Embedding Sustainability into Core Business: A Conversation with Orange Business’s Chief Sustainability Officer
The growing urgency of climate change and increasing stakeholder demand for responsible business practices are driving a basic shift in how companies operate. No longer a peripheral concern,sustainability is becoming deeply interwoven with core business strategy,innovation,and long-term competitiveness. This article delves into the approach of Orange Business, exploring how its chief Sustainability Officer, Stephane Goulard, is leading the charge to embed sustainability across the organization - from eco-design and responsible AI to board-level strategy and supply chain management. This is a story of proactive adaptation, strategic foresight, and a commitment to building a future-proof business.
the Expanding Scope of Corporate Sustainability
Traditionally viewed through the lens of environmental impact, sustainability has broadened to encompass a far wider range of considerations. Goulard’s role at Orange Business reflects this evolution. His work extends beyond simply reducing carbon emissions to encompass critical areas like inclusion, responsible innovation, ethics in AI, and the broader social and societal impacts of the company’s operations. This holistic perspective is crucial, recognizing that true sustainability requires addressing interconnected challenges.
“Sustainability isn’t just about ‘being green’ anymore,” explains Goulard.”It’s about building resilience, fostering innovation, and ensuring long-term value creation for all stakeholders – our customers, employees, partners, and the communities we serve.”
Eco-Design and the Pursuit of Measurable impact
A cornerstone of Orange Business’s sustainability strategy is a dedicated focus on eco-design. This isn’t simply about superficial changes; it’s a rigorous process of measuring environmental impact, identifying key components contributing to that impact, and than systematically working to reduce it across the entire lifecycle of products and services.
Goulard’s team is actively applying eco-design principles to everything from infrastructure and equipment to service delivery. A tangible example is the improvement of nickel designs for private mobile network solutions, demonstrating a commitment to optimizing resource utilization and minimizing environmental footprint.
“we’ve launched a dedicated practice focused on the eco-design of our services,” Goulard states. “The question we’re constantly asking is: how can we minimize the carbon impact of everything we do?”
A Global Shift Towards Sustainability – and Competitive Advantage
The drive for sustainability isn’t solely driven by ethical considerations. Goulard observes that most countries now recognize sustainability as a key factor in maintaining long-term competitiveness. This realization is fueling action across both Asia and Europe, with companies actively working to reduce their environmental impact or develop robust adaptation plans.
The increasing frequency and severity of climate-related events - floods, extreme heat, disruptions to infrastructure - are making the business case for sustainability increasingly clear. “Today, many accept that climate change is happening, and we’re seeing the impacts on activities and infrastructure,” Goulard points out. “This is no longer a future risk; it’s a present reality.”
Cross-Functional Collaboration: The Power of the “Green Act leaders”
Goulard emphasizes the importance of embedding sustainability across all teams, activities, and services. To achieve this, he has championed the creation of a “transversal team, the Green act Leaders,” representing every entity and job role within Orange Business. This cross-functional approach is proving instrumental in driving efficiencies,developing new operational models,and unlocking cost savings.
This collaborative spirit extends to the company’s relationships with customers, providers, and partners, fostering a more lasting ecosystem. The results are already visible, with Orange Business achieving a commendable 84 out of 100 rating from EcoVadis, a leading sustainable-procurement platform, including a perfect score of 100 out of 100 for environmental aspects.
Navigating the Challenges and Maintaining Momentum
Despite the growing momentum, Goulard acknowledges that challenges remain.He notes a potential “backlash against net zero” in some geopolitical circles, as evidenced by certain interaction trends. However,he remains optimistic,citing continued strong demand from customers for sustainability details and solutions.
“We still see a lot of information requested on that topic,” Goulard confirms. “Our customers are actively seeking ways to reduce their own environmental impact, and they’re looking to partners like Orange Business to help them achieve their goals.”
Sustainability at the Board Level: A Strategic Imperative
A critical factor in Orange Business’s success is the elevation of sustainability to a board-level topic.Goulard directly engages with the board to ensure that sustainability goals are fully aligned with
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