.

Project website FAIR WEAR WORKS

background

FEMNET is a pioneer in the implementation of eco-fair procurement procedures in public administration. Since 2015, FEMNET has been advising cities and municipalities on their textile tenders. The GNF has been working with companies since 2010 on strategies and practices for designing sustainable supply chain management. His focus is on resource protection. The joint project FAIR WEAR WORKS is funded by ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by Fairtrade Germany.