Today, powerful companies – many of which are headquartered in Switzerland – dominate global trade. At the same time, in the globalised economy, there are often dozens of subsidiaries and sub-contractors involved in the production of goods. The motto in the global supply chain is to strive for production to become ever faster and ever cheaper.

This ethos takes a major toll on workers in the Global South – workers who live near a factory that pollutes the local environment; who are forced to work endless overtime for meagre wages; who have no pension or health insurance; or who, due to extreme poverty, have to send their children to work on plantations or factories instead of sending them to school.  

In the meantime, a wide range of sustainably produced goods are available in Switzerland. An increasing number of globally active companies recognise sustainability as part of their business model. However, this is not enough to achieve a turning point. 

Swiss municipalities alone procure goods worth CHF 16 billion annually; this means they have market power and act as a role model.

Solidar Suisse is using a rating to investigate whether Swiss municipalities are behaving in a manner that is sustainable and shows solidarity. Consumers can also act – by looking for social and environmental labels when making purchases and asking critical questions about companies’ activities.

With our projects, we contribute to the empowerment of workers in the global South. We support sustainable economy and advocate for responsible consumption in Switzerland.