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4 September 2019

Procura+ participant Zurich wins Swiss ethical procurement award

Solidar Suisse, a Swiss development NGO, honoured Procura+ participant Zurich for its fair and ethical procurement practice. The NGO rated 87 Swiss local governments and highlighted Zurich’s procurement as exemplary.

This is the third time in a row that the city is acknowledged for its efforts to support developing countries through its procurement by Solidar Suisse. Solidar Suisse pointed out that through its work Zurich takes a leading role among German-speaking Swiss communities.

For many years, the City of Zurich is striving to include social and environmental criteria in its tenders. Most recently, the city awarded a contract to supply uniforms for the public transport provider and a contract for the supply of t-shirts for several city departments.

Both tenders accounted for the fact that cotton production is associated with high water consumption, often in places that suffer from water scarcity. They required suppliers to provide only products made from organic cotton, which uses up to 90% less water than standard cotton.

In addition, the City included several requirements that commit suppliers to fair and ethical working conditions along the entire supply chain. Suppliers need to prove that they adhere to global working standards for fair labour and wages, such as ILO standards. In addition, they need to show that they have insight into their entire supply chain. Supply chain transparency is key in assuring working conditions actually comply with labour standards.

The Procura+ interest group on socially responsible procurement is working on this and other topics connected to assuring fair and ethical working conditions along global supply chains. Find more information on the Procura+ website.

More information about Zurich’s awarded procurement practice can be found here (in German).