Huawei Builds Greener Supply Chain

Source

[Brussels, Belgium, June 4, 2015] Huawei reduced its global carbon emissions in 2014 after membership in its green supplier program expanded five-fold last year, according to the company's 2014 Sustainability Report.

Alex Deng, Chairman of Huawei's Corporate Sustainable Development (CSD) Committee, speaking at the conference on the future of sustainable supply chains in Brussels

Released today at a conference on the future of sustainable supply chains, the report sets out Huawei's philosophy and describes its achievements in bridging the digital divide, supporting stable and secure network operations, promoting environmental protection, and seeking win-win development.

"In 2014, Huawei made considerable progress in our sustainability strategy," said Alex Deng, Chairman of Huawei's Corporate Sustainable Development (CSD) Committee, speaking at an event that brought together 150 representatives from European institutions and industry. "We released the Global Connectivity Index, the industry's first comprehensive and quantitative evaluation of the connectivity levels of countries and industries. We also acted aggressively to reduce not only our own emissions, but those of our suppliers."

Twenty suppliers took part in Huawei's energy conservation and emissions reduction programme last year, up from four in 2013, helping to more than double the quantity of carbon dioxide emissions reduced, to 53,652 tonnes from 23,839 tonnes in 2013. Huawei also re-used or recycled more than 97% of its waste in 2014.

"Huawei has incorporated sustainability requirements into our supplier qualification and audit processes," Mr. Deng said. "We have also created a platform for suppliers to learn from and share experience with each other. By promoting cooperation on green initiatives between upstream and downstream industry players, we have contributed greatly to a greener supply chain. In addition, we have linked procurement quotas and business opportunities with suppliers' sustainability performance. Suppliers that perform well are given higher procurement quotas and more business opportunities, while the reverse is true for low-performing suppliers. Depending on the situation, Huawei may even terminate business relationships with suppliers that have an exceptionally poor performance."

He added, "Of course, terminating business relationships is only done as a last resort, since Huawei believes it is better to continue working with suppliers to drive sustainable improvement, rather than leaving the suppliers, which does not address the problem. This cooperative approach has effectively encouraged suppliers to proactively manage their sustainability performance and increase competitiveness in a green supply chain."

"The approach outlined in Huawei's latest sustainability report is in line with our view that businesses need to look beyond compliance," said Stefan Crets, Executive Director at CSR Europe, the co-organizer of the conference. "Companies must make sustainable supply chain management an innovation-based business strategy, working with suppliers throughout the value chain to develop broad collaboration, thereby enhancing end-to-end sustainability. We hope to foster collaboration and innovative action among businesses across global supply chains to maximise their contribution to the EU's Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth."

In addition to greening its supply chain, Huawei is moving forward to improve sustainability in various aspects of its business. As part of an initiative to promote the circular economy in the device sector, the company launched a Green Recycling Programme for used mobile phones. Also, the Huawei Honor 6 Plus became the world's first mobile phone to be issued with a Product Water Footprint Verification Statement, issued by TUV SUD, a testing and certification organization based in Europe, indicating the company's leadership position in eco-design.

To download the 2014 Sustainability Report, visit <http: www1.huawei.com="" en="" sustainability="" sustainability-report="">

News End