BT launches 7-step supply chain assessment tool

UK telecoms giant BT has collaborated with French firm Sagemcom - the manufacturer of the BT Home Hub - to pilot a new supplier sustainability assessment tool.


The BT Better Future Supplier Forum’s Sustainability Assessor tool features a seven-step process that asks suppliers a series of simple questions concerning the company’s existing sustainability measures. The answers are then assessed and a comparison made with previously identified best practice case studies.

The Sustainability Assessor also provides recommendations on how the supplier can improve its business practices and gain competitive advantage over its industry rivals through an improved reputation as a good corporate citizen.

Sagemcom will be running the pilot programme with a selection of its own suppliers this month; to test the Assessor’s results against Sagemcom’s own knowledge of the companies in question.

BT Devices and WiFi director Erik Raphael said: “This is a very exciting and important development that moves us a step closer towards ensuring supply chains around the world are embracing the most sustainable business practices possible.

“The Sustainability Assessor means we can extend the benefit and learnings of the Better Future Supplier Forum even further into our supply chain. This simple tool helps suppliers measure just how sustainable they are compared with the best in the world.”

Sustainable education

The Better Future Supplier Forum is a collaborative, learning and development forum set up to identify, collect, disseminate and implement best practice and drive innovative sustainable product and proposition development. It was set up by BT in 2012 to drive sustainable innovation in its supply chain.

Sagemcom sustainable development expert Florian Tremblay said: “Sagemcom is proud to have been named among the first companies to receive and use this tool.

“Wide-ranging while capable of being individually tailored, the Sustainability Assessor has the ability to improve the sustainability of the supply chain. By providing useful feedback to suppliers regardless of their performance level, the tool will educate and support individual companies in a tailored and effective way.”

BT is already seen as a sustainability leader in its own operations, recently securing the top spot in an index of the carbon reporting performance of the top 100 companies floated on the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE 100).

BT’s most recent progress report, revealed a 34% year-on-year cut in waste-to-landfill, a 12% cut in UK water use and a 4% cut in energy consumption.

The company is also behind the 100% Sport campaign which aims to encourage sports fans to switch to renewable energy.

Brad Allen

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe