These resolutions are not only the result of a guilty conscience but also of insight: The massive purchasing power of the public sector is suited to promote social and ecological standards in global production. If all public purchasers would only buy products from companies who can guarantee “clean” working conditions, the situation in factories in production countries would surely change. Hazardous chemicals would be avoided, grave exploitation practices would be stopped and the obeying of labour laws would be monitored. But up to now the public demand for such products is still too small. The 250 progressive local authorities are opposed by 11,000 local authorities that do not show any interest in the topic.
First success
Some mostly small companies are already preparing for the growing demand for ecologically and socially “clean” products. For example in summer 2010 the first German company producing working clothes, the company Bierbaum-Proenen, joined the Fair Wear Foundation – and thereby commits to obeying and monitoring minimum standards concerning working conditions in their production sites and those of their suppliers. German local authorities who are interested in “clean” working clothes had to purchase in the Netherlands up to now. Furthermore the German company Hess Natur has adjusted to the growing demand of the public sector and created a new department for major customers.
It’s their right
For a long time local authorities hesitated to pass resolutions about sustainable purchasing and were stopped from passing resolutions for example by the “Städte- und Gemeindebund” because of “legal doubts”. But by now the legal situation is clear: the procurement legislation in Germany has been reformed and the possibility to demand complementary requirements such as social or ecological aspects from the contractors has been included. Although public authorities are not required to promote human rights and environmental protection with their purchases, they are allowed to.
The Federation fails
Many cities and municipalities start their experiences with fair procurement with specific products like flowers, coffee, wood and stones, for which certificates and fairtrade label exist. But first experiences with “clean” procurement are made with clothes or computers as well. One major handicap is the inactivity of the Federation. Up to now every local authority has to develop their own standards and consider how to verify the standards on their own. And even if more and more federal states take responsibility and reform their laws concerning public procurement, measures on the level of the Federation are missing. We will have to see if the federal department of competence which was founded in 2012 can change that and if federal states and local authorities finally gain support in realizing social and ecological public procurement by the new department.
Act now!
Independent of Federation, federal states or even the EU: You can act now in your municipality! The council in your town can pass resolutions which include human and labour rights as well as environmental protection as basic criteria for public procurement. We can build on experiences of other local authorities – exemplary resolutions and public tenders already exist. It is often a question of political will. This is why the Christian Initiative Romero, together with the CorA-Network, started a campaign to raise the pressure. Send a postcard to your mayor and to your city or town council with the demand to act now. They should use the power of local authorities!
Fair public procurement is possible if the will exists.
Mit finanzieller Unterstützung des BMZ. Der Herausgeber ist für den Inhalt allein verantwortlich.
Das DZI bescheinigt der Christlichen Initiative Romero einen verantwortungsvollen Umgang mit Spendengeldern.