News

Some of the largest procurers of IT products are found in the finance sector and should therefore take more responsibility for a sustainable IT production, usage and recycling.

TCO Certified products must adhere to strict social and environmental criteria all throughout the products lifecycle. Both the workers producing the products and the employees using them need to have a safe working environment ensured.

Combining the fact that many companies in the finance sector are big IT users, the high risk of human and labour rights violations in the IT industry, and to ensure the health and safety of the banks’ employees, the finance sector is called upon to act for better conditions for workers in IT production by:

• Putting clear and strong demands on production, both in terms of working conditions and environmental impact, in their procurement of IT products.
• Ensure that the demands put are observed by the producers, through independent third party controls of the factories.
• Systematically follow up the recycling of used IT products, as to ensure that scrap electronics are not exported illegally.

The Swedish Financial Sector Union is actively engaged in this issue. They are strong advocates for sustainable procurement, ensuring that companies in the finance sector put social, health and environmental requirements on their purchases. If the finance sector acts it can make a big difference.