THE PROCUREMENT INTERVIEW
“ Rather than enforcing immediate full compliance, we focus on starting the journey by embedding these topics into policies, building awareness and encouraging commitment. The first step is to normalise the conversation”
Christophe Quiquempoix Vice President, Sustainable Procurement Schneider Electric
However, he emphasises that this prioritisation is not a static exercise:“ We continuously refine our impact assessment to reflect how our business evolves. Ultimately, sustainability is not a target to reach, it is a continuous journey. Success is not defined by the number of suppliers engaged, but by our ability to consistently expand, deepen and improve our impact over time.”
Linking sustainability to performance A common hurdle for Chief Procurement Officers( CPOs) is convincing suppliers that sustainability initiatives are worth the investment. Schneider Electric overcame this by ensuring that partners clearly recognised the tangible business benefits.
“ What enabled us to scale transformation at this level is that our suppliers clearly saw the business value,” says Christophe.“ Beyond the environmental impact, they experienced tangible benefits such as improved operational efficiency, stronger resilience and better preparedness for evolving regulatory requirements and customer expectations.”
22 August 2026