Sustainable products
How our products are becoming more sustainable
In addition to a fair price and good quality, we also pay attention to the sustainability of our products. Our product range also includes certified products marked with the "Blue Angel" (100% recycled paper) or "FSC®" (Forest Stewardship Council) environmental labels: for example, various paper products such as school notebooks and drawing pads or envelopes.
Already, more than half of our paper products selection come with one of the two certificates.
We also carry textiles with the OEKO-TEX certificate.
This seal indicates that the labelled products have successfully undergone independent tests for harmful substances over and above the minimum statutory requirements.
We also purchase about a third of our goods from business partners in Germany and European Union countries. Just under a quarter of all TEDi products are even manufactured in Germany or other parts of the EU. The comparatively short delivery distances and high production standards have a positive impact on the carbon footprint of products.
In 2016, TEDi additionally signed the German Retail Federation's (Handelverband Deutschland - HDE) pledge to reduce disposable plastic bags in Germany. This means that we voluntarily commit to no longer providing free bags, now or in future. We're even taking it a step further by replacing our disposable plastic bags with three environmentally friendly alternatives. The current models are made of certified cotton
TEDi defines minimum standards for product manufacturing practices
We have established a code of business conduct as the basis for collaboration with our trading partners. This code defines the minimum working conditions under which our products are to be manufactured. It takes the form of a three-page document which forms the basis of each business partnership. In terms of content, this "Code of Conduct" is based on the minimum standards set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It campaigns for greater social justice and the respect for human rights on behalf of the United Nations.
When it comes to the manufacturing of the products we sell, TEDi prioritises respect for internationally defined human rights. Some of the key points in our Code of Conduct include the prohibition of child labour and forced labour, compliance with legally established work hours and work safety measures as well as zero tolerance of corruption. At the start of a business partnership with TEDi, each supplier must agree to the Code of Conduct, implement its requirements as necessary and agree to apply them to their sub-suppliers accordingly.
