The Purchasing Division is helping to promote Ecomobility across our five business units: SNCF Infra, SNCF Proximité, SNCF Voyages, SNCF Geodis and Gares et Connexions.

Ecomobility is the guiding light of the SNCF's strategy. It can be defined as mobility that complies with sustainable development criteria. Our Ecomobility policy is built around 3 policy areas:

• • Offering our customers mobility solutions that generate less CO2
• • Offering a more environmentally-friendly service
• • Promoting social cohesion and economic development of the regions we work in

Purchasing and procurement account for a major share of SNCF expenditure, so it is vital that all internal and external purchasing processes in all areas of our business contribute to the implementation of this policy.

What does this mean in practice? The SNCF Purchasing Division is rolling out its Sustainable and Socially Responsible purchasing approach through large-scale commitments affecting buyers and suppliers, which will alter the products and services we buy:
Taking into account issues of sustainable development throughout the product lifecycle.
Restricting our ecological footprint by reducing the environmental impact of the products or services we buy.
Taking seriously our social responsibility by limiting the health impact of items we purchase and by complying with ILO conventions.
Promoting socially responsible purchasing by increasing the share of procurement from suppliers working with disabled people, marginalised groups and fair trade companies.
Demonstrating that sustainable development and savings go hand-in-hand, for instance by reducing our energy consumption and use of materials.
Stimulating the local economy by our commitment to the small business pact, supporting the development of local businesses in areas where the SNCF is growing.

Share our ambition Our suppliers and service providers are key partners in ensuring our commitment to sustainable development is put into action on the ground. A range of initiatives has already begun, in order to form new relationships in this area:

• • Partnership with the French Fair Trade Forum (PFCE), the NGO Yamana, and involvement with the "Business and Poverty" think tank event at the HEC business school
• • Partnership with the National Union of Disability-Friendly Employers (UNEA) and establishment of the Pas@Pas initiative (for socially-responsible purchasing)
• • Execution of a Charter of Good Practice with the National Union of Security Companies (SNES)
• • Funding for the "Sustainable and Socially-Responsible Purchasing" research chair at Euromed Management business school in Marseille
• • Commitment to the Small Business Agreement since 2004 and establishment of a Small Business Mediator in the person of the SNCF Secretary General

These policies and commitments are included in the SNCF's Ethical Charter and Code of Conduct.

Taking things further. The Purchasing Division is now taking a new approach to transforming the SNCF in the area of responsible purchasing:

• • Identifying and managing CSR risks (Corporate Social Responsibility) in order to help our suppliers and service providers move forward in the area of sustainable development.
• • Gradually turning these risks into sustainable development opportunities in line with the SNCF's Ecomobility vision, by means of "Green Business" and "Social Business" innovations.