Christine Diamente [@cdiamente], Head of Brand and Corporate Sustainability at Alcatel-Lucent and an Alcatel-Lucent Foundation Trustee

A year ago, when Alcatel-Lucent launched The Shift Plan  --a three-year repositioning and transformation strategy that refocused the company on IP networks, ultra-broadband access and cloud technologies-- came the question "what is the role of sustainability  with the new company strategy"?  

In working with our CEO Michel Combes, Leadership Team and the company's sustainability experts,  we recognized sustainability had been driven over a number of years as a key business imperative.  But the time had come to say "how can we really make this a key competitive differentiator in our activities and set a new bar for the Technology industry"?

With The Shift Plan, Alcatel-Lucent has decided to focus and differentiate itself as a responsible business innovator across three main areas:

  • A best-in-class compliance program promoting zero tolerance for compliance violations. Applicable to employees, contractors and sub-contractors, and including an outright ban on use of sales agents.
  • Sustainability as a key requirement across the supply chain. Alcatel-Lucent requires sustainability commitments, assesses and improves the sustainability performance of our suppliers and subcontractors in line with Alcatel-Lucent's supplier code of conduct and the United Nations Global Compact requirements.
  • Eco-innovation across the product portfolio while raising the bar for the industry. Alcatel-Lucent applies leading energy efficiency requirements for its product and solutions portfolio while focusing on reducing its own operational carbon footprint.  Through the Bell Labs led research consortium GreenTouch™, we are working with over 48 members worldwide to make telecommunications networks up to 1,000 times more energy efficient for the ICT sector.

As a company, we remain committed to making communications more sustainable, affordable and accessible.   But in an age of instant communications where citizens seek greater transparency on how technology and communications networks can improve their lives,  we will also work with our customers, suppliers, the financial community as well key stakeholders to give greater visibility on the importance of  sustainability and responsible business as an indispensable driver in today's digital economy. 

Over the last year, the company has seen major accomplishments:  10% of Bell Labs patents involved energy related and green innovations, 97% of our electronic waste was recycled or reused, the company reduced its carbon footprint by over 32%, 100% of our business was assessed for corruption risks, we provided transparency on our implementation measures of the Industry Dialogue Guiding Principles on Human Rights Freedom of Expression and Privacy while publishing our first Conflict Minerals Report, 65 000+ youth benefited from Alcatel-Lucent Foundation's work newly dedicated to helping youth innovate in a digital world, and we received a 100% score on the 2014 Corporate Equality Index as well as fostering employee-led innovation on the topic of diversity through StrongHer.

The examples are numerous and we are very honoured for the second year in a row to be recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices as the Technology Industry Group Leader.

We will continue to drive forward with a focus on innovating and differentiating in the Technology sector.  Find out more about our activities www.alcatel-lucent.com/sustainability.

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