Fair procurement for the public sector - Materials & Guidelines

Materials & Guidelines

On this page, you will find all the materials and media that have been developed as part of FEMNET's long-standing advisory work with local authorities. Use text modules as templates for your tenders or council decisions, debunk procurement myths with our argumentation aids, and get strategic tips on how to institutionalise sustainable procurement practices.

That's how it goes! Guides for large and small municipalities

For good framework conditions: Opinions and more

Sustainable procurement needs an appropriate policy framework. FEMNET is committed to change and takes a stand on current developments and legislative processes (cf. Supply Chain Act).

Sustainable procurement – the new normal!

More and more municipalities and local businesses are pretending that it works. When switching to a sustainable procurement practice, you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Instead, build on successful pilot projects from pioneering communities and companies. Step by step.


Video series: In 2020, the city of Karlsruhe called for the first time for sustainable supply chain management to be mandatory in the selection criteria. In the other videos, the actors describe the role model function of municipalities, details of the procedure and their motivation for the project.
Many thanks to Qreate for the implementation of the videos.

Studies on workwear, pricing and traceability

The data on public procurement is still very patchy. For this reason, FEMNET's projects include a Pricing study (2021) and an Traceability study (2023) Sustainable textiles.

Furthermore, in 2019 we have the Working conditions in the production of workwear investigated. There have been few analyses to date, although conditions are as precarious as in the fashion industry, despite some structural differences.

Cover image of the study Cover of the study 'Sustainability is not in vain' Cover of the study 'Workwear made in India' Cover 'Workwear made in Tunisia'

That's how it goes! Guidance documents for administration

In these guidelines, procurers and decision-makers will find basic knowledge and concrete templates for integrating social criteria into procurement practice.

Special shopping aids are available for Small municipalities and KiTas.

Cover Handbook on gender equality in public procurement Cover 'Guide to Circular Economy and Complaint Mechanisms' 2023 Cover 'Guide to Procurement 2019' Cover 'Fair shopping 2020' Cover Kita handout 2020 Cover 'Fair Purchasing' Cover Manual 'Under the magnifying glass' Cover Brochure Step by Step 2020

Knowledge compact! Webinars on Fair Public Procurement

IProcurement webinar In 2021, four webinars provided experts from pioneering municipalities and civil society as well as lawyer André Siedenberg with their knowledge and experience.

Fairtrade Towns will receive a compact overview in their own webinar.

Read more …