Corporate Social Responsibility and Orange
France Telecom - Aiming To Lead The Way in Telecommunications
Jun 28, 2009
The company uses three words to define its corporate social responsibility policy: include, care and preserve. According to the report, Orange aims to be the leader for social corporate responsibility amongst telecommunications companies by the year 2012.
Include–Addressing Systemic Disadvantage
Under the banner of include, Orange focuses on providing access to telecommunication technologies to:
- remote and isolated locations,
- people in low socioeconomic groups; and
- disadvantaged groups within society.
Examples of projects undertaken by Orange during 2008 to address the key priority areas within the include banner are:
- in partnership with the Auvergne Region, Auvergne became the first region in France to have 100% broadband coverage;
- Orange Mauritius launched the NetPC service which provides access to Microsoft Office Software and internet for a low monthly service subscription, without the need to purchase a PC;
- In the UK, Orange formed a stakeholder group known as TACT (The Accessible Communications Team). The aim of this group is to provide Orange UK with information on the needs of its disabled customers;
- the philanthropic arm of the company, Orange Foundation, supported volunteering, health, disability, education and music projects throughout the world; and
- the launch of e-health initiatives in chronic disease management and patient assistance.
Preserve–Environmental Sustainability and Protection
This banner is for the environmental protection that Orange undertook as part of their social corporate responsibility strategy in 2008. Specifically, Orange has focused on reducing their environmental footprint and seeking innovative solutions to environmental problems.
Preserve projects and results undertaken in 2008 include:
- education and awareness campaign targeted at employees to encourage simple environmentally friendly behaviours;·
- a thorough review of the energy efficiency of Orange stores resulting in suggested improvements to lighting and air conditioning;·
- in the UK, 80% of energy is purchased from renewable sources, with the remaining 20% to go green on contract expiration;
- a 9% reduction in office paper use in France,
- collection and refurbishment of used computers in Egypt, which are then provided to charity;
- and· the Orange CO2 Savings Tool
Care–Focusing on People and their Well-being
Under the care banner, Orange looks to address the impact that the business has on employees and the general public. Orange has key priorities around customer expectations, acting as a responsible employer, ensuring the safe and responsible use of technology services and encouraging ethical sourcing of goods and services.
Initiatives undertaken in 2008 to meet the care key priority areas include:
- launching Secure My Device, a service which ensures security and integrity of mobile computing equipment and networks;·
- the Teach Today initiative providing information for teachers on internet safety for children;· awareness campaigns in Poland and Slovakia around the use of the internet and mobile phones by children and updating of advice to parents to keep children safe;·
- undertaking an employee engagement survey, which resulted in a 45% response rate in France;
- signing of the Parenthood Charter to make workplaces family friendly;
- and· participation in the development of CSR Europe’s Guide to Good Practices for Workplace Wellbeing.
The 2008 Corporate Social Responsibility Report was audited by Deloitte and supported the B+ self-assessment rating under the GRI G3 Guidelines.
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