Supply Chain Sustainability

Supply Chain Sustainability (SCS) is a key focus area for Telenor. We require responsible business conduct from all our suppliers in accordance with our Supplier Conduct Principles (SCPs). This is supported by systematic monitoring and risk management. We believe that decent working conditions, respect for human rights and the environment as well as willingness to improve standards amongst our suppliers is the only viable route forward. By working together with our suppliers, we can raise the bar and build competitive edge.

The main elements of Telenor’s Supply Chain Sustainability framework are:

Continuous organisational focus
A group-wide Business Assurance function is established across the Telenor Group to oversee implementation and monitoring of supply chain sustainability in every Business Unit on an ongoing basis. This comprises permanent local Business Assurance functions in every Telenor Business Unit, overseen by a Group Business Assurance function.

Supplier requirements
Telenor’s supplier requirements for responsible business conduct are described in our Supplier Conduct Principles (SCPs).. The SCPs apply to all suppliers, with “supplier” being defined in a broad sense.

Read Supplier Conduct Principles

Telenor implements the SCPs through non-negotiable Agreements on Responsible Business Conduct (ABCs), which commit suppliers to implement the SCPs internally and to extend these requirements further in their own supply chains. The ABCs also provide Telenor with monitoring rights. A significant number of ABCs have been signed with Telenor suppliers worldwide.

See key figures on ABC implementation

Telenor’s SCP and ABC framework is a mandatory part of all Telenor’s procurement processes.

Supplier self assessments 
Telenor uses supplier self assessments as an important part of the supply chain monitoring. These may be carried out as part of procurement processes or as ad-hoc supplier risk assessments by using a Supplier Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). Telenor also carries out a global SAQ on an annual basis to assess the overall SCP risk picture in the supply chain and its development.

See key figures on the development of annual SAQ findings

Systematic supply chain risk reduction
Based on the annual SAQ results, Telenor Business Units follow up systematically on each concrete SCP risk element found and work with every individual supplier during the following year to eliminate these risk elements.

See key figures on in-year supply chain risk reduction

Announced and unannounced inspections
As a matter of routine, Telenor Business Units carry out a large number of announced and unannounced inspections worldwide, ranging from simple site visits to more comprehensive inspections or audits.

See key figures on supplier monitoring

See types of findings from supplier inspections

Proactive supplier training and awareness
As a proactive measure to develop the supplier community in local markets, Telenor’s Business Units carry out supplier training sessions on HSSE in selected cases. Such sessions mostly take place in Asia, where general HSSE awareness is lowest. Telenor’s group-wide HSSE vLearning programme ‘People First’ is also available for Telenor’s suppliers on this website..

See the online learning tool for Global HSSE training

See key figures on supplier training and awarenes

Continuous improvement
The overriding principle throughout Telenor’s responsible supply chain management activities is continuous improvement. Telenor wants to work with its suppliers in the spirit of collaboration. However, if a supplier shows no willingness or ability to improve over a period of time, Telenor may consider termination of the supplier relationship as a last resort.

International cooperation

Telenor participates actively in various international organisations in the field of supply chain sustainability. We believe it is important to find common solutions to challenges in this field and to share best practices. Telenor is also a member of Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSi) and the Joint Audit Cooperation (JAC). In 2012, we chaired a task force on anti-corruption in the UN Global Compact.

In addition, we participated in Transparency International’s working group to establish guiding documents for anti-corruption in the supply chain in Norway.