Procuring “fair” IT products – is it possible?
As you might be aware, we have added a criterion on social responsibility to TCO certified. To qualify for TCO certified the producer (brand owner) of the product must work actively with improving the working conditions throughout the production chain of the product. This is, as we see it, an important first step for us to try to influence the industry towards more sustainable products.
Another way to influence the industry is by asking for sustainable products when buying new ones. As a consumer this might be quite a difficult task (although it will become easier as more and more displays, projectors and computers are TCO certified). But for example public procurers can, just by thinking about what they buy, have great influence. Why should our tax money go towards buying non-environmental products possibly produced by underpaid workers in poor working conditions?
Last week I was at a round table meeting in Prague organized by the project ProcureITfair (www.procureitfair.org). They try, by information, campaigns and good examples, to influence public procurers in Europe to use their buying power and ask for IT-products that have been produced under fair conditions. We’re happy to be able to say that one step in the right direction is by asking for TCO certified products.
Leave a comment