Ethically correct promotional gifts
Promotional items II To stand out from the crowd, a promotional gift retailer offers items from fair production facilities.
Promotional items II To stand out from the crowd, a promotional gift retailer offers items from fair production sites. For Thomas Märki, owner of Promotrading, one thing is certain: "There are tons of cheap junk products made somewhere in Asia on the promotional gifts market." That's why he wants to replace his range "in the foreseeable future" with products that he can "guarantee have been produced ethically" and are not sold everywhere. He realized two and a half years after setting up his promotional gift business that this would not be easy. "How can I be sure that all the products I buy are produced fairly?" Demanding proof from every supplier is impossible: "The manufacturers just laugh at me as a small businessman."
Markus Schnelli and his team at Wipex try to solve this problem by purchasing "Made in Europe" products whenever possible. "This gives me the guarantee that the items are produced in a fair and environmentally friendly way," says Schnelli. According to him, almost 100 percent of Wipex items come from fair production facilities. A good example of this is the Swiss company Switcher, which has its textiles produced in India and Portugal under a strict code of conduct. Or the company Schwan Stabilo in Germany, which works with workshops for the disabled.
Direct purchases as collateral
Harry Hes from Hesidea.ch also strives for fair production of the items sold: "Our aim in the medium term is to only work with such manufacturers for direct purchases. We already have some manufacturers in the Far East who meet this standard." It is not possible to name a binding number of suppliers who manufacture their products under fair conditions. As we are far from being able to check all of our suppliers," emphasizes Hes.
"It's worth the effort," says Märki. Even if he is not entirely sure whether his customers will appreciate it. "After all, you can't tell by looking at the products that they have been ethically produced," he says.
Switcher pays attention to fair conditions in its production facilities.
Annelies Friedli
Markus Schnelli and his team at Wipex try to solve this problem by purchasing "Made in Europe" products whenever possible. "This gives me the guarantee that the items are produced in a fair and environmentally friendly way," says Schnelli. According to him, almost 100 percent of Wipex items come from fair production facilities. A good example of this is the Swiss company Switcher, which has its textiles produced in India and Portugal under a strict code of conduct. Or the company Schwan Stabilo in Germany, which works with workshops for the disabled.
Direct purchases as collateral
Harry Hes from Hesidea.ch also strives for fair production of the items sold: "Our aim in the medium term is to only work with such manufacturers for direct purchases. We already have some manufacturers in the Far East who meet this standard." It is not possible to name a binding number of suppliers who manufacture their products under fair conditions. As we are far from being able to check all of our suppliers," emphasizes Hes.
"It's worth the effort," says Märki. Even if he is not entirely sure whether his customers will appreciate it. "After all, you can't tell by looking at the products that they have been ethically produced," he says.
Switcher pays attention to fair conditions in its production facilities.
Annelies Friedli
