A leader in mobile, fixed, IP and optics technologies and a pioneer in applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent includes Bell Labs, one of the world’s foremost centers of research and innovation in communication technology. The company achieved revenues of 15.3 billion Euros in 2011 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.
If you are familiar with our Blog on Sustainable Supply Views, you may already know that the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) ranked Alcatel-Lucent Technology Supersector Leader with a score of 87/100. As our client achieved a leading position on the sustainable supply field, we decided to interview them and learn more about their perspectives.
Pierre-Louis Frouein — Responsible Purchasing at Alcatel-Lucent
- Why is Sustainable Supply Chain important for Alcatel-Lucent?
Alcatel-Lucent has very few manufacturing activities in its production system, which means that suppliers are extremely integrated in the development of the final product. For this reason, it is essential to ensure that all of them can reach Alcatel-Lucent’s expectations in terms of quality, which includes achieving a good CSR performance.
- What role did Supply Chain performance play in your recent DJSI SuperSector Leader nomination?
Our supply chain performance had a very positive impact on the SuperSector nomination in the DJSI. The supply chain section has the biggest weight of all and we achieved the highest score in this category. This nomination is also very relevant for our customers and investors. They are now more confident about the current practices and future performance of Alcatel-Lucent and therefore they are more proactive in strengthening relations with us, particularly for topics related to sustainable and green practices.
- Beyond the recognition, are ratings such as DJSI helping you?
These types of ratings with worldwide recognition are helping us to evolve in the right direction. The institutions behind these ratings are triggering significant CSR questions in the company and changing the mindset of people on how to achieve success. CSR performance is becoming more and more requested by customers and stakeholders. Thus, having a solid CSR strategy enables us to draw a clear direction with the objective of reducing risks and boosting long term growth.
- After 4 years what is your feedback on EcoVadis?
The overall feedback on EcoVadis is very good; our strong collaboration over the last few years has helped us to achieve the SuperSector nomination. Using the EcoVadis tools is helping us to collaborate with our suppliers in order to become a CSR leader in the supply chain domain. Since 2008 we have been working closely with EcoVadis to help them further improve their platform in order to keep on track with developments and innovations in the Supply Chain CSR area.
- Your wish for 2020?
Our key wish for 2020 would be to have customers and supply chain partners more engaged and educated about CSR issues. Ultimately, I would like consumers to be able to access more readily reliable information on Sustainability characteristics of products and services allowing them to really distinguish between real CSR leaders and followers.
Alcatel-Lucent guest: Pierre-Louis Frouein (Responsible Purchasing Manager)
Photo: (c) All rights reserved by Alcatel-Lucent (source: Alcatel-Lucent website)
Bottom Photo: Pierre-Louis Frouein
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Sources: Alcatel-Lucent & EcoVadis Research
