Procurement

Telefónica Europe spends nearly £2 billion every year on buying goods and services - including network infrastructure, mobile devices, IT hardware and software, marketing and other professional services - from a wide range of local and international suppliers.

We have developed a clear set of Procurement Principles to make sure these transactions do not expose the Company commercially, legally or financially and all employees involved in purchasing goods and services are made aware that they must abide by these principles.

We have developed a comprehensive web site detailing the principles and describing the procedures that must be followed in selecting suppliers, seeking quotations, drawing up contracts and protecting our commercial confidentiality. Those with delegated authority to sign off purchases are also listed on the site. All dealings with suppliers are carefully monitored by our internal Audit team.

Our procurement web site also provide clear guidance on the regulations we have to meet, including the European Commission’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in equipment (RoHS) Directives.

We try to work with our suppliers to encourage them to embrace Corporate Responsibility. We have developed an Environmental Procurement Policy and an Ethical Procurement Policy to ensure that we control our indirect social, environmental and ethical impacts effectively and that good practice is, in turn, passed down their supply chains. You can read how these policies operate and other information on how we work with suppliers within the Procurement section of our O2 in Society web site.