Interview with Jean-Philippe Faure, Corporate Purchasing Officer, Veolia Environnement

Jean-Philippe FAURE : Purchasing is indeed a significant leverage in optimizing the company's performance and competitiveness. This is why Purchasing is above all dedicated to businesses and operational entities. However, Purchasing also helps drive the growth of our businesses, especially through the integration of innovation from our supplier markets.

In this respect, its main tasks revolve around the following:

• define a clear and coherent Purchasing policy for the company, providing a high level of service to its internal clients while also reflecting the company's environmental and social responsibility commitments;
• improve the rollout of contracts signed and coordinate savings measures implemented;
• contribute to the creation of value by providing sources of innovation to operational entities, innovation from suppliers or solutions implemented (such as our VEGA automobile fleet management tool in France, and our Odyssée business travel portal);
• encourage the development of supply organizations in entities;
• provide buyers with efficient management tools;
• strengthen Purchasing's capabilities and provide leadership for the community by developing this channel in the company.

JPF: Veolia Environnement Purchasing is organized as a network, which fosters synergies and cross-business actions within the company. The various Purchasing entities work together, thereby ensuring perfect complementarity between cross-business and specific initiatives.

The management system ensures that all purchasing projectsare managed at an appropriate level by factoring in cross-division and cross-country operations, and involving the network's decision-making bodies. These projects are managed in accordance with a reference process, described on this site. Compliance with this process also guarantees the action's performance.

JPF: To grow its business, Veolia Environnement relies on a network of suppliers delivering the products and services it needs.

Supplier relations management is one of the purchasing officers' responsibilities. For each category of supplier, directions are defined in order to implement the most appropriate relations. To understand the company's needs better, I encourage to you explore the Suppliers section.

JPF: First, you will find all the useful information about the supplier policy, our sustainable development actions, and especially our main reference documents.