By sponsoring "Plate-Forme pour le Commerce Equitable", the SNCF is underlining its purchasing policy that is built around social and environmental responsibility.

Talking the talk about fair trade is one thing. Walking the walk is even better. This is what the SNCF has chosen to do with its sustainable purchasing and sustainable development division, which has decided to support the planned website of the Plate-Forme pour le Commerce Equitable (Fair Trade Platform), which draws together forty different French organisation that work in this field.

This partnership is part of a wider programme of tangible actions that the SNCF launched two years ago to promote fair trade. Our commitment has been demonstrated by the changes in our group's purchasing policies. Between 2007 and 2008 for instance, more than 40,000 kg of fairly-traded coffee were consumed by our staff.

Another area of responsible purchasing is our staff uniforms. Strict requirements apply to them in terms of health, traceability, social and environmental responsibility. Audits are carried out by an independent company on our manufacturing sites in order to ensure that labour law is complied with. In September 2009, 22,000 new staff uniforms will be delivered, having been made with cotton that is not only fairly-traded, but which is also certified "zero CO2". To offset emissions released in production, the SNCF is funding a green energy generation project in India.

For more information on the Fair Trade Platform: http://vitrine.commercequitable.org