Responsible materials and controlled working conditions

Special attention was paid to the promotion of the environmental, social and financial responsibility goals in a tendering process for office furniture in 2018.

The office furniture framework agreement offers customers a variety of furniture designed for public premises. The furniture is not only durable and of a high quality, but also environmentally friendly and responsibly manufactured.

“An appendix we prepared was an important tool in the improvement of the environmental friendliness of the products. Issues emphasised in the appendix included a reduction in the use of harmful chemicals, recycling of products and their packaging, as well as biodiversity,” says Liisa Lehtomäki, the development manager who determined the responsibility of office furniture.

All wood materials used in the furniture must be made from legally sourced timber. This is to secure biodiversity. The amount of chemicals is reduced by banning the use of some harmful chemicals in surface coating agents, foaming agents used in padding and glues, as well as by setting a maximum limit for formaldehyde emissions from wood panels. In turn, recycling is supported by demanding a recycling service for old furniture from the suppliers and also demanding that they accept packaging materials.

Code of Conduct supports achievement of social responsibility goals

Social responsibility was considered in the tendering process in a more comprehensive manner than before: the suppliers are obligated to ensure that the fabric used in upholstery is woven and electric motors of electric tables are assembled under appropriate conditions.

“In accordance with the Code of Conduct, the suppliers are obligated to ensure that the requirements of the eight basic conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) are met if the textile factory or assembly plant is located in a country that has not enforced these conventions,” Liisa Lehtomäki says.

Compliance with the financial responsibility goals is an established part of Hansel’s framework agreement tendering. This means determining the suppliers’ risk rating and verifying compliance with obligations pertaining to taxes and pension contributions. Hansel also requests from the suppliers reports as laid down in the Act on the Contractor’s Obligations and Liability when Work is Contracted Out, because the delivery of office furniture includes services produced at the customer’s facilities. Compliance with all of the terms and conditions is monitored both in connection with the tendering process and during the agreement period on behalf of the customers.