Orange places responsible purchasing at the core of its environmental and social strategy, aiming to build a supply chain that actively supports a more sustainable digital future. Rather than treating procurement as an administrative process, the company embeds environmental, social and governance criteria into every stage of supplier engagement. By expecting partners to uphold high standards on human rights, working conditions and environmental protection, Orange seeks to ensure that each step of its value chain contributes positively to society.

To guarantee that suppliers meet these expectations, Orange operates a structured evaluation system that includes external assessments and on‑site audits. However, its approach extends beyond oversight: the company works closely with partners to encourage continuous improvement through shared best practices, corrective action plans and targeted training. This collaborative model underpins the company’s broader sustainability goals, including reducing emissions, improving resource efficiency and strengthening supply‑chain resilience.

A major focus is reducing Scope 3 emissions, which account for more than 80 per cent of Orange’s carbon footprint. Through its “Partners to Net Zero Carbon” programme, the company supports suppliers in cutting their own emissions and integrating greener practices across manufacturing and logistics. Orange also advances circular‑economy principles by incorporating lifecycle analysis, use of recycled materials, long‑term software support and equipment refurbishment into procurement decisions. Its OSCAR programme, for example, promotes the purchase and reuse of refurbished network hardware, achieving up to a 90 per cent reduction in associated carbon emissions.

Accentuating on this, Sylvie Blanc Babikian, Group Chief Procurement & Supply Chain Officer mentioned that ““Partners to Net Zero Carbon” is supported by a multidisciplinary, cross-functional project team within Orange. It brings together our internal stakeholders and our suppliers around this shared objective, because uniting our efforts is essential; we can only meet the Scope 3 challenge by working together”. Similarly, Jean-Benoît Besset, Group Director of Environmental & Energy Transition also stated that “we want to rethink how we work with suppliers — as true partners — to achieve shared decarbonization” and that “collective action and interdependence are at the heart of the Partners to Net Zero Carbon program”.

Beyond environmental performance, Orange also prioritises inclusive and socially responsible purchasing. For nearly two decades, the company has partnered with organisations that support employment for people with disabilities, generating more than €22 million in inclusive procurement in 2024 alone. Combined with strict anti‑corruption policies and a strong ethical framework, these measures reflect Orange’s belief that sustainable performance and economic success must go hand in hand.