Ethics and purchasing

Pernod Ricard maintains close partnerships with its suppliers in order to ensure ethical business practices and  sustainable development of its activities. In all Group subsidiaries, these partnerships are built on specific requirements and regular controls.

Evaluating supplier performance

Since 2005, the Group Purchasing Department has distributed a questionnaire, “Commitment and Sustainable Development”, to its main international suppliers.
In 2005-2006, this questionnaire was sent to the 18 main international suppliers of the Group, the aim being to evaluate these suppliers according to environmental and social criteria.

246 of the 300 suppliers contacted in 2006-2007 completed the questionnaire. They are all committed to respecting ethical standards linked to employment law. 85% have already studied the environmental impact of their activities and 30% hold ISO 14001 certification (international standard concerning environmental management systems).

In June 2007, the Purchasing Department brought together the main suppliers to present the Group’s new purchasing structure and share with them the actions taken in the field of sustainable development.

Ensuring ethical purchasing

Pernod Ricard has undertaken various initiatives to ensure that the Group’s Purchasing Department complies with ethical codes:

  • All buyers must respect the ethical guidelines that have been introduced. These guidelines have been widely distributed among subsidiaries and, in some cases, have been sent to suppliers.
  • A “Sustainable Development” module has been integrated into the Purchasing training seminar for buyers.
  • The eco-design guidelines for packaging have been sent to subsidiaries’ purchasing teams.
  • A “Corporate Social Responsibility” clause has been added to subsidiaries’ terms and conditions of purchasing.